Liberaler – förenen eder!
Just hemkommen från London skriver jag dessa rader – Liberaler, förenen eder – som en känsla, en konklusion av dessa dagar. Vi har gemensamma erfarenheter, utmaningar och visioner. I det konkreta partiprogrammen finns skillnader som kan vara nog så stora och viktiga, men den gemensamma liberala tråden finns där; tron på människan, en fungerande marknad och starka sociala nätverk. Vi träffade Nick Clegg och hans LibDem i Parlamentet och hade intressanta samtal, besökte deras näringsdepartement och talade utmaningar inför framtiden, besökte the International Liberal House som var precis som en gammal engelsk herrklubb, numera också öppen för kvinnor :-), fick en intressant diskussion om kravallerna i England och mycket mer. Ett fullmatat besök – indeed!
Till min förtjusning så är det Sverige man vänder sig till för att få inspiration till nytänkande. Vi har blivit riktigt på modet de senaste åren tydligen. Anders Borg utnämnd till bästa finansminister och Sverige som ses som ett föregångsland ekonomiskt, kulturellt och socialt nytänkande. Ovant. Spännande.
Det kanske inte är så konstigt att jag trivs i Storbritannien. Som Göteborgare och boende i ‘Lilla London’ har vi alltid tittat mer västerut än österut. Många flottbesök genom åren har satt sin prägel på lynne och känslan här i stan, ”Engelska flottan har siktats vid Vinga..” Jag fick nyligen lära mig att de två länder som röstar och agerar mest lika i EU är just Storbritannien och Sverige. Jag tror dem. Vi har en kulturell värdegemenskap som känns i hjärtat, även om allt på ytan är lite annorlunda. Och språket, ja det klarar vi. Det är därför det länns mer än konstigt att engelsmännen skulle ställa sig utanför EU i de avgörande ekonomiska frågorna. Även om de har det gamla Brittiska imperiet att falla tillbaka på, så är det ju inte samma sak nu som då. I början av februari kommer det att hållas ett toppmöte i Stockholm med de baltiska länderna, Storbritannien och Sverige. Skulle gärna delta. Får fråga Fredrik.
David Cameron och Fredrik Reinfelt gör klokt i att bli nya bästisar. Man vet aldrig när det kan behövas. A pint of lager for us and bokhyllan Billy for you. Cheers mate!
Julian Assange implode
There is a Swedish saying – upp som en sol, ned som en pannkaka. Translated that would be something like: start well, but fizzle out. Many people were hoping that Assange could be something new in the world, but boy were they misstaken. Obviously. According to Assanges previous partner, Daniel Domscheit-Berg, Assange is ruthless, have a massive ego, act like he had been raised by wolves – a messy and sloppy appearance. He also describe him as dissolute. That could explain the accusation made against him on sexual assault and rape. Assange is currently held in Great Britain, refusing to go to Sweden and face the accusations made at him. And for the record, I have never passed judgement if he is guilty of the accusations of rape and sexual assault or not. But I have said that the only way to put and end to all this is to come to Sweden and let justice have its course.
Assange and his lawyers are now trying to smear Sweden and are surprised that The Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt is trying to set the record straight. And I’m sorry if this hurts Assanges ego a little, but he is not ”an enemy of the state” in Sweden. He is not that important and Sweden simply do not do things that way. We are an open, peaceful, responsible and beautiful country with high moral standards and respect towards others. The ignorance of how our legal system works from Assange and his lawyers are massive. It’s really a disgrace and cannot be allowed to stand without correction. The question is; can Sweden sue Assange for slander? An interesting thought.
Assange often talked about openness, but according to his previous partner, he acted the opposite way within Wikileaks. This split have now resulted in OpenLeaks. The new site is going to operate in a different and more responsible way and protect the persons that leak material. Well, that is a big improvement vis-a-vis Wikileaks anyway. All according to the book from Assanges previous partner Daniel Domscheit-Berg. The book is going to be released in 10 countries and if the title says it all, well, then we are in for an interesting afternoon – ”Inside Wikileaks: My Time with Julian Assange at the World’s Most Dangerous Website”.
