The Taliban: In the Footsteps of the Sahabah

"... the Sahabah started to be cemented together, in belief and study of the Qur'an. They were also bound together in action.... When the Sahabah were few in number they would contemplate on how they would rule the world." Political writings of Hizb-ut-Tahrir

Historians can inadvertently neglect a thorough examination of the five years of diplomacy and intrigue which preceded the movement of Prophet Muhammad to Yathrib, which later became known as Al-Madinah Al-Munawwara. Operations mounted to consolidate support unfolded in decisive manner during this time frame. Seerah literature provides recognizable configurations of thought which determine in no small manner how the Talib will deal with Western powers on Afghan soil. It doesn't matter if it is the 21st century. The game will be played with seventh century rules.

"America has no business being in the Muslim lands - get out. Sooner the better, otherwise American people will suffer greatly morally, financially, and politically. You can dominate people's bodies but you can never dominate their hearts."

(Personal correspondence, April 2005)

Nusrah (consolidation of power through communal support) was engaged by Prophet Muhammad and his cadre of loyalists in efficient manner. The Bay'ah of Islam with men from Al-Khazraj and Al Aws was followed by the famous al-Aqabah pledge. This clandestine meeting resulted in a loose confederation in which Prophet Muhammad declared, "I will wage war against those with whom you wage war and declare peace with whom you declare peace. My blood is your blood and my pact is your pact."

Heartened by these successes, a more aggressive forward political movement was sought. There was of course, a learning curve and having been rebuffed after an initial venture to the tribal leadership of Taif, Prophet Muhammad deemed it better in the future to send Abu Bakr with a handful of Sahabah for preliminary discussions to test the strength of tribal leadership and malleability to treaty considerations. Hence, it was from one such preliminary meeting that when asked regarding the standard for war, that the leadership replied, "We prefer our horses to our children and we prefer weapons to milking animals." The deal was quickly closed.

The senior Taliban leadership will seek to follow as closely as possible the field guide established by a Prophet considered to be the last brick in the wall. The arrival of a sole political player to begin "peace talks" should have been duly noted as a possible false flag operation. The Quetta shopkeeper was a fraud.

After the rejection at Taif, Prophet Muhammad no longer negotiated minus a cadre of loyalists and he did not negotiate from a position of weakness. Treaty making was solely engaged from a position of strength with a perception of strategic gain.

Should the Taliban consider themselves still at strategic disadvantage in a treaty making process they will decline any invitation to the table. When they do finally show up, the arrival will not be that of the lone emissary - and they will strike a bargain advantageous to their regional goals.

Editors Note: The caravans traveling within the Islamic Republic of Mauritania carry a mixture of herbs known as taqiya. We bought a load of "taqiyya" in Afghanistan with our economic wand-waving. The desire to bring the Taliban to the table has back-fired. Just as mixed herbs create a distinct aromatic which may make the individual scents indistinguishable, so also the taqiyya of the Quetta shopkeeper presents as the hidden hand of possibly multiple players from more than one organization.

Understanding the treaty-making of the seventh century and the rules of engagement comes from Seerah and Maghazi literature.

Tammy Swofford
tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Knights under the Banner of the Prophet: Second Edition

Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri has unleashed his pen again. There is a Hadith which states that Allah created the pen first - and it recorded the destiny of mankind. It appears that jihad journalism is in full flight at this point. My readers know how I feel about this. At some point in time I will read this latest offering. Perhaps banging my head against the wall first will make me feel better. smile

Tammy Swofford

The Taliban: The Political Party of Allah

Muhammad said, "This is the one who used his ears in the service of Allah."

His name was Zeid Bin Akram. He might as well have been the shopkeeper from Quetta.

How badly were we skunked? It depends on if we are talking economy or intelligence.

As for the spy who used his ears in the service of Allah, Seerah literature records a most unusual reward - a commendation fox-holed within a Surah.

"And thou (standest)
On an exalted standard
Of character"

Qalam 4 (Yusuf Ali)

The skunk is on the table. It is always good to deal with the skunk.

