5 Whys Root Cause Analysis; Solving Root Cause Not Symptoms; Asking Why?

5 Whys root cause analysis
Solving Root Cause not Symptoms; Asking why?

written by Tony Leanman

[source: Hubpages]

Why 5 Whys

5 Whys root cause analysis is a powerful but very simple tool to identify the root cause of a problem so that you can tackle the true cause of the problem not the symptoms.

Either in your business or in any other walk of life, asking why can lead you to the root of a problem. Far too often in our businesses we tend to address the symptoms of a problem rather than addressing the true root cause. Because of this the problems fail to go away and just reappear again at a later date. Asking WHY five times can help you reach the root cause of a problem allowing you to prevent their re-occurrence.

Use the 5 Whys for root cause analysis and stop wasting your time putting sticking plasters over the problems to fix them for a day or two. By addressing the root cause of a problem you prevent it from re-occurring, saving yourself time and money.

Too often in our businesses we spend our time asking why this problem has happened again, why it didn't go away after we fixed it last week, five whys will help you to remove these repeating problems by curing the root cause.

Symptoms vs Root Cause

When something goes wrong we typically witness the symptoms of the problem, the defects at the end of our production line or the failed machine. The cause of the problem is not always so obvious and far too often we jump to conclusions regarding what those causes are, typically grabbing at another symptom of the original problem as being the root cause as we don’t investigate “deep” enough.

For instance a teenager may blame their oily skin for their spots and buy many lotions and creams to cure the oily skin, but why have they got oily skin? The root cause could be down to their environment, their diet, even their hormones or genetics. They are only tackling a symptom of the underlying problem so they will never truly cure the issue.

Root cause analysis using the 5 Whys will help your drive continuous business improvement and even improvements in other areas of your life.

History of the 5 Whys

The 5 whys originated within the Toyota Production System and is an integral part of Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen and even Six Sigma. Taiichi Ohno saw the 5 Whys as a very important part of Toyotas overall philosophy.

5 Whys Method

Like that annoying kid that keeps asking “why” when you give him an answer until you get to the point of just saying “because” when you run out of steam, 5 whys is a very simple method to use to drill down through the layers of symptoms to get to the root cause.

The process is simple just ask why 5 times in succession to get to the true root cause of the problem as per the pictures below.

This is a very simple process indeed but more often than not we stop at the very first "why" and try to do something about the symptoms rather than getting to the true root causes. Putting repeated sticking plasters onto our processes we find ourselves having to deal with the same problems day after day and never make progress to actually solve our issues. This is why the 5 Whys are so important and should be a discipline that is instilled at all levels within the organization.

5 Whys Process

Click link above to view thumbnails.

5 Whys Criticisms

The criticisms of 5 whys are many but to be honest they are missing the point behind the ideas of using 5 whys, the idea of the 5 whys is to instill the discipline of searching for the true root cause behind something.

In the example above we could still continue asking why a sixth or even seventh time and investigated the maintenance routine of the machine and so forth. The point is not to stop at 5 whys, 5 was only used as it was typically enough to reach to the true root cause, however there will often be occasions when you need to ask 6, 7 or even 8 times to reach the true root cause, the point is to keep investigating to the point that you tackle the real cause.

The other problem is that different people follow the process they may come up with a different why, sometimes there are multiple symptoms and causes of a problem especially with more complex problems, at this point we try brainstorming and fishbone diagrams to try to determine the root causes, but again questioning each potential root cause to see if it is truly the root cause.

But if there is more than one potential root cause to a problem don't just solve the one that caused today's problem. How many times do you see something that could go wrong, ignore it because you are too busy, only to have it bite you a day or a week later!

Why 5 Whys is Important

It is the discipline of searching for the root cause not tackling the symptoms that is the strength of the 5 whys technique, it is not meant to be taken as a literal 5 step tool for individuals to use to get to the root cause every time. use as many whys as you need to get to your root cause and if it means exploring more than one potential do so.

Continuous Improvement Using 5 whys

It is not enough in business to wait for a problem to occur and then tackle those problems, if you want to succeed then you have to have a planned process of continuous process improvement. 5 whys is a very good tool and discipline to instill in your people but it must be used within a planned framework of improvement.

What findings you derive from using 5 whys you should look to implement across other similar processes also, if lack of maintenance is causing problems on one machine the chances are that it causing problems elsewhere also. If one department’s skills with customer communication are causing issues with delivery what communication issues are causing problems in other departments?

Improvement never ends if you want to succeed!

Quality Tools

In addition to using the 5 Whys root cause analysis there are a host of other quality tools that can help you with your continuous process improvement and help you to eliminate the true root causes of your problems;

Like the many other quality tools the five whys is best used in conjunction wit other techniques and as part of a planned process of improvement not just fire fighting your problems on a daily basis. Used together the quality tools including the 5 whys are an effective way to improve your business and its competitiveness. The 7 Quality Tools.

Personal Autonomy

This picture has nothing to do with the message below. Or does it? I'm sharing this picture with you because it's a whimsical colorful stone pathway design that appeals to my taste. You may be appalled by it. But that's okay. You don't have to like it, and no one is forcing you to like it. At the same time, I don't expect you to force your dislike for my taste upon me. I'm not going to change it to make you feel good. After all, you wouldn't want someone to do that to you, right? Do you want someone to tell you how to dress, how to think, how to express yourself, how to live and then threaten you when you refuse to do as they say? I hope not. So why would you want to do that to me? or anyone else for that matter who doesn't agree with you, who doesn't think like you?

Personal Autonomy

[source: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy]

Without question, the majority of contemporary work on autonomy has centered on analyses of the nature and normativity of personal autonomy. Personal autonomy (also referred to as ‘individual autonomy’) refers to a psychological property, the possession of which enables agents to reflect critically on their natures, preferences and ends, to locate their most authentic commitments, and to live consistently in accordance with these in the face of various forms of internal and external interference. Personally autonomous agents are said to possess heightened capacities for self-control, introspection, independence of judgment, and critical reflection; and to this extent personal autonomy is often put forth as an ideal of character or a virtue, the opposite of which is blind conformity, or not ‘being one’s own person.’

As mentioned above, personal autonomy has an essential relation to authenticity: the personally autonomous agent is the agent who is effective in determining her life in accordance with her authentic self. Personal autonomy is thus constituted, on the one hand, by a cluster of related capacities (often termed ‘authenticity conditions’), centered on identifying one’s authentic nature or preferences and, on the other hand, by a cluster of capacities (often termed ‘competency conditions’) that are centered on being able effectively to live in accordance with these throughout one’s life in the face of various recalcitrant foreign influences. These capacities may be possessed singly or in unison, and often require a considerable amount of life experience to assume robust forms.