But bear in mind that leaking secret documents is a huge responsibility. They are secret for a reason. Especially if it puts people at risk, soldiers or civilians. It really feels as if the tide has turned when people now are observing the consequenses of Julian Assange and his empire Wikileaks. It seem to me that Assange himself is his worst enemy. Like a burned out star implodes into a black hole. Plop.
DN, DN, SvD, SvD, Expressen, Aftonbladet, SVT, SVT, SvD, Expressen, GP,
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Assange, Wikileaks and new nuclear in Sweden
Well, how convenient for Mr Assange that someone has leaked secret material just days before he is due in court in London, risking to be extradited to Sweden. Julian Assange should know how it’s done, being THE expert in the field of leaking secret material with Wikileaks. The former Swedish prosecuter Sven-Erik Alhem is supposedly attending in court. He is going to witness on court procedures. The allegations from Assange made at the Swedish judicial system for not beeing fair, is by many seen as an attempt to confuse and hide the original offence – sexual assault and rape. In Sweden we do not take lightly on accusations like this, it has to be investigated. And it doesn’t help if you are notoriously famous, famous or just notorious, the law applies to all. Even to Julian Assange.
There are news that a Japanese company (Hitachi Nuclear) is planning to build a nuclear powerplant in Sweden near Oskarshamn. This is very positive news, as we need to increase the electricity production in Sweden, not the least to be able to reduce electricity prices. The government in Sweden have recently lifted the ban on new nuclear power. The Japanese company is the first in line to declare plans to build new nuclear in Sweden, but probably not the last. I must admit that I admire the Britons for their decision to build 25 new nuclear plants in Great Britain. Way to go Britons!
Expressen, Expressen, SvD, DN, SvD, SVT,
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A pint of lager and bokhyllan Billy, please.
Sweden and Great Britain are two very different countries, but we seem to share the same basic values. Maybe that is why we go together so well. And we do share many of the important challenges ahead of us; job creation, energy system, climate- and environmental issues, technology and innovation. The Prime Ministers David Cameron and Fredrik Reinfeldt have initiated a two day exchange meeting in London, and it all kicks of with an informal dinner at No 10 Downing Street wednesday night. Furthermore, the delegations will exchange ideas and strategies for two days on these different topics. I so would have liked to be a fly on that wall.
I think this could be very interesting and rewarding for both our countries. At least I expect an outcome of this exchange meeting to be some new Swedish IKEA names; the oh so comfortable sofa ”Trafalgar” and the popular dining table ”Winston”. It’s so much nicer than the bookshelf ”Billy” anyway.
According to the British Ambassador in Sweden, the very likable and versatile Andrew Mitchell whom we visited for Afternoon Tea at the residence yesterday, we seem to be voting almost identically in the EU, closer together than any other countries. A kind of same, same – but different, as it seems. Well, I know that Gothenburg is called ”Little London” but the metaphor has to stop there; it’s not a good idea to call Sweden ”Little Britain”. It really wouldn’t help the bilateral relations at all.
.
I understood that the UK Ambassador is leaving Sweden this summer after his successful 5 year tour here to take on a new position back in London. He is going to see to it that the 2012 London Olympic Games are the best games ever. I am sure that the London Games are going to be really successful. I just recalled that a year ago or so , when I as chairman for the Swedish Supreme Audit Institution, was having the very nice Sebastian Coe (Lord Coe) as my dinner partner at a Whitehall dinner. Coe became the chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. It’s a small world. A little while ago I wrote a blog on the topic of who is going to have the honour of performing the opening song for the 2012 London Olympic Games (Mick Jagger or Paul McCartney). You can read my previous blog on the subject here. And the answer to that question is of course; the one and only Paul McCartney with a Beatles song. Nothing else will do.
The conclusion of todays blog is that it really is a small world we are living in. And sometimes the most different pieces suddenly fits just perfectly.