Tammy Swofford

America in Afghanistan: What we don't know about the Taliban - Can Hurt Us

Things like this make me wince.

Article Link

Let's talk about the Taliban next. I need to troll through my files a bit.

Continue to have a lovely holiday weekend.

Tammy Swofford

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Readers:

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Indulge in every food delicacy on the table. Merely engage portion control!

For those with family members who are dearly loved and cherished, enjoy the meaningful conversations and laughter. And for those with family members who are brutish cads, drinking helps. smile

It is always good to give thanks with a grateful heart!

Tammy Swofford

Pfc Bowe Bergdahl: The Absent Family Member

Holidays are different for military families. While Americans excitedly await the arrival of relatives for a traditional holiday meal the Bergdahl family will be acutely aware of the missing face at their table. Another holiday cycle is beginning and a Bergdahl family member still absent. He is also absent from his military community.

I remember the season where 23 hungry souls descended on my home for a Thanksgiving feast. The tables were laden with food and the aromatic mixture of the smell of turkey n' trimmings, and freshly baked pies filled the air. It was an exceedingly happy time. All were present and accounted for....

"All present and accounted for, Sir!" It is the resounding echo as men and women stand in rank during muster. There is a comfort knowing that unit cohesion extends beyond a psychological posture to include physical presence. In the combat environment we know where our buddy is at three a.m. and if he is missing from his rack for too long there is an accounting for his movements.

But the accounting for the individual member is most acutely felt during the holidays. It will not matter if the Bergdahl family is surrounded by dozens. They will miss the one.

Throughout our history we account for the individual missing member. Whether it is the initial frantic search of a team for the missing soldier, the continued determined focus to locate and extract the P.O.W. or a military team digging through bone scraps in the dirt of Cambodia to find trace of an M.I.A. from the Vietnam era, we make a full accounting for our own. Their story is never told to completion until we bring them home.

Pfc Bowe Bergdahl will not be home for the holidays. It is possible his captors will release a video which both fires the embers of hope and stirs the shards of grief. But he is not forgotten. We always, always account for our own.

LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR, NC

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Welcome to the TSA Pat Down Protest: Because Americans Don't Want to be Flight Whores

I have read the latest Inspire _Operation Hemorrhage_ and the smug mocking style of the Bombs-R-Us editor. We should harbor concerns. Our concern should be that we have not shut down the operatives. I still oppose the TSA turning the American public into a bunch of flight whores.

At the point a bomb-laden terrorist has purchased their ticket our DHS has already failed. Their task to locate, constrict the movements, and eventually incarcerate or strategically target the public threat does not begin at the airport terminal. If so, it is already too late.

Americans of a prior generation packed their seabags and assault packs and boarded ships and aircraft to face the threat of their generation. We called them "The Greatest Generation". Risk aversion at what price for this current generation? Turning Americans into psychological jellyfish willing to have their private parts and erectile tissue fondled and groped in exchange for the privilege of flight has passed the line of rational behavior. I also consider it unconstitutional.

My husband would throttle any man (or woman) who inappropriately touched my body. I would slap them into the next county before the next finger reached for my labia. I am a steel magnolia. That steel would surface, the TSA would throw me into the pokey and the charge against me would be..... would be.... blocking a sexual assault? Flight whores. I don't want to be one. Lemme die free.

The TSA has a bone-headed plan which creates an environment of workplace abuse and sexual harassment. This is not about "safety". If safety only begins when Americans have made their way to the gate, then it is time for us to kiss our asses goodbye. If a future flight explodes in mid-air the blame does not lie with millions of Americans refusing the pat down. Get that thought in your head and keep it there. The flight take down will not be your fault. It will be the fault of flawed intelligence.

The TSA pat down is the mea culpa for the inability of our intelligence services to stay ahead of the snake. Their job is a tough one. For the billions of dollars allocated to them - may they produce results as opposed to create public distress.

Tammy Swofford

Operation Hemorrhage: Letter from the Editor

$4,200. That is the cost of Operation Hemorrhage. The operation has succeeded in achieving its objectives. We thank Allah for his blessings.

