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It’s the last day of this year, so I thought I should throw out some thoughts on the events that have passed.

In the War on Islamism it has been a year of little progress. Iraq is still very much a battlefield, and will most likely continue to be so for quite some time. Saddam is gone, but fighters supported by Iran and by al-Qaeda remains in large numbers. Meanwhile increasingly common discussions in the West and in the US in particular about setting a pull-out date improves the morale of those who wishes to keep Iraq in disorderly chaos. What is needed in 2007 is not to give up, but rather to define clearer milestones to reach, and then find out what is needed to succeed. Winning in Iraq is important, because it is the main front, and because if we pull out our enemies will advance their struggle.

Iran has gained in influence, proving the world community (that is, the UN) unable to handle and oppose their growing ambition. With Russia and China trying to find their position in this new strategic situation, we may see many hard and dangerous years ahead.

In Sudan the genocide continues unhindered in Darfur, in spite of the knowledge that it would not require that much to prevent it. Why the media consistently fail to provide us with information on the great horrors that are taking place, under the leadership of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, remains a mystery.

In Somalia the Islamist rebels advance but are currently under fire from the Ethiopians, acting on pleas of help from the Somalian government.

In North Korea Kim Jong Il tried his nukes finding the response from the world to be puny and not particularly frightening.

In Russia former agents and journalists are murdered, while the few bastions democracy are falling one by one.

2006 has in many ways been a grim year, but it would be a mistake to forget the good things we’ve seen too. As I wrote recently poverty continues to decrease, as does the number of armed conflicts in the world. The challenges of the future are slowly getting more well defined and more widely debated, and with that chances of finding solutions become greater. The craze of the global warming threat seem to have reached its peak, which may leave room for a more serious debate where both costs and benefits of solutions may be considered, as well as what we actually know and what we’re just guessing.
On a smaller scale, Sweden has finally moved away from a left wing government. Admittedly the effects of that remains to be seen, but at least the air might feel a little more fresh.

2007 may well end up just as grim as 2006, but it can also mark a new turning point. On most of the important issues we still have the power to decide where to go; the question is if we also have the will. A few key points, on matters big and small:

• Stronger determination in Iraq. Not from the soldier in the field, who seem to understand why they are there and the importance of their mission. It is instead the politicians in the West that need to understand what is at stake. The politicians and the people both. Hopefully the quality and ability to provide insights of the media will improve, though there are no guarantees for that.
• Tied in with that is the challenge of Iran, the main force behind the chaos. Western leaders need to stop dreaming that they might not be as bad as they seem, and ensure that they are not given the opportunity to achieve what they want.
• The European Union. The correct conclusions need to finally be drawn from the rejection of the constitution. Instead of an ever closer union, Europe needs to focus on the things where it can play a positive role. Increased free trade, common markets, and fighting crime. It needs to stop wasting tax payer’s money on cows, and it needs to stop imposing tariffs to let the many (consumers) pay for the few and priviliged (for instance shoe manufacturers). One shouldn’t be too optimistic about that, though…
• Free trade. Free trade is the single best tool to fight poverty, while at the same time helping domestic consumers. Multilateral talks need to be resumed. It should be a no-brainer but strong special interests make it difficult.

What those things have in common is that they require leadership. They demand politicians that dare to achieve things even though it means they will face an angry left wing media, and special interests who are used to a priviliged position. The deciding matter for whether 2007 will be better than 2006 depend upon this question: do we have those leaders?

As for this blog, it will continue to push for those matters, and others that may arise. I thank you for reading it, and hope that you will keep doing so. Happy new year!

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