One of the most intractable problems surrounding personal autonomy concerns the analysis of the authentic self (the ‘self’ in ‘self-determination’, as it were). Some philosophers have claimed that no such self exists; and indeed, some philosophers claim that no self exists at all (for an overview of these problems, see Friedman 2003 and Mackenzie & Stoljar 2000). Most philosophers accept the possibility of the authentic self at least as a working hypothesis, however, and concentrate attention on the question of how authenticity is secured by an agent. The most popular and influential account is based on the work of Harry Frankfurt and Gerald Dworkin. According to their ‘hierarchical’ account, agents validate the various commitments (beliefs, values, desires, and so forth) that constitute their selves as their own by a process of reflective endorsement. On this account, agents are said to possess first-order and second-order volitions. Our first-order volitions are what we want; and our second-order volitions are what we want to want. According to the hierarchical model, our first-order desires, commitments, and so on are authentic when they are validated by being in harmony with our second-order volitions: that is, when we want what we want to want.

Following from this model, an agent is autonomous in relation to a given object when the agent is able to determine her first-order volitions (and corresponding behavior) by her second-order volitions. A simple example may help to illustrate the model. Say that I am a smoker. Although I enjoy lighting up, I do not reflectively endorse my smoking; I desire it, but I do not want to desire it. On the hierarchical model, smoking is not an aspect of my authentic self, because I do not reflectively endorse it; and to the extent that I am unable to change my habits, I am not autonomous in relation to smoking. Conversely, if I can bring my first-order volitions into harmony (or identity) with my second-order volition, then my desire is authentic because it is reflectively endorsed; and to the extent that I can mold my behavior in accordance with my reflective will, I am autonomous in relation to smoking. Persons who possess the requisite capacities to form authentic desires and effectively to generally live in accordance with them are autonomous agents according to this model (see Frankfurt 1971, 1999 and Dworkin 1988).

The hierarchical model remains–in outline, at least–the leading account of authenticity undergirding most contemporary accounts of personal autonomy, although it has been attacked on many fronts. The primary objection tendered against this account is ‘the problem of origins.’ As we have seen, authentic selfhood as reflective endorsement holds that my authentic self is the self that I reflectively ratify: the self that I endorse as expressing, in a deep sense, who I fundamentally am or wish to be. The problem of origins arises when one attempts to explain how this act of reflective endorsement actually constitutes a break from other-determination (that is, from foreign influence). For, could it not be the case that what appears to me to be an independent act of reflective endorsement is itself conditioned by other-determining factors and therefore ultimately an other-determined act? If this is the case, then it doesn’t seem that the possession of autonomy or the making of autonomous choices is possible. In short, the problem is how to sustain an account of self-determination that is not threatened by the pervasive effects of other-determination (see Taylor 2005 for elaboration on the problem of origins and related sub-problems). Much work on theories of personal autonomy has been explicitly devoted to addressing precisely these sorts of difficulties.

Besides analyzing and clarifying the authenticity conditions necessary for autonomy, philosophers have also worked on providing a thorough account of the competency conditions necessary for the presence of autonomy (see Meyers 1989, Mele 1993, and Berofsky 1995). Competency conditions, as we have seen, are those capacities or conditions that need to be present in order for one to be effective in living according to one’s authentic self-conception in the face of various kinds of interference to that end. Examples of competency conditions include self-control, logical aptitude, instrumental rationality, resolve, temperance, calmness, and a good memory.

In addition to authenticity and competency conditions, many theories of personal autonomy require the presence of certain external enabling conditions: that is, external or environmental (social, legal, familial, and so forth) conditions which are more than less out of the agent’s control, but which must be in place in order for fully autonomous living to be possible. Such enabling conditions include, for example, a modicum of social freedom, an array of substantive options for choice, the presence of authenticity-oriented social relations, and autonomy-supporting networks of social recognition and acknowledgment (see Raz 1986 and Anderson & Honneth 2005). Without these conditions, effective autonomous living is said by some to be impossible, even where authenticity and competency conditions are robustly satisfied.

Different autonomy theorists place different emphases on external enabling conditions. Some contend that external enabling is a necessary condition for autonomy (see Oshana 1998). Others hold that autonomy more properly concerns agential satisfaction of authenticity and competency conditions, regardless of whether the external environment allows for actual autonomous expression (see Christman 2007). Both views can claim some intuitive support. On the one hand, it is reasonable to hold that it is only fitting to call a person ‘autonomous’ if that person is in fact effective in living according to her authentic self-conception. Yet, it also makes sense to call persons ‘autonomous’ who have formed an authentic self-conception and possess the requisite competency conditions effectively to express that self-conception, but happen to lack the contingent socio-relational conditions that allow for the expression of that authentic self. A possible solution to this impasse may be to avoid seeking hard and fast borders to the existence of autonomy, and say that autonomy is present in both cases, but is more robust where the proper external enabling conditions are in place.

The question of normative commitments associated with personal autonomy possession has also been a matter of some dispute. Many philosophers hold that autonomy is normatively content-neutral. According to this account, one (or one’s commitments) can be autonomous regardless of the values one endorses. On this account, one could commit to any kind of life–even the life of a slave–and still be autonomous (see, for example, Friedman 2003). Other philosophers hold that autonomy possession requires substantive normative constraints of some kind or other–at the very least, it is argued that one must value autonomy in order to be truly autonomous (see Oshana 2003). As with the debate just mentioned, both sides of this debate can claim some intuitive support; this can be shown through the asking of opposing but seemingly equally compelling (apparently rhetorical) questions; namely, ‘Can’t one autonomously choose whatever one wants?’, and, ‘How can we call someone autonomous who doesn’t value or seek autonomous living?’ One possible solution to this debate is to say that while almost any individual choice can be autonomous, persons cannot live autonomous lives as a whole without some commitment to the value of autonomy.