The strategy of Al-Qaeda was to strike big while the enemy was off guard. The blessed operations of Washington and New York represent the greatest special operations in the history of man. Nineteen men ended the lives of almost three thousand Americans, cost the U.S. treasury trillions of dollars, and embroiled America in a War on Terror that it would definitely eventually lose. America has spent time, effort, and money to precent a large scale attack such as 9/11 from ever occurring again. Even though that is what they state, on our side we believe that if Allah willed it no security measures could stand in the way of the mujahidin from repeating the glory of the operations of Washington and New York. However, to bring down America we need not strike big. In such of environment of security phobia that is sweeping America, it is more feasible to stage smaller attacks that involve less players and less time to launch, and thus we may circumvent the security barriers America worked so hard to erect. This strategy of attacking the enemy with smaller, but more frequent operations is what some may refer to as the strategy of a thousand cuts. The aim is to bleed the enemy to death.

We dedicate this issue to cover exclusive material of Operation Hemorrhage. We reveal for the first time the details of the operation and we correct the erroneous information that has been spreading through the airwaves.

In this special issue of Inspire, the Head of the Foreign Operations Team will cover the general details and objectives of the operation, Ikrimah al-Muhajir will go through some of the technical details of the device, Yahya Ibrahim will go through the economic leverage of such an operation and Shaykh Ibrahim al-Banna will discuss the religious objectives. We will also post some photos we took for some of the items we included in the packages.

We would like to congratulate the Muslim nation for the success of our operation and we ask them to pray for us that Allah enables us to carry on this fight against America, the head of today's Crusade.

My note: The remainder of the magazine will not be put out for public view.

Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

al-Qaida in Yemen Inspire Magazine Issues a Special Edition: Operation Hemorrhage

In the last week I have pulled three Jihad magazines off sites but it will be this one which will be of the most interest.

"Two Nokia mobiles, 150 each, two HP printers, 300 each, plus shipping...." The article by Yahya Ibrahim tells the story of a $4,200 dollar terror operation.

On the jihad website, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula states the following:

"Our goal is economic destruction."

Another message states: "The cost of the package that blew up a plane flying UPS only 4,200. But the loss is not an exaggeration if we say millions of dollars."

The first "quality" upload of the magazine was inaccessible on the first site. We are doing better at blocking these things. I have the copy. There goes my day!

Tammy Swofford

Date of Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Foreign Policy Drift

"If the enemies of Afghanistan have the idea that they can wait it out until we leave, they have the wrong idea. We will stay as long as it takes to finish our job."

Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Nato Secretary General
Lisbon Summit

The rhetoric sounds good. The truth is always the more painful tale.

Withdrawal of military forces from an unsecured landscape creates foreign policy drift. Our variegated results in Afghanistan will continue to necessitate a rapidly evolving weekly modification as opposed to a neatly maintained calendar with annual goals.

Waiting it out until we leave is part of the millenium plan for Afghan' citizenry. They patiently wait. It is what they do best. We continue to spend billions.

Finishing the job in Afghanistan is like trying to pull off a marriage ceremony after the groom bolts from the premise as the bride begins to walk down the aisle. There is not much left to do. Just donate the cake to a homeless shelter and open the bar for the guests. Thank them for coming, slink home.

We chose poorly with Karzai. The tailored suit and spa-refreshed look which he sports at the Lisbon Summit show the image of confidence. His administration plagued by cronyism, fraud and ineptitude tell the real story. Afghanistan is for sale. To the highest bidder. Iran appears the most rapacious and willing.

For a withdrawal of security to be effective it is imperative that a government be in place which is both respected and functioning on healthy level. The central government will encounter a host of political debts to be paid when we leave. It will be born on the backs of communal bloodshed.

Afghanistan remains agrarian and tribal across the majority of the landscape. The Taliban controls the levers of micro-political machinery. As swift as the clackity-clack of a foot-powered loom, their leadership will move this machinery toward Kabul when sensing strategic advantage. Karzai will esconce himself in a world where a combination of political asylum and wealth make for a fine old age.... if he escapes Afghan justice and the law of retribution.

Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Islam in Somalia: Where are the Fathers?

