Our tropical window

Coming home to Stockholm, our bedroom window exploded in tropical flowers! Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of the frangipani in bloom...

June reading backlog

I have lots of reading from June to share, now on the last day of the month - and a special posting to come on the Iranian elections and their aftermath.

Middle East
Svenska Dagbladet analyses the outcome of the elections in Lebanon (before the Iranian, make note...)

Eurasianet looks at Obama's vision for relations with the so-called Muslim world. The National and Sultan Al Qassemi also comment the Cairo Obama speech.

The National looks at the UAE's role in issues of regional money laundering and the efforts to stop it.

Pirates on the Gulf of Aden have started to operate in Omani waters, according to the BBC.

The Independent looks at the property market in Dubai after the winter bust.

Pittsburgh University has released this report on democracy promotion and Islam.

West Point also released a report, on Iran in Iraq, and this one, on Sunni vs Shia terrorism (even if I am sceptical to the generic difference...).

Brookings Institution looks more closely at the stability shown in Iraqi Kurdistan here.

BBC tells the story of a Saudi princess shopping in Paris.

BBC explores the Arabic blogosphere.

HRW looks at the situation for sexual minorities in Turkey during Istanbul's Pride Week and at trials of cross-dressers in Saudi-arabia.

Af-Pak
Svensak Dagbladet looks at new leaders of the taliban resistance in Pakistan.
Dagens Nyheter tells of modern urban culture showing up in Kabul

ICG looks at the challenges of Afghanistan's upcoming elections.

Jazeera reports from Pakistan.

Misc
The head of the Swedish security service doesn't share the picture of suburb Rosengård being a focus for militants and extremists.

Todays' Saman takes their readers on a trip to Dogubeyazit.

Svenska Dagbladet looks at marketing strategies and sensations of the senses.

Arkadij Waksberg writes on Russia and democratic Potemkin facades for Svenska Dagbladet.

Swedish-Lebanese film-maker Josef Fares films with his family again.

Economist looks at Sipri's report on arms trade and buyers (link to the full report here).

Svenska Dagbladet comments Swedish defence policy.

Svenska Dagbladet discusses the impact of left-wing atheists.

Seaside Abu Dhabi

The sea, here the Gulf, is one of the most perfect views. Here seen from Abu Dhabi harbour, out towards the horizon and inwards to the city.

Abu Dhabi harbour

Later the same day we took a detour down into the harbour and looked at boats and the Gulf - beautiful. Right now it would be far to hot to do it again, unfortunately.

Security policy discussions

A range of Swedish policy organizations in the security field have a joint program during the so-called Almedal-week in Gotland, where everyone who is anyone in Swedish policy discussion go.

If I find some additional links on interesting activities I will share those too.

Last look at the mosque

The domes seen from the courtyard are as overwhelming as the first view from outside.

Floor flowers!

Maybe the most elegant of all were the floor flower decorations, both inside and in the giant courtyard.

Bloggers!

I want to give tips for current and informed reading on the Middle East from US analysts, not least on developments in Iran. I suggest at Gary Sick (moderator of Gulf2000), Juan Cole and the "editor's blog" of Middle East Journal.

Refugee law and islam

Today, UNHCR sponsored the publication of a book on modern refugee law and how traditional islamic law and values has influnced it significantly. Terribly interesting, I had no idea and really enjoyed learning about it!

World refugee day was last week, highlighted by this photo display.

Wall of the mosque

Also the walls are magnificently decorated, in a lavish yet simple style.

Gender-branding or Women as a marketing target

This kind of gender-targetting marketing really triggers me... WHY on EARTH would I specifically want or need a PINK Blackberry to keep in touch with my friends?

Svenska Dagbladet looks at special "women's products".

The same paper writes an article here on the branding value of Swedish princesses in the past (but only little more than a generation ago...), a similar topic that a friend recently wrote on.

Back to the Zayed mosque

The flower decorations on the pillars inside were what first really struck me on visiting the mosque before it was even formally opened.

Travelling

Have spent the last few weeks at home seeing friends and on the road seeing more friends...







... I will have lots of photos to show for coming days!

Candy lamps!

The enormous ceiling lamps reminded me of Swedish candy shops with assorted goodies of different colours!





Although, unlit, they were significantly less striking.

Morality and faith

Try the test from the Humanist Society in Sweden, featured this week in a large advertising campaign.

Pillars and vaults inside

The hall of the mosque is large and dominated by decorated pillars.

Afghan security

FOI published a case study report on gender and security - written by a very good friend of mine - and with interesting results on how management decisions and operational results mirror each other in reaching out, winning hearts and minds and including all Afghans in security endeavours.

Other aspects of the Afpak security complex are less optimistic... to say the least (isn't it interesting by the way how the Afpak has emerged as a complex of it's own in recent years? Hardly surprising but analytically so obvious...).

Foreign affairs journalism

Dagens Nyheter tomorrow runs their, by now customary, annual programme where their foreign correspondents meet the public. I don't know if I will have time to go - have some family celebration occasion coinciding - but do wish to spread the word! One panel is also on the importance of photography...

Inside decorations

The inside is richly decorated but quite stylishly.

Courtyard vaults and pillars

The style is very modernist but still elaborate - quite a fine balance to strike, but well performed!

Religious education in a secular society

Svenska Dagbladet talks to Swedish imams about their training and education needs. Read the study for the government on the issue. Dagens Nyheter comments the result, based on the Swedish consensical style of state-religion relations.

On a similar topic, Svenska Dagbladet meets an American imam close to the White House.

National day reading

Well, that was yesterday, and the links are up to 2 weeks old... but still...

Iran
Fareed Zakaria may be telling Newsweek and Washington some truths they need...

Bitte Hammargren interviews Iranian women's activist Parvin Ardalan for Svenska Dagbladet.

Flynt Leverett writes for New York Times on US Iran policy.

Central Asia and Afpak
Eurasianet discusses effects for Uzbekistan and Tajikistan of growing extremism and the fight against the Taliban in Pakistan.

Eurasianet looks at the cotton industry in Uzbekistan and the issue of child labour.

BBC looks at Pakistan's struggle against extremists.

Somali pirates
The Swedish Armed Forces are participating in the Aden pirate hunt, and have published photos! BBC looks at another attack, with pictures from the victim boat.

Middle East
Bitte Hammargren explores Obama's Middle East policy making in Svenska Dagbladet. Claes Arvidsson comments the Obama Cairo speech for the same paper.

Bitte Hammargren again, now takes a look at the tunnels in Gaza for Svenska Dagbladet.

BBC looks at the reform agenda in Saudi-arabia.

IWPR looks at the violence levels in Iraq.

Marc Lynch looks at Arab opinion polls for the National.

Europe, culture and history
Svenska Dagbladet explores Swedish history through archaeology.

Richard Schwartz for Svenska Dagbladet on the ongoing discord in Europe on the Second World War, guilt and responsibility.

Liberal Party MEP-candidate Fredrik Malm calls in Svenska Dagbladet for a harsher Swedish line against Turkish EU-membership during the presidency.

Svenska Dagbladet reviews Sadie Jones novel "The Outcast" - any recommendations?

Aftonbladet looks at a satirical blog with a political agenda.

Closer up on the mosque

The domes and minarets are mighty.