“We believe that the time has come for the council to take further actions to step up the pressure against those who are responsible for the violence against the citizens of Syria.”-Philip Parham, U.K. representative to UN Security Council

The U.S., France, Germany and Portugal all backed up the British demand that the UN Security Council take action against Syria.

The problem is that all the most economically powerful countries are opposed.  Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa believe the government of Syria is correct when it says the insurgency was started by outside forces (meaning the U.S. and Europe).

Russia and China are permanent members of the UN Security Council.  India currently holds the presidency of the UN Security Council.