Regeringskansliet, DN, The Times, DN, SvD, DN, SvD, SvD, GP,
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Guns and Politics, Palin and Assange
Well, 2011 is well on it’s way and it looks like it’s going to be an interesting year. Floodings in Australia, Wikileaks Julian Assange stands trial or hearing in London to be extradited to Sweden for his rape trial and winter is still Polar-like with it’s freezing temperatures and lots of snow all over Europe. Midwinter. Brrrr.
But the most tragic event must be the shooting in the USA. A Democratic Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, who had often been the target of hostile rhetoric from the Tea Party, was shot in the head at a political gathering in her constituency in Tucson, Arizona. She is still in the hospital fighting for her life. Several bystanders were shot and killed. There has been no explaining to the assault so far from the gunman. Has the political violence escalated this fast in the USA? Or has this nothing to do with the pungent tone between candidates and the massive negative campaigning? I wonder. What goes around comes around. Sarah Palin, a figurehead of the Tea Party, identified Giffords as one of the Democratic members of Congress she wanted to see defeated in Novembers elections. Palin’s Facebook page still feature a cross-hair symbol over the constituencies of Rep Giffords. Is that the way to go Sarah?
I urge the Tea party and Sarah Palin to remove all cross-hair symbols instantly. I am really stunned over the hate that Palin is pouring over her opponents. Its immature and disgraceful. I am a congresswoman myself and I would never even consider to do such a thing. If this is the type of politicians and behaviour that America is to rely on for their future, we all are in a lot of trouble. Sarah Palin for president? Think not.
Lets try and make 2011 a better year for all shall we? I’ll start by wishing all my political opponents a Happy New Year for them and their families. Let’s debate and argue in chambers but lend each other a helping hand outside the ring. We all are just trying to do the best for our country and our people, but with different viewpoints, that’s all. And if we didn’t differ, it wouldn’t be democracy.
DN, SvD, Expressen, SVT, The Times, SvD,
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Suicide bomber in Sweden – Brittish links
On Saturday, Sweden was exposed to what seems to be its first attack by a suicide bomber. It is being regarded as a terrorist deed. Fortunately he failed and only blew up himself. But it could have been much worse if he had reached all the Christmas shoppers at Drottninggatan in the middle of central Stockholm. Drottninggatan is equivalent to Oxford Street in London. The Swedish news agency TT reported that they had received information that hours before the bombings in Stockholm an employee of the Swedish Armed Forces sent a warning to a friend that ”something serious” could happen on Drottninggatan. The Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) had no knowledge beforehand about the plans, they say in a comment. This is now being investigated. The owner of the car that blew up in Stockholm, belongs to a former Brittish citizen. The British Cabinet Office had confirmed that they are conducting an investigation. Apparently there are connections to Luton, north of London. Luton is regarded to be somewhat of a center in Britain for extremist groups. Before the London bombings five years ago, the terrorists gathered in Luton to coordinate their attack. FBI is sending seven experts to Sweden to assist the Swedish police. The FBI are leading in the field of determing bomb material and usage around the world.
The Swedish Prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, said in the press conference today that we must not act in haste and make our decisions based on facts rather than guesses. I think he is absolutely right about that. No one else but the bomber was killed, but it could have been much, much worse. Even so, there is no call to judge all alike, we must be able to see who is friend and who is foe. All muslims are not our enemies, on the contrary. Muslims For Peace and many other organisations like it, are clearly rejecting the deed. Thats a good start.
I cannot help thinking of the Swedish film ”Arn”. Arn was a swedish man who was sentensed to go to the wholy land and fight with the wholy Knight Templar Orden for twenty years. When he eventually came home again, he brought with him some Saracens. They helped with a lot of things, bringing knowledge to this not so developed country in the north. With their help, he and the local army finally defeated our enemies and brought the different parts of the country together to be able to form what we today call Sweden.
I am wondering if we can learn something about that even today, a thousand years later.
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Nobelpriset – sassa brassa mandelmassa!
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