Unlike moral and existentialist autonomy, personal autonomy is possessed in degrees, depending on the presence and strength of the constellation of internal capacities and external enabling conditions that make it possible. While not all persons possess personal autonomy, it is commonly claimed that virtually everyone–with the exception of the irredeemably pathological and the handicapped–possesses the capacity for personal autonomy. In addition, the links between personal autonomy possession and moral agency are usually said to be thin at best. Even those who hold that personal autonomy possession requires substantive normative commitments of some kind (such as, for example, a commitment to the value of autonomy itself), they usually hold that it is quite possible to be an autonomous villain. Some philosophers have argued that personal autonomy possession requires the presence of normative competency conditions that effectively provide agents with the capacity to distinguish right from wrong (see Wolf 1990), but this strong account is in general disfavor, and even if the account is correct, few would argue that this means that personally autonomous agents must also always act morally. In the face of this, one may wonder why autonomy-based claims are said to generate demands of respect upon others. This question will be dealt with in more detail in section 4 below.

Lastly, a word should be given on the relation between personal autonomy and freedom (or liberty, which is here taken to be synonymous with freedom). Although it is not uncommon to find the terms ‘(personal) autonomy’ and ‘freedom’ used essentially synonymously, there are some important differences between them.

More often than not, to claim that a person is free is to claim that she is negatively free in the sense that she is not constrained by internal or external forces that hinder making a choice and executing it in action. There is a clear distinction between autonomy and negative freedom, however, given that autonomy refers to the presence of a capacity for effective authentic living, and negative freedom refers to a lack of constraints on action. It is entirely possible for a person to be free in this negative sense but nonautonomous, or–on accounts that do not require the presence of external enabling conditions for autonomy to be present–for a person to be autonomous but not (negatively) free.

Some writers also speak of positive freedom, and here the connections with autonomy become much deeper. Speaking very generally, to be free in this sense is to possess the abilities, capacities, knowledge, entitlements or skills necessary for the achievement of a given end. For example, I am only (positively) free to win an Olympic gold medal in archery if I am extremely skilled in the sport. Here it should be clear that one can be positively free in many ways and yet not be autonomous. Some philosophers, however, following Isaiah Berlin (Berlin 1948), have described positive freedom in such a way that it becomes basically synonymous with personal autonomy. Like autonomy, the conception of freedom that is operative in a given discussion can vary considerably; but more often than not personal autonomy is distinguished from freedom by the necessary presence, in the former, of a connection to the authenticity of the agent’s self-conception and life-plan–a connection that is usually not found in conceptions of freedom.

The Six Secrets of Self-Control

The Six Secrets of Self-Control

written by Travis Bradberry

He is the cofounder of www.TalentSmart.com

[source: Forbes.com]

What is it about self-control that makes it so difficult to rely on? Self-control is a skill we all possess (honest); yet we tend to give ourselves little credit for it. Self-control is so fleeting for most that when Martin Seligman and his colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania surveyed two million people and asked them to rank order their strengths in 24 different skills, self-control ended up in the very bottom slot (for the record, self-control is a key component of emotional intelligence).

When it comes to self-control, it is so easy to focus on our failures that our successes tend to pale in comparison. And why shouldn’t they? Self-control is an effort that’s intended to help achieve a goal. Failing to control yourself is just that—a failure. If you’re trying to avoid digging into that bag of chips after dinner because you want to lose a few pounds and you succeed Monday and Tuesday nights only to succumb to temptation on Wednesday by eating four servings’ worth of the empty calories, your failure outweighs your success. You’ve taken two steps forward and four steps back.

With this success/failure dichotomy in mind, I give you six strategies for self-control that come straight from new research conducted at Florida State University. Some are obvious, others counter intuitive, but all will help you eliminate those pesky failures and ensure your efforts to boost your willpower are successful enough to keep you headed in the right direction for achieving your goals.

Self-Control Secret #1 – Meditate [Pray, Reflect, Ponder. (emphasis mine)]

Meditation actually trains your brain to become a self-control machine (and it improves your emotional intelligence). Even simple techniques like mindfulness, which involves taking as little as five minutes a day to focus on nothing more than your breathing and your senses, improves your self-awareness and your brain’s ability to resist destructive impulses. Buddhist monks appear calm and in control for a reason.

Self-Control Secret #2 – Eat

File this one in the counter intuitive category, especially if you’re having trouble controlling your eating. Your brain burns heavily into your stores of glucose when attempting to exert self-control. If your blood sugar is low, you are far more likely to succumb to destructive impulses. Sugary foods spike your sugar levels quickly and leave you drained and vulnerable shortly thereafter. Eating something that provides a slow burn for your body, such as whole grain rice or meat, will give you a longer window of self-control. So, if you’re having trouble keeping yourself out of the company candy bin when you’re hungry, make sure you eat something else if you want to have a fighting chance.

Self-Control Secret #3 – Exercise

Getting your body moving for as little as 10 minutes releases GABA, a neurotransmitter that makes your brain feel soothed and keeps you in control of your impulses. If you’re having trouble resisting the impulse to walk over to the office next door to let somebody have it, just keep on walking. You should have the impulse under control by the time you get back.

Self-Control Secret #4 – Sleep

When you are tired, your brain cells’ ability to absorb glucose is highly diminished. As I explained in Secret #1, your brain’s ability to control impulses is nil without glucose. What’s worse, without enough sleep you are more likely to crave sugary snacks to compensate for low glucose levels. So, if you’re trying to exert self-control over your eating, getting a good night’s sleep—every night—is one of the best moves you can make.

Self-Control Secret #5 – Ride the Wave

Desire has a strong tendency to ebb and flow like the tide. When the impulse you need to control is strong, waiting out this wave of desire is usually enough to keep yourself in control. The rule of thumb here is to wait at least 10 minutes before succumbing to temptation. You’ll often find that the great wave of desire is now little more than a ripple that you have the power to step right over.

Self-Control Secret #6 – Forgive Yourself

A vicious cycle of failing to control oneself followed by feeling intense self-hatred and disgust is common in attempts at self-control. These emotions typically lead to over-indulging in the offending behavior. When you slip up, it is critical that you forgive yourself and move on. Don’t ignore how the mistake makes you feel; just don’t wallow in it. Instead, shift your attention to what you’re going to do to improve yourself in the future.

Putting These Strategies to Work

The important thing to remember is you have to give these strategies the opportunity to work. This means recognizing the moments where you are struggling with self-control and, rather than giving in to impulse, taking a look at the Six Secrets and giving them a go before you give in. It takes time to increase your emotional intelligence, but the new habits you form with effort can last a lifetime.

Key Skills for Raising Emotional Intelligence

Key Skills for Raising Emotional Intelligence

[source: Help Guide]

When it comes to happiness and success in life, emotional intelligence (EQ) matters just as much as intellectual ability (IQ). Emotional intelligence helps you build stronger relationships, succeed at work, and achieve your career and personal goals. Learn more about why emotional intelligence is so important and how you can boost your own EQ by mastering a few key skills.