The photos above were all taken in Somalia. In the top photo, the winners of a Qur'an recitation contest. At the awards ceremony the young boys were reminded to carry both Qur'an and weapon in the jihad for Somalia - a hellish piece of real estate which even the devil would probably ignore. Subsequent photos show the culture of child soldier recruitment. The movie _Blood Diamond_ shows the nature of this type of recruitment and the manner in which sectarian chaos creates catastrophic child welfare issues.

Scene from _Blood Diamond_

Representative Charles Rangel: No "drop of fairness and mercy"

Sorry, Charlie! The issue is decided. There cannot be "a drop of fairness and mercy" in light of your corruption.

Perhaps you do not understand the nature of corruption and public service. It is akin to the effect of amphetamine use on the teeth. It creates a soft pulp and destroys the enamel.

"We the People" make demands upon our public servants. The Republic cannot afford a soft, corrupt center with the enamel of ethics discarded for abuse of power.

"We the People" seek stewardship of the finances entrusted into your hands. You are working with our money. We want clean hands which do not make dirty deals.

"We the People" allow taxation with representation with distinct understanding that the public servant is not exempt from the burdens placed on the backs of the citizens. Fair is fair. But it is civil tyranny when entitlement gives unmerited privilege and personal enrichment.

No drop of fairness and mercy is allowed. It is about the health of the Republic.


Article link

Tammy Swofford

Jihadabad

Moving via cyber drone into Jihadabad for a couple of days.

New readers:

The homework assignment is the six-part series _Assassin's Creed_ in the May archives.


Tammy Swofford

The Psychological Price of Security: The New TSA Pat Down

What do you call an adult individual who reaches between the legs of a small girl to feel her genitalia? In a court of law it is called pedophilia. At the airport it is merely "security".

What price are we willing to pay on a psychological level for a completely secure environment? Is a point reached where the rational responses should be explored and utilized and for the remainder it is good to remember what stands out as bold reminder on our currency?

In God we Trust. The words speak a simple truth.

In seeking a one hundred percent level of security in which no American must ever endure again the tragedy of commercial aircraft converted into missiles with human components, our government deems it necessary to reach between the legs of tiny American citizens.

In God we Trust. For many Americans our gratitude remains for the efforts of Homeland Security to keep us safe. But our comfort is derived from a belief that God is the Giver of Life and the one who sustains each breath until time of death.

Perhaps instead of what has the appearance of abusive workplace practice and the infringement on the basic right of the American to the sanctity of their frame our "guys" need to do a better job in catching the bad guys before they are issued visas and purchase tickets to board Christmas Day flights.

In God we Trust. Perhaps knees bent in prayer are preferable to a slow erosion of human liberty in which the surveillance bars of fear surpass our humanity and capacity for dignity.

I would like to think that the chance of boarding a flight with a woman carrying a cargo of explosives in her boobs is as likely as a shark attack in the middle of Dallas, Texas. For myself, I am willing to incur the small level of risk to prevent the first leanings toward sexual self-awareness of a small girl to be at the gloved hands of a female TSA agent.

Tammy Swofford

Comments not Posting

Dear Readers,

I value your feedback. I have contacted JS-Kit. I am receiving notification of comments in my email but they are not showing on the site. For the individual who posted today, thank you! I have also noted an "insurgency" with a blocked comment by an unknown user.

Please be patient as the tech team researches and corrects this issue.

Best Regards,

Tammy

New TSA Pat Down Guidelines: Government Mandated Sexual Harassment

Have you read the new guidelines for TSA employees conducting pat downs on passengers? Gee, this gives the old motto, "Fly the Friendly Skies", a completely new meaning.

Should it bother me that a stranger's hand can legally travel up my thigh to a location within a finger breadth of my clitoris to check for explosives? The new guideline states that the finger of the employee must "touch bone". What about a male or female touching my breasts or reaching under my breasts without my permission? If a lesbian seeks to pat me down can I request a heterosexual male? Or is it only harassment if it is the opposite gender? Let's not be naive, kiddies.

