There are not too many UN Security Council vetoes.

So when one comes along it shows that things at that top table are not in good shape – lack of grown-up consensus and/or serious miscalculation by those who pushed the offending Resolution.

Although of course there may be cases where a Resolution is pushed in expectation of a Veto by one or other Permanent Member in the hope of embarrassing said Permanent Member before world opinion.

Last night the world saw the unedifying spectacle of Russia and China backed by South Africa, Vietnam and Libya blocking a Resolution to impose an arms embargo on Zimbabwe as well as financial measures against key Zimbawe leaders.

The Russians and Chinese hid behind the pious rubbish that Zimbabwe is not a ‘threat to international peace and security’, the legal ‘trigger’ needed for action of this sort. Since it is quite easy to imagine Zimbabwe collapsing with dangerous ramifications for its neighbours, that argument is unconvincing if not downright dishonest.

The stance of Mbeki/Mandela South Africa, itself a victim of Zimbabwe’s collapse, goes beyond shame.

So there it is.

Three countries with no democracy lining up with Russia which is doing its best to diminish its democracy, aided and abetted by South Africa led by a Soviet-trained narcissist, voting against meaningful pressure on a vile and incompetent regime which counts for nothing.

But why? 

The decision of course has nothing to do with Zimbabwe. The Chinese and Russians want to be obstinate just to show that as their post-Cold War wealth increases apace they can do what they darn well please, regardless of what the ‘West’ wants. Zimbabwe’s luckless population are collateral damage. 

No better time to do flex these muscles than in the dying months of the unhappy Bush Presidency and with Gordon Brown’s domestic credibility also low. A strong school of thought has it that when someone is down there is never a better time to kick him.

So, a new phase begins.

Mugabe and his core villains gloat heartily at the success of their daring smash and grab raid on their country’s integrity.

Western measures of different sorts intensify.

Zimbabwe’s already parlous situation gets worse. The Chinese may step in to buy the place if it gets cheap enough. Ruin. Human desperation and misery on a massive scale.

All as I warned. 

Plus there could be bigger picture effects too. The idea of a League of Democracies separate from the UN may get a boost. But would this move allow a significant League of Authoritarians to set themselves up in business? Is this the best the world can do?

Yet if one looks at these things from a grander perspective, one sees different patterns emerging.

Policies have Consequences, even if those consequences bite you far in the future.

For example, when did the UK wield its first UN Veto acting alone?

Perhaps on 13 September 1963: over … the situation in Southern Rhodesia.