Normal service will be resumed

Apologies for light posting at the moment. Felt a bit off colour at the start of the week, and everything I want to post about requires more mental energy than I have right now. Hope to have more verve, and time, later in the week.

In the meantime, here are a few recommendations with a Middle Eastern flavour:

Raye Man Kojast? on the funeral of Sohrab Aarabi, murdered by the Iranian government

Kellie's latest round-up of other news from Iran

Michael Totten on the future of Iraq, with stories and photos from his recent visit

and The Plump on Peter Preston on Afghanistan.