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Of fate and of destiny; what is it to be? Applied to us humans they do have much relevance, even though it might not matter if we live and end our futile lives not knowing of their existence or their meaning.  Because how often do we speak of destiny, when it is really fate we are dealing with, because it is the case that we often confused the two, probably believing them to be interchangeable.  But let us be clear and accurate when we speak of  a means to and end, in the full knowledge that the two are very different things.  Even as it is the case that it is only fate which offers us the chance, if you will, however small or great, of having some influence over the path, pace and timing of the fulfilment of our destiny.  A destiny which is common to all humans, even to all living species.  Whereas destiny represents the end, even of hope, both real and false.  The unconscious, unthinking, irretrievable ending self, of ergosumness, of our being as a livi

It is not good enough or is it 'just' to treat all perpetrators as an homogeneous group who are motivated by the same factors and to the same extent.  This is part of the purpose of devising a more accurate system of assessing and treating and managing people who are convicted of terrorist attacks, as well as others who convicted of crimes which resulted in grave harm to others. It is of the nature of humans, our fate, that we all die, so, it is probably rather trite to saw Usman Khan deserved to be killed, to die for his crime.  However, there is no absence of compassion, it seems to me, to say that it is just and safer for innocent people that Usman Khan no longer walks amongst us on the Earth. In terms of the response to this murderous outrage, there is nothing, except quick and uninformed political points, to be gained from having a 'knee-jerk', 'lock them up and throw away the key' response to it.  The more adult and appropriate res

The fact that Usman Khan has spent 8 long years in Prison and it has not resulted in him being effectively reformed, is an indication that it is not primarily about how long a person spends in prison that reforms them.  It is about what is being done with them in Prison to re-educate, convert and transform them into becoming good citizens and human beings. At a certain point it might be valid to say all terrorist and convicted terrorists should be treated the same harsh and systematic way.  That they should all be kept in prison until they die, and that no attempt should be made to reform any of them and return them to the open society.  However, we, humans, are trying to improve our civilization and our laws and criminal justice systems.  We are concerned not only by the physical and mental harm arising from criminal acts, but also by the motives which drive each person to commit the crimes they commit.  To be continued!

Had Usman Khan been subjected to a more appropriate, reliable and thorough risk assessment and treatment model.   It is probably fair to conclude that he would not have been released from Prison in 2018.   Because he would have been assessed as still posing a too high level of risk of carrying out terror operation and killing and maiming people.  Had he been subjected to such a programme, even if he had been prematurely released, he might have been subjected to more stringent post-release surveillance and management.  For example, he might have been required to be seen by his probation or a police officer and checked before he left his home, and again before he entered the training venue.  Had the group to which Khan belonged been successful in carrying out the attack on the LSE, he would still be in prison, because the murders which he has now committed, would have been committed then.  And he would have declared what was in his mind, murdering innocent people,

In short, Usman Khan had secreted himself under the radar. With people have been willing to buy into his presentation of himself as a 'reformed terrorist.'  As someone who had seen, accepted and taken responsibility for the errors of his old persona, and had made the necessary changes.  The significance of the fact that an Appeal Court had accepted the argument that his initial sentence was too harsh.   Would not have gone amiss on the Prosecution Service, and the Probation Service that would be responsible for his post-release monitoring and sentencing.  It would have created, or, at least, enhanced factors leading to them, and to others, probably including his relatives and others coming into contact with him.   Thinking, assuming and believing that he was of a lower risk of harming others than his actual risk was.  Within the criminal justice system, whatever the Court of Appeal says carry special weight in how lower echelons of the system do their jobs

Who cab accurately know the mind of a person, except that person and the their god whom they have given access to their thoughts and imagination? We are rightly shocked when a rabid man, for no apparent purpose, planned and armed himself with available weapons.  And made his way to the British capital, London, and began to slaughter innocent citizens who, like him, were attending a seminar.  Probably few, if any of the participants of the learning exercise, were or would have been aware that, counted amongst them, was Usman Khan.  A convicted terrorist who had served half of his 16 year sentence before he was released last year.  On can begin to imagine how Khan had benefited from some of the circumstances surrounding his conviction and his successful appeal in getting his initially higher sentence reduced to 16 year.  With a reported stipulation that he be released from Prison after he had served half of it.  He had benefited from the fact that he was the yo

For various reasons, including the depletion of the raw materials being used in said production or manufacturing.   Or all or some of it being found to cause great and pernicious harm to us humans and/or our environment, as was and is the case with coal, lead, mercury and asbestos mining.   Or for ethical or moral reasons, such as the abolition of the enslavement of African and other peoples on an industrial basis. All of which is why it seems to me, that the better future of us humans, of our improving humanity.   Lies in a world in which our relative and sustainable happiness continues to be our central goal.  But not by way of 'getting a good education and a good job and wages or salary.'  But by making our respective contribution towards the families, the communities, the regions, the countries and the world in which we collective live.  And being provided with the 'appropriate exchangeable credits', which we need to acquire the thing