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to identify, use, understand, and manage emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict. Emotional intelligence impacts many different aspects of your daily life, such as the way you behave and the way you interact with others.

If you have high emotional intelligence you are able to recognize your own emotional state and the emotional states of others, and engage with people in a way that draws them to you. You can use this understanding of emotions to relate better to other people, form healthier relationships, achieve greater success at work, and lead a more fulfilling life.

Emotional intelligence consists of four attributes:

• Self-awareness – You recognize your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behavior, know your strengths and weaknesses, and have self-confidence.
• Self-management – You’re able to control impulsive feelings and behaviors, manage your emotions in healthy ways, take initiative, follow through on commitments, and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Social awareness – You can understand the emotions, needs, and concerns of other people, pick up on emotional cues, feel comfortable socially, and recognize the power dynamics in a group or organization.
• Relationship management – You know how to develop and maintain good relationships, communicate clearly, inspire and influence others, work well in a team, and manage conflict.

Why is emotional intelligence (EQ) so important?

As we know, it’s not the smartest people that are the most successful or the most fulfilled in life. You probably know people who are academically brilliant and yet are socially inept and unsuccessful at work or in their personal relationships. Intellectual intelligence (IQ) isn’t enough on its own to be successful in life. Yes, your IQ can help you get into college, but it’s your EQ that will help you manage the stress and emotions when facing your final exams.

Emotional intelligence affects:

• Your performance at work. Emotional intelligence can help you navigate the social complexities of the workplace, lead and motivate others, and excel in your career. In fact, when it comes to gauging job candidates, many companies now view emotional intelligence as being as important as technical ability and require EQ testing before hiring.
• Your physical health. If you’re unable to manage your stress levels, it can lead to serious health problems. Uncontrolled stress can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. The first step to improving emotional intelligence is to learn how to relieve stress.
• Your mental health. Uncontrolled stress can also impact your mental health, making you vulnerable to anxiety and depression. If you are unable to understand and manage your emotions, you’ll also be open to mood swings, while an inability to form strong relationships can leave you feeling lonely and isolated.
• Your relationships. By understanding your emotions and how to control them, you’re better able to express how you feel and understand how others are feeling. This allows you to communicate more effectively and forge stronger relationships, both at work and in your personal life.

How to raise your emotional intelligence

All information to the brain comes through our senses, and when this information is overwhelmingly stressful or emotional, instinct will take over and our ability to act will be limited to the flight, fight, or freeze response. Therefore, to have access to the wide range of choices and the ability to make good decisions, we need to be able to bring our emotions into balance at will.

Memory is also strongly linked to emotion. By learning to stay connected to the emotional part of your brain as well as the rational, you’ll not only expand your range of choices when it comes to responding to a new event, but you’ll also factor emotional memory into your decision-making process. This will help prevent you from continually repeating earlier mistakes.

To improve your emotional intelligence—and your decision-making abilities—you need to understand and manage your emotions. This is accomplished by developing key skills for controlling and managing overwhelming stress and becoming an effective communicator.

Developing emotional intelligence through a few key skills:

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is built by reducing stress, remaining focused, and staying connected to yourself and others. You can do this by learning key skills. The first two skills are essential for controlling and managing overwhelming stress and the last three skills greatly improve communication. Each skill builds on the lessons learned in practicing the earlier skills and include:

• The ability to quickly reduce stress in the moment in a variety of settings
• The ability to recognize your emotions and keep them from overwhelming you
• The ability to connect emotionally with others by using nonverbal communication
• The ability to use humor and play to stay connected in challenging situations
• The ability to resolve conflicts positively and with confidence

How to learn the key skills that build emotional intelligence

The key skills of emotional intelligence can be learned by anyone, at any time. There is a difference, however, between learning about emotional intelligence and applying that knowledge to your life. Just because you know you should do something doesn’t mean you will—especially when you become overwhelmed by stress, which can hijack your best intentions.

In order to permanently change behavior in ways that stand up under pressure, you need to learn how to overcome stress in the moment and stress in your relationships by remaining emotionally aware. This means that you can’t simply read about emotional intelligence in order to master it. You have to experience and practice the skills in your everyday life.

Tips for resolving conflict in a trust-building way:

• Stay focused in the present. When you are not holding on to old hurts and resentments, you can recognize the reality of a current situation and view it as a new opportunity for resolving old feelings about conflicts.
• Choose your arguments. Arguments take time and energy, especially if you want to resolve them in a positive way. Consider what is worth arguing about and what is not.
• Forgive. Other people’s hurtful behavior is in the past. To resolve conflict, you need to give up the urge to punish or seek revenge.
• End conflicts that can't be resolved. It takes two people to keep an argument going. You can choose to disengage from a conflict, even if you still disagree.

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Radical Thinking: What You Can Learn From the Timeless Philosophy of Socrates! GREAT SYNOPSIS!

Radical Thinking: What You Can Learn From
the Timeless Philosophy of Socrates

written by Tejvan Pettinger

[source: Pick the Brain: Grow Yourself!]

During his lifetime Socrates wrote nothing down. Yet his wisdom has formed the bedrock of western philosophy. Socrates was viewed as a great teacher. But he did not claim to be a teacher. In fact, he frequently said ‘all I know is that I know nothing’. By all accounts Socrates was both poor and ugly. Yet in a society that placed tremendous value on beauty and wealth, people of all classes were magnetically drawn to his teachings and enigmatic personality. As he wrote nothing down, there is some dispute about what Socrates actually said. But, from the writings of Plato and others, we can gain a few glimpses into the character and ideals of this ancient sage and unique philosopher.

The Socratic Dialogue

Perhaps the most arresting feature of Socrates’ legacy is his unique method of teaching and arriving at the truth. Socrates didn’t claim the truth is this or the truth is that. He sought to question students in a way that would lead them to arrive at the truth themselves. Socrates frequently claimed to know nothing. Yet, if Socrates knew nothing, why were people so eager to hear him talk? The reason was that Socrates was able to make people reconsider their own ingrained ideas; Socrates had a way of making people think for themselves and consider truth from different angles. This method of conversation incurred the ire of some people; they were not happy that Socrates was able to show the limitations of their thinking. Yet, the genius of the Socratic method was that he never had to directly tell people their inadequacies; they came to realise it themselves.

