Commentary: Sweden's national security advisor's lost notebook continues a 'curse'

Sweden's national security advisor, Niclas Kvarnström, has apparently continued a peculiar tradition by losing a notebook during a NATO meeting in Ankara. This incident, reported by Dagens Nyheter, is presented not just as an isolated mistake but as part of a perceived pattern of security advisors in Sweden exhibiting carelessness with sensitive information.

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The national security advisor is chosen to bear our sins.

Gabriel Zetterström, the author of the commentary, draws parallels to previous national security advisors. He mentions Henrik Landerholm, who was described as a "national buffoon," and Tobias Thyberg, who resigned after only twelve hours in the role due to a leaked image. Kvarnström, it is noted, took nearly a year to "mess up," but the "curse" is now considered intact, and the lost book has yet to be recovered.

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It took almost a year for Niclas Kvarnström to start messing up – and thus get into the role of national security advisor.

The commentary suggests that the lost notebook's contents might circulate as a "legend," known only through hearsay at after-parties. Zetterström reflects on his own infrequent tendency to lose things, contrasting it with the apparent commonality of such occurrences. He posits that the newly created role of national security advisor is open to interpretation, potentially becoming a "prestige project" for the current government or a means for the prime minister to reward associates.

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With the lost notebook, order is restored and the curse remains intact.

However, Zetterström implies the situation is more significant than mere personal oversight or political maneuvering. The repeated instances of lost information are framed as a deeply ingrained issue within Sweden's national security apparatus, a "curse" that persists regardless of who holds the position.

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How damn hard can it be?