Death knell of a NATO-Qatari-Saudi plan for Syria!

Reminder: The US used its veto at the UN over 70 times during the 20th century. On the majority of occasions, the US vetoed resolutions that were favoured by the majority of the world's nations. Most importantly, the US vetoed over 40 UNSC resolutions condeming Israeli slaughter of Arabs, and yet, Susan Rice (our next secretary of State) is "disgusted"!

"... The Arab League plan was freighted with geopolitical significance. Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, which supported the plan, are locked in a regional power struggle with Iran, a key ally of Syria. The Arab countries view the prospect of Assad's departure as a blow against Iran in its bid to wield wider influence in the Middle East.
But Assad still has support among many Syrians, especially Christians and other minorities who view his secular administration as a bulwark against Iraq-style sectarian warfare. Assad has blamed Islamic "terrorists" for his troubles...
Some diplomats voiced the hope that a revised version of the U.N. resolution could be proposed at some point. But after two joint vetoes — the Russians and Chinese blocked an earlier resolution on Syria in October — there is no guarantee that a consensus can be reached on any wording about Syria...
The U.N. vote Saturday was a stinging rebuke for the United States and its allies, who had expressed hope as recently as late Friday that Russia might be persuaded to join the resolution, or at least abstain....

Washington's U.N. ambassador, Susan Rice, said after the vote that the United States was "disgusted" y the veto, but vowed that the Obama administration would "ratchet up the pressure on the Assad regime until finally the people's voice prevails."...
The Russian U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, complained that Western nations had undermined the chance for a political solution by "pushing the opposition towards power."... The Russians also complained that the plan would have obliged the government to withdraw its forces from cities and towns, but no such requirement was imposed on insurgents.
"When the Syrian government forces were pulling out, armed groups were pulling in," Churkin said..."