Independence of Thought

One of Socrates most admired traits was that he did not follow popular opinion. He questioned every orthodox belief and decided independently if it was worth pursuing. Socrates looked at issues from both perspectives; he did not allow himself to be tied down by religious, political, or social conventions. This independence of thought and mind was particularly powerful given the forces of conformity predominant in Greek society. The importance he placed on independence of thought can be seen by his response to his trial and death. Socrates had numerous opportunities to flee; however, he didn’t wish to flee — he felt that escape would weaken his philosophic independence. Socrates was also non dogmatic; he had friends with both Oligarchs and Democrats. At the same time, he had enemies in both parties; Socrates would never moderate his words to curry favour with others.

Interest in the Welfare of Others

Socrates spent most of his time wandering the streets of Athens, talking with people interested in discovering more about life. Socrates was a great teacher, because ironically he didn’t have an agenda to teach. He was not interested in imparting a certain dogma or attracting followers. He wanted people to think for themselves and consider the real nature of life and truth. As Socrates said to one student.”If you take my advice, you will give but little thought to Socrates but much more to the truth.” Socrates was not just a great talker, but also a great listener. It is this balance which set him apart from ordinary teachers who want only to lecture others.

Fear Not Death

"The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows” - Socrates. The authorities felt threatened by the popularity and independent nature of Socrates and sought to have him silenced. The result was a travesty of justice; however, Socrates was able to meet his death with an enviable equanimity. Not only did Socrates maintain a philosophic calm, he also bore little anger or ill feeling to his judges who had unjustly tried him. He magnanimously said: ”I am not angry with my accusers, or my condemners; they have done me no harm, although neither of them meant to do me any good; and for this I may gently blame them.” It is easy for a philosopher to talk about the unreality of death, but the real test is how we respond when faced with it ourselves. The equanimity of Socrates suggests he lived the ideals he spoke of.

Self Control

Socrates once visited a palm reader. The palm reader looked at his hands and said to him: “so many undivine qualities you have: anger, pride, lust.”. His followers were furious — how could she say this about the great saint, Socrates? Socrates replied, “Wait, let us see whether she has anything else to say.” The palm reader continued, “Yes, he has these qualities, but, he also has them under his complete control.” Like all people, Socrates had negative emotions and qualities but he was able to prevent them from controlling him.

Tolerance of Others

Socrates married Xanthippe, who was renowned for her irritating behaviour and quick temper. Socrates didn’t get upset about his wife’s negative qualities. Instead he saw it as an opportunity to develop tolerance, patience and humility. Socrates even made a joke of it saying, “As I intended to associate with all kinds of people, I thought nothing they could do would disturb me, once I had accustomed myself to bear the disposition of Xanthippe.”

Outer Appearances Do Not Matter

It is said even by his admirers that Socrates was ugly. Reports suggest he was short, fat, and had a big nose. Yet, despite his unflattering looks, many eagerly sought his company for his wisdom, counsel and inspirational views on life. Despite an ugly outer countenance people saw in Socrates an inner beauty. As the aristocratic military genius Alcibiades said of Socrates “His nature is so beautiful, golden, divine. ”Socrates paid little attention to outer form. This doesn’t mean he could not appreciate beauty; however, as a true philosopher, it was his duty to see beyond the outer form.

Know Thyself

It is said that Socrates once visited the oracle of Delphi, where he was told the most important task in his life was to know his real self. To know the real self is perhaps the ultimate goal of philosophy. If we don’t know who we are, how can we solve the mysteries of life and help other people? For Socrates knowing thyself was more than a mere intellectual quest. It was an idea that shaped his life and inner attitude. He was never satisfied with accepting outer appearances and conventional wisdom, but always strove for a deeper understanding of his real Self. Above all, Socrates taught us not accept our existing thoughts as true. Step back and reevaluate the truth and veracity of your opinions and beliefs. Seek to know your real self and seek truth. It is a lofty philosophy, but one that has retained an enduring appeal and fascination through the ages.

10 Inspirational Quotes by Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka (July 3, 1883 – June 3, 1924) was a Prague German-language novelist and short story writer, widely regarded as one of the major figures of 20th-century literature. His work, which fuses elements of realism and the fantastic, typically features isolated protagonists faced by bizarre or surrealistic predicaments and incomprehensible social-bureaucratic powers, and has been interpreted as exploring themes of alienation, existential anxiety, guilt, and absurdity. His best known works include "Die Verwandlung" ("The Metamorphosis"), Der Process (The Trial), and Das Schloss (The Castle).

The term Kafkaesque has entered the English language to describe situations like those in his writing.

Kafka was born into a middle-class, German-speaking Jewish family in Prague, the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, today part of the Czech Republic. He trained as a lawyer, and after completing his legal education he was employed with an insurance company, forcing him to relegate writing to his spare time. Over the course of his life, Kafka wrote hundreds of letters to family and close friends, including his father, with whom he had a strained and formal relationship. He became engaged to several women but never married. He died in 1924 at the age of 40 from tuberculosis.

10 Inspirational Quotes by Franz Kafka

1. Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.

2. Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.

3. Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.

4. A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us.

5. By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it. The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired.

6. They say ignorance is bliss... they're wrong.

7. He is terribly afraid of dying because he hasn’t yet lived.

8. First impressions are always unreliable.

9. Most men are not wicked... They are sleep-walkers, not evil evildoers.

10. God gives the nuts, but he does not crack them.

BONUS

You are at once both the quiet and the confusion of my heart.

BONUS BONUS

The truth is always an abyss. One must — as in a swimming pool — dare to dive from the quivering springboard of trivial everyday experience and sink into the depths, in order to later rise again — laughing and fighting for breath — to the now doubly illuminated surface of things.

INSPIRATIONAL STORY: Keep Your Dream

Keep Your Dream

written by Unknown Author

[source: Academic Tips]

I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.

The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my horse. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.

“That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.

“He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, `See me after class.’

“The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, `Why did I receive an F?’

“The teacher said, `This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud fees. There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, `If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’

“The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, `Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.’ “Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all.

He stated, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.”

Monty then turned to the assembled group and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.” He added, “The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week.” When the teacher was leaving, he said, “Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.”

“Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.”

Love, Wealth, or Success? An Inspirational Story with Wisdom ♥

Love, Wealth, or Success?

An Inspirational Story with Wisdom

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat." "Is the man of the house home?", they asked. "No", she said. "He's out." "Then we cannot come in", they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. "Go tell them I am home and invite them in!" The woman went out and invited the men in.

