To Iraqis, institutions are stupid

Ali Al-Saffar touched on a fundamental weakness of the Iraqi state at the moment, the lack of robust and independent institutions. Until they become a reality, the state will limp along vulnerable to political swings and sectarian agendas that have become a familiar fixture. Ali was doing so well until he added the throw away [...]

NGO blues

So we hear that prominent NGO-funders have fallen foul of the Egyptian authorities recently. Staff of the usual suspects in the forms of NDI, IRI have taken refuge at the US embassy in Cairo prior to an eventual exit. Needless to say a confusing political landscape there hasn’t helped,  but it has provoked a thought about [...]

Tweet-powered motion

“You do know we’ve just broken the law.” “Yeah…not just any law, THE law of thermodynamics!” It was a profound statement, but it was also a profound moment. Before us lay a shiny metal contraption replete with all manner of moving cogs, pumping pistons and billowing exhaust fumes. This mechanical monstrosity would have been perfectly at home [...]

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and the brain softer.

I have had a writer’s block that stretches back months, and have not blogged despite the largest upheaval in decades in the Middle East, riots in the UK, and the momentous return of King Kenny to his helm. But I am back now. Unfortunately, since I last wrote, London has lost what I like to think [...]

Ten things I learnt about the riots

Number One:  UK riot police don’t do riots Number Two:  Rioters like sportswear but detest furniture shops Number Three: You can get dizzy counting the number of mental somersaults that commentators make when trying to fit the cause of the riots into their agreed ideology Number Four: Don’t mess with Turks Number Five: All because [...]

Azaa’ for AV

My voting career has always been an exercise in futility. A red (and sometimes yellow) mark drowned out by a tsunami of blue. But yet again I found myself making my way to the ballot box with a sliver of hope left in my heart that a political revolution was about to happen . This [...]

How do I find an Iraqi wife?

It’s a question that many have asked before, a search that has left many lost and dumbfounded. And my friend (from ‘How do I meet Iraqis’) was no different. But this time, in answering him, I could not be prescriptive in so sensitive a manner. Instead I thought I’d catalogue the options now before my [...]

A slow death in Willesden

Whilst we are all enthralled by the great upheaval currently taking place in the Middle East, a quieter rebellion is happening closer to home. There are no placards or demonstrations, nor even an angry word uttered yet the effects are just as powerful. Its insidious nature has made it even harder to spot over the [...]

Revenge of the ruminants

“It was definitely not a moo.” I asserted “Oh it certainly was a moo.” My wife replied “So now I’ve transformed into farmyard animal or something?” I asked, growing slightly irritated. I got up, feeling not exactly a hundred percent with a certain heaviness in my chest.  On my way down, I surmised that it [...]

Why should I serve my community? I hate them

I was having a discussion with a friend on the reasoning behind public service, the reasons for taking up occupations that involve being paid relatively less (than say the private sector), but helping others in the process besides the partners of the firm. Why waste so much of your time being involved in voluntary community [...]