I was surprised, but pleasantly so, at how quickly the United Nations managed to come out with a decision on Libya. I was under the impression that they would really do nothing, because one expected either China or Russia to veto any vote. As it was, they did not veto, but chose to abstain rather and the votes of South Africa and Nigeria became crucial. According to a report in the New York Times, the South African representative on the Security Council, probably the most important committee in the entire world, did not arrive at the meeting on time, and United States representatives had to sprint around trying to get the South African representative at the meeting, which they eventually did and South Africa voted in favour of the resolution.