"We do not go into a House together," they replied. "Why is that?" she wanted to know. One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. "How nice!!", he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!" His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?" Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!" "Let us agree to our daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to his wife. "Go out and invite Love to be our guest."

The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love Please come in and be our guest." Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him.

Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?" The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success. The other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love. Wherever He goes, we go with him.

Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success.

ENGLAND: A Female Terror Suspect Resisting Arrest Shot By Police And Six Other (Dare I Say? Islamist) Arrested During An Anti-Terror Operation In London. Police Making Arrest On Almost Daily Basis.

Sky News, Australia

Woman shot by police during anti-terror raid in London

written by Staff

Friday April 28, 2017

A woman has been shot by police and four people were arrested during an anti-terror operation in north west London and Kent.

Armed officers entered a property in Harlesden Road, Willesden, shortly before 7pm on Thursday evening.

During the raid the woman, who was among a number of people under investigation, was shot. No other people were injured.

In unverified footage from the scene, specialist firearms officers can be seen outside a house and several gunshots were heard.

The woman, aged in her 20s, was taken to hospital where she is under police guard.

Police said she has not been arrested "at this time" due to her condition, which is said to be 'serious but stable'.

As part of the operation, four people have been arrested on suspicion of terror offences.

A 16-year-old youth and a woman, 20, were detained at the property, while a 20-year-old man was arrested nearby.

A 43-year-old woman was held in Kent a short while later.

They are in custody at a south London police station.

Police said the Willesden property and people connected to it had been "under observation by counter-terrorism officers as part of an ongoing intelligence-led operation".

Detectives are carrying out searches there as well as at other addresses across the capital.

The shooting has been referred to the Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards as well as the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The raid was not connected to the arrest earlier in the day in Whitehall of a man who police say was carrying a rucksack containing several knives. [News about this Islamist terrorist arrest is explained in the two videos I shared below. (emphasis mine)]

The Telegraph, UK

Police foil 'active terror plot' as woman is shot and six are arrested in north London raid

written by Rozina Sabur Martin Evans

Friday April 28, 2017

A police operation in north London during which a woman was shot, foiled an active terror plot, Scotland Yard has said.

Armed officers raided a property in the Willesden area shortly after 7pm on Thursday evening and a woman in her 20s was shot by police.

Six people were arrested during the operation and police said the woman remained in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Neil Basu, who is the senior national coordinator for Counter Terror Policing said the operation had foiled an "active plot" and he paid tribute to the officers involved.

It is understood the police had been watching the property as part of an ongoing counter-terrorism operation, but decided to go in after receiving specific intelligence.

The raid took place at a Victorian property on Harlesden Road and locals reported hearing a number of shots as heavily armed officers from the Met's Counter Terror Specialist Firearms command stormed the house.

The operation took place just a few hours after a man was arrested in Westminster on suspicion of terrorism offences after being stopped close to Downing Street carrying a rucksack packed with knives.

But Scotland Yard said the two matters were unrelated.

Mr Basu said: "Our highly trained firearms officers carried out a specialist entry into an address in Harlesden Road that we had under observation as part of a current Counter Terrorism investigation.

"An armed entry was necessary due to the nature of the intelligence that we were dealing with, and involved armed officers firing CS into the address.

"During the course of that operation one of the subjects of that operation - a woman - was shot by police - she remains in hospital.

"Her condition is serious but stable. Because of her condition she has not yet been arrested. We are monitoring her condition closely."

He added: "In total six people have now been arrested in connection with that investigation - five at or near the address and one in Kent.

"The two further arrests were made when a man and a woman - both aged 28 - returned to the address later last night.

"Searches are ongoing at three London addresses - including Harlesden Road - as part of this investigation.

"Due to these arrests that we have made, I believe that we have contained the threats that they posed."

Locals described how they saw heavily armed officers wearing bulletproof vests stormed the address just after 7pm.

They said the house was occupied by a family of three who were occasionally visited by a an older woman in her 40s.

Neighbours said the injured woman was brought out of the house on a stretcher, wearing a (black) burka.

One said she shouted "don't touch my body" as paramedics tried to tend to her wounds.

Ruth Haile, 40, who has lived in the area for nine years and who witnessed the raid said: "I heard a shot and I looked out my window and there were dozens of police.

"The woman was being arrested, she was on the floor wearing an long dress and covered in a head scarf. She was shouting, 'Do not touch me, do not touch my body.'

"She was injured, she had a wound on her right side and doctors were trying to help her. There was a bandage on the wound. She was lying in the street and there were about five or six police around her, some of them were carrying guns."

Another neighbour said: "It's so scary, I don't know the family but I heard the gunshots. I never expected something like this."

Police said six people had been arrested including a 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman who were detained at the address.

A 20-year-old man was arrested near to the address and a 43-year-old woman was arrested in Kent a short while later.

Two further people, a man and woman both aged 28, were arrested when they returned to the address last night.

All four have been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of terrorist acts under section 41 of the terrorism act 2000.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed of the incident, as is routine for police shootings.

ITALY: Muslim Man Who Threatened To “Roast Non-Believers On Skewers” Arrested.

Italy: Muslim who threatened to “roast non-believers on skewers” arrested https://t.co/Kuaqup1aZ7 @jihadwatchRS #Islam #sharia #Necromongers

— GlobalAwareness101 (@Mononoke__Hime) April 26, 2017

Jihad Watch

Italy: Muslim who threatened to “roast non-believers on skewers” arrested

written by Robert Spencer

Tuesday April 25, 2017

Mouner El Aoual should be taken immediately to Pope Francis, who would explain to him that true Islam and the proper understanding of the Qur’an reject every form of violence. How fortunate we are to have imams such as Francis to explain it all for us. Now if they could only convince the Mouner El Aouals of the world.

“ISIS sympathizer who threatened to ‘roast non-believers on skewers’ arrested in Italy,” RT, April 25, 2017 (thanks to the Geller Report):

Italian police have arrested an “extremely dangerous” Moroccan man who had reportedly planned terrorist attacks in Italy and used social media to recruit accomplices, according to media reports.

Mouner El Aoual, 29, was arrested in Turin on Monday in an operation which included Italy’s Special Operations Group. It followed seven months of surveillance after an FBI tip-off.

According to media reports, the man used the app Zello to discuss plans to carry out attacks in Italy.

In one chat group online, El Aoual referred to himself as the spokesperson for Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in Italy. He used the handle ‘ibn dawala7,’ meaning ‘son of the state,’ and swore allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi.

El Aoual, who has lived illegally in Italy since 2008, also shared images of IS on Facebook, and praised recent terrorist attacks across Europe.

He also promoted Islamist extremism online, calling for “non-believers” to be “roasted on kebab skewers” and fed to dogs, according to a police report.

The 29-year-old reportedly shared material about various combat techniques and how to throw investigators off track, as well as behaviors which could make a person “invisible” while living in a Western country.

A judge for preliminary investigations called El Aoual an “extremely dangerous subject” who posed a “very high risk of moving on to carrying out serious acts of violence.”

Investigators said he had been living with an Italian mother and son who had come to think of him “almost as an adopted child.”…

The Mackensie Institute
Libya: The Islamic State’s Launching Pad Into Europe (part 2)
written by Dr. J. Paul De B. Taillon
April 27, 2016

Strategic Implications for Italy

Italy, in particular, is concerned both about the steady flood of migrants from Libya and the security of the Libyan oil and gas on which Italy is heavily dependent. A subsea pipeline from Tripoli supplies more than 10% of Italy’s natural gas requirement and a 2012 study reports that 21% of Italy’s oil requirements came from Libyan oil fields. The dependence on Libyan energy is epitomized in Italy’s biggest oil producer ENI which is heavily invested in Libya and continues to pump out the crude despite the security situation in the interior. Interestingly, international energy companies such as Shell and Total departed Libya in the wake of Qaddafi’s fall [that Obama and Hillary Clinton helped to facilitate (emphasis mine)], due to the security threat. Notwithstanding, the Italian ENI company remained, producing 300,000 barrels of oil per day, which is higher than the pre-Civil War output of 280,000 barrels. Although there is some question as to how this company continues to operate, it would appear that ENI has struck a deal to maintain its business interests. The interdiction or severing of energy supplies would undoubtedly have serious economic and strategic implications for Italy but also for countries dependent on Libyan energy sources. Italy’s historic relations with Libya, as well as its strategic interests of ensuring Libyan stability, may result in the proposed Italian-led security stabilization force involved at some point in the future. However, such a stabilization force would only be sent at the request of a UN-backed Libyan national unity government, and that is unlikely given, “The biggest obstacle to peace is not that Libyans cannot find common ground, but that they dare not trust each other to share the same ground at the same time.”

Over the past year (2015/2016), the presence of the IS in Libya has expanded. According to a UN Security Council report, IS fighters have engaged GNC and HOR aligned forces. IS forces have planned and executed attacks against Libya’s largest oil terminals and staged suicide bombings throughout the country. Libya has become one of a number of launching pads for the migrant stream intent on reaching Europe. For the EU, the reestablishment of a viable and effective Libyan government could do much to stem the tsunami of migrants that is wreaking political, economic and social havoc throughout Europe.

Published on Nov 14, 2015: Obama gave this interview 9 hours before the Paris attack. Obama said, "ISIS is not getting 'stronger,' We have 'contained' them".

A Complex Internal Political Situation

The political, religious, and tribal factions resident in Libya are not easily explained. Like other interest groups, they are opportunistic and consist of loose coalitions of political parties and ad hoc militias that inhabit the cities, towns and rural areas, representing various local, regional and national interests. The future government will have to embrace a spectrum of interests and persuade them to negotiate and come to a political compromise. The key to a new plan will be the security arrangements that will have to be forged between the various Libyan factions. More importantly, arrangements must be made as to how the various political parties will control and demobilize their respective militias or possibly integrate these into a national military force. A UN-brokered agreement to address these complex and problematic issues would bring international weight and objectivity to ensure that the future in Libya is aligned with geostrategic realities. The 2015 appointment of a supreme commander of the Libyan military is already a point of contention due to the move by HOR to designate General Khalifa Haftar, a Gadhafi-era general and now an anti–Islamist crusader, into this position. His intent to reclaim Libya from extremism, resonates with a substantial number of Libyans. However, his campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood and all Islamists has been plagued due to his indiscriminate use of violence as well as a bombing campaign that is seen causing collateral damage. His blunt use of force plays into the hands of the extremists who desire the psychological dislocation of the population from the elected government. Haftar leads the so-called Libyan National Army with the political intention of being Libya’s new strongman. He commands regular Army units but has relied upon proxy forces of local militias. In addition, he has a loose alliance with neighbourhood Zintani militia forces that control Tripoli International Airport. Haftar’s appointment did not meet with general acceptance as he is a divisive figure who is reviled by the Islamists and their Turkish and Qatari allies.

A January 2016 meeting between Haftar and the head of the Presidency Council, Fayez al-Sarraj, brought about the suspension of participation by a key GNC member of the Council. Such key leadership appointments must be seen as credible, legitimate and acceptable by all parties as they could easily usurp any national/international progress in creating a sustainable unity government aimed at establishing a lasting peace. Even the location of Libya’s new unity government remains contentious. While the UN agreement identifies that the government will reside in Tripoli, the city is home to hardline Islamist militias that are allied with the GNC and remain hostile towards the agreement. Libya’s other key cities have various factions, with the HOR protected by Haftar’s militias in Tobruk, while HOR aligned militias in Benghazi are fighting groups like ASL and IS. Although the Presidency Council was briefly lodged in Tunisia, and most recently moved to Tripoli.

Preparing For the Possibility of a Foreign Stability Force Intervention

To address the Libyan political and security dilemma, a third-party military power could establish security to reassure Libya’s nascent unity government and the respective factions. This option has been widely discussed in Italy, the EU47 and the United States (US), particularly over the fears caused by the IS presence and expansion within Libya. However, there is little possibility of inserting a large-scale intervention force to provide security under the auspices of the UN or NATO without an official request from an internationally recognized Libyan government.

A Libyan national unity government will not be able to act against the IS anytime soon. In the interim, France has been contributing special forces and intelligence support to the Libyan military, according to Libyan commander Wanis Bukhamada. While it was reported by Le Monde that the French forces were working along American and British elements engaging in a “secret war” against the IS, the French government declined to comment. Meanwhile, the Italian government quietly provided permission for armed American drones to fly out of its NATO airbase in Sigonella, Sicily, with the caveat that the drones were to protect US special operations forces in Libya and beyond. Apparently, American officials are continuing to argue for their use to be expanded for offensive operations against IS training camps and senior operatives. However, such a move could spark the Italian antiwar movement, as well as realizing the potential of collateral damage.

Notwithstanding, these Italian government concerns, this could be a first step in building a multinational coalition employing armed drones and special forces to assist Libyan forces in combating extremist elements. Interestingly, these revelations appear as the Obama administration searches for a comprehensive strategy to be employed against the IS in Libya and elsewhere. These initiatives are taking place while America and its allies patiently await the talks in Libya on forming a unity government, which is a vital first step in creating a viable and united Libyan government determined to fight the IS. The Italian government has stated that if a unity government was to be formed, it would voluntarily send a stabilization force of 5,000 or more troops. Both the US and Great Britain have suggested they were willing to provide support to an Italian-led mission.

Understanding Cascading Consequences

The removal of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, where the US, France, Great Britain, Canada and other NATO partners, toppled the government under the auspices of the UN, underscores the problems that arise in the wake of an intervention. The forces involved removed Qaddafi’s government without really putting themselves in harm’s way. The strategy of employing airpower combined with ground operations utilizing Libyan proxies, albeit with a modicum of support from Western special operations forces meant that Libya’s regime change was inexpensive in terms of ‘blood and gold.’ This combination of air power, proxies and special operations forces is reminiscent for many of the toppling of the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The failure to plan for a transitional government or to provide assistance to ensure the creation of a stable Libyan government contributed to the creation of the vacuum now being filled by extremists.

Conclusion

The situation in Libya is a salient lesson for both the United States and Europe, for they are both paying a bitter price for not planning for or implementing a Libyan-led transition government, once Qaddafi was removed from power. Undoubtedly, preparing and facilitating such plans for interim governance is fraught with risk. Nevertheless, failing to act has its own dire consequences as witnessed since 2012.

This failure of the international community and initial interim Libyan government to provide governance acceptable to the population at large, in a timely manner, brought about a Libyan political vacuum. Recent events, specifically the arrival of the Presidential Council for Libya and the UN backed Government of National Accord (GNA) arriving in Tripoli on March 30, 2015 have exacerbated an already tense domestic power struggle. This arrival subsequently sparked the National Salvation Government’s appointed prime minister Khalifa Gweil reported departure and re-location to Misrata, while his government refused to relinquish their authority in contrast to initial media reporting. Follow on reports have noted that the National Salvation Government in Tripoli has stepped down enabling the GNA to assert itself in Tripoli. At present it is unclear how the new GNA government led by the PC will be able to effectively assert its authority with respect to the political divisiveness of the country at large. This situation underlines the tenuous and complex nature of Libya’s fragmented and topsy-turvy domestic scene which could easily usurp any hope of forging an acceptable political solution so that the country may commence addressing the serious security and economic challenges it must face.

Libya today is confronting an IS-sponsored insurrection, as well as a disparate group of armed domestic militias operating unrestrained throughout Libya.The West is therefore reaping the results of its NATO led Libyan intervention and once again must learn a lesson reminiscent of the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq that,

“By rushing heedlessly into battle in 2011, with no clear, long-term strategy, the Western powers have helped create a Frankenstein monster out of the corpse of Libya, a creature that may before long wage jihad against both Europe and the Middle East.”

PAKISTAN: Public Warned Not To Invest In Thalian Housing Scheme Near The New Islamabad International Airport. Wow, This Is Crazy! :o

The Express Tribune Business, Pakistan

Public warned not to invest in Thalian housing scheme

written by Shahbaz Rana

Friday April 28, 2017

ISLAMABAD - Following up on doubts of a multibillion rupees fraud, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday asked authorities to freeze all bank accounts of a government-supported under-construction Thalian housing project while warning the public against investing in the scheme.

The parliament’s watchdog also constituted a subcommittee to further probe the matter and reprimanded Secretary Ministry of Housing and Works, Shahruk Arbab, after he showed complete ignorance about the existence of any such scheme. A committee member demanded the government to immediately remove Arbab from his post and termed him a “thoroughly corrupt officer”.

“The Thalian housing scheme Islamabad is a big fraud and people should not buy plots in the scheme,” warned the PAC.

It directed the finance ministry to make sure that all bank accounts opened for receiving funds from the public should be immediately blocked.

The PAC constituted a four-member subcommittee to further probe the matter comprising Senator Azam Swati of PTI, MNA Raja Javed Ikhlas of PML-N, MNA Arif Alvi of PTI and MNA Sardar Ashiq Gopang of the PML-N.

At this stage, the quantum of fraud is estimated at Rs24 billion but the exact size will be known only after the details are shared with the sub-committee, said Swati. He said that there were 80,000 members of the FGEHF and it is not yet clear how many of them have paid the first tranche of up to Rs550,000.

Background

The Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF), a department working under the Ministry of Housing, had launched the housing scheme near the New Islamabad International Airport in collaboration with a private party. Federal bureaucrats, journalists and the general public have deposited money to acquire plots in the scheme.

A twist in the story came when Secretary Housing denied the existence of any scheme despite the fact the FGEHF and private party widely publicised the scheme and used the picture of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on these advertisements.

The Secretary Housing’s claim that he was not aware of any such housing scheme shows what an incompetent person he is, remarked Syed Khursheed Shah.

“Billions of rupees in investment is at stake and the Secretary Housing is fully involved in this corruption,” alleged Swati. “I say with full authority that Secretary Housing is a thoroughly corrupt officer and the government should immediately remove him from the post,” he added.

Swati raised the issue of Thalian Housing society in the PAC meeting, alleging that the Ministry for Housing and Works was undertaking work through its front company. PML-N’s Senator Chaudhry Tanveer Ahmad asked whether the contractor used prime minister’s picture in the advertisement with permission of the housing ministry. Secretary Housing did not have an answer.

Senator Tanveer also inquired under what authority the private party was collecting funds from the people. There is no access road to Thalian and the land has been acquired in dubious manner, said Swati.

Bhara Kahu project

The PAC also showed its annoyance over irregularities and corrupt practices surfaced in yet another project of FGEHF -the Bhara Kahu Housing project, Islamabad. The committee snubbed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Ministry of Housing and Works and FGEHF for protecting the culprits.

Against prevailing market rates of only Rs100,000 per kanal at that time, the contractor charged Rs950,000 from the government, minting Rs2.4 billion in the process, said Director General of the Department of Auditor General of Pakistan. Green Tree Private Limited is the contractor.

However, the NAB official claimed that there was no element of criminality in the deal, an assertion that the PAC unanimously rejected.

The sub-committee of the PAC that was investigating the deal has again recommended criminal investigation against the contractor. The PAC sought final reply from the NAB chairman in next 15 days.