With any other scenario except that of professional medical exam I can legally slap the individual's face and file a suit for sexual harassment. Is this unwanted sexual advance? Is it a sexual violation to handle the body of another individual without their explicit invitation for intimacy? Should we allow this without a whimper of complaint?

What about "fat folds"? We had a man in our prison system walking around with a pistol tucked into his belly fat. Will every fat crevice be thoroughly investigated?

Young teens? Forget that tender season where self-awareness can bring either shyness or a bold new attitude. The need for emotional shelter will be confronted with harsh reality at an airport screening area.

The guidelines provide for government mandated sexual harassment. How long until every pervert in the nation finds TSA employment the most desirable means for playing out their sick fantasies?

Enough is enough. Americans need to shout out the words "sexual harassment" and follow through with class action lawsuits. Our right to our own bodies and minimal privacy should not fall victim to poorly crafted policy.

Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Anwar al-Awlaki: A Genocidal Cleric and the Need for Continued Vigilance

Not being content with the good news that the videos of a genocidal cleric were being scrubbed from YouTube I took a few moments to see in what manner evil was again lifting ugly head.

It was on 9 December 1948 that the concept of genocide was given legal standing by the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The date of entry into force was 12 January 1951.

Human nature being what it is any extension of goodwill put forth via lofty documents extolling the desired virtues of humanity are written with disappearing ink. What lurks within the heart of ruthless men cannot be contained by lofty ideals but only by a secure state with domestic policies which promote a benign pluralism.

Fast forward to Bosnia-Herzegovina as collapsed within the envelope of time from 1992-1993. The Serbian government of Slobodan Milosevic gave full rape-and-pillage privilege to the military. It is estimated that 200,000-250,000 Muslims lost their lives. Many more fled and were displaced from their ancestral villages in an ethnic cleansing with genocidal tendencies prior to international intervention.

Anwar al-Awlaki is cut from the same cloth as Milosevic, as are other militant Islamic leaders. With tendencies of genocidal hatred their primary weapon is the internet. It is but a temporary victory that YouTube has erased the video archive of al-Awlaki. His message has now moved to file-sharing sites and Blip t.v. The most recent rant released a couple days ago was preceded by a spot commercial for Starbucks coffee and also by an ad for JPMorgan Chase & Co. Great! Lemme grab a cup of coffee and look for an online loan application prior to discovering that you are requesting annihilation of all Americans.

As evil presents as scorpions who normally travel in pairs, I also enjoyed a message from the "Ministry of the Islamic State of Iraq" informing me that the demographic had been narrowed to include Christians as a legitimate target of the mujahideen. "Guilty" on both counts.

The product must be tracked, policies put into place for tech arrest of webmasters, and in the case of men as virulently dangerous as Anwar al-Awlaki, strategic targeting the quick response. No remorse. Your ass or mine? I prefer it be your own. Follow my lead!

Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Veterans Day 2010: The Walk and the Talk

It can be easy to recognize a former Marine in the public square. The walk is distinct. There is little need for the haircut, a ball cap or vanity license plate to recognize prior service. The same can be true for other branches of the service. Military duty changes the individual in manner imperceptible to those outside our ranks.

The military has a distinct manner of speech. We "respectfully request" liberty as opposed to merely asking for PTO. The "Yes, Sir!" and "Yes, Ma'am!" is understood to include both rank and positional authority. We drink from a "water buffalo" and "field strip" our MRE's, perform "FOD walks" and "clean the head". We know what it means to look high and look low and I am not speaking of reading glasses!

The skills we bring to the table may not translate to civilian employment but the training is to save our life so that we can return to our families after a season in hell. Our skills include polishing the firing pin of our weapon and knowing how to tap the magazine of an M16 with our boot with the proper amount of pressure. We understand MOPP levels and decontamination procedures. But most importantly, we embrace chain of command and unit cohesion.

The current unemployment rate nationwide for veterans is approximately 11 percent. Should the application of a veteran cross your desk today please carefully consider the individual as a potential hire.

God Bless our Veterans!

LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR, NC

George W. - Book Signing in Dallas

Area devotees to a former Commander-in-Chief camped outside Borders Bookstore in Dallas the evening before his book signing event on November 9th. Additional George W. fans merely joined a growing line of Americans snaking around the shopping center at 4 a.m. The Fort Worth Star Telegram ran a great picture of Mr. Bush. A quote from Donna Dee Floyd accompanied the headline.

"He said, 'Why would anyone want to buy this book?' I said, 'Because we love you.' "

There are a few detractors and hatemongers for the Bush administration era. But there is also an abiding love and compassion for a man tasked with guiding the nation through 9/11, and the entry into a season of war. When removing the political husk many Americans feel a true connection to a man who did not speak in golden-throated, but heartfelt manner when addressing the American people.

I can personally relate to a man who is able to sit amongst a small classroom of children to read a book as opposed to send out a mass message via video to every public school in the U.S.A. I admire a man who seems to hold our military establishment in high regard. I admire a man who does not forego tradition for a vacation to Chicago. And I have always maintained that historians will judge the presidency of this man as one of success and accomplishment.

There has been no need to stage a crowd, script a message, nor shield this man and his remarks. With George W. there is a sense of what you see is what you get. George is not a political construct in the truest sense. Americans made a connection with this man regarding national identity and what is important regarding sovereignty in an increasingly unstable international environment. He looks like "us" and familiarity brings trust and comfort. We will not vote in our first "fill-in-the-blank" president in two years. We will look for someone like George. That is exactly what the American people will seek in the next presidential election.

Tammy Swofford

Desecration of the American Flag: The Logical Response

This morning I opened an email containing a picture of the desecration of a large American flag. Our colors are never to touch the ground. Yet the red, white and blue was on public pavement and covered with graffiti. There was an attached video link which I preferred to leave untouched. I get a lump in my throat when "....by the dawn's early light..." has made it past my lips.

My correspondent, a blog reader, was distressed. Making note that not even a military veteran could intervene the heartfelt complaint was duly noted. Our freedom of expression does not make an allowance for a citizen's arrest for desecration of our national colors.

Individuals were gazing down at the flag and photographers were busy snapping images. It bothers me when symbols are desecrated or burned. These things bring the memory bank and sentiment to bear. But it must be remembered that what is being desecrated, whether a Christian crucifix, flag, or copy of the Constitution is molecular material. It has no breath of life and does not have a pulse which can be stopped. The breath and pulse are in those of us who identify with the symbol! Sure, I want to beat the crap out of the citizen burning or desecrating a flag. But that is not the American way.

So what could have taken place at the site of ugly public display? Americans could have gathered to send out wave after wave of "God Bless America" in cheerful voice. The clever entrepeneur with advance knowlege could sell American flags. I would have brought along chocolate. It has a calming effect. The brave could have bowed their knees in public prayer. We have the right to peaceful public demonstration. Instead, this photo will travel across emails to gain an audience due to cheap shot stagecraft.

But should we be excessively distressed by such things? Of course not! The individual who sought to cause turmoil wished for a chest-beating audience. The audience should learn to turn the tables on the circus masters.

The State of the Union is strong. And the blood in the veins of the men who birthed our nation is the blood which remains in the veins of their generations.

May God Bless America. And may the peace of God be our portion.

Tammy Swofford

Moving into the Week

This week will find me at the beginning point of providing copy edit of a 400+ page manuscript. This will provide a wonderful opportunity to grasp an understanding of world events which occurred in mid-twentieth century, prior to my birth!

Having finished reading _Daughter of Persia_ it is interesting to contemplate how the world is viewed through a different set of eyes. We all remain products of our gene pools and the unique interface of geography and timeline. And it is within the human frame that a vibrancy of ideas finds outlet. It is the unique liberty of freedom of expression which is one of the basic building blocks for healthy society. Desires, hopes and dreams which are allowed open discussion and contemplation allow for the brightest intellectuals and the native wisdom of the generations to mix as an intoxicating drink!

We should never fear the opinion of the other and neither should we hold in too high status our own views. Opinion can present as conviction but it is never to be embraced as truth until the fact of the matter is sorted out. But within the world of ideas practical applications are courted by the wise.

It will be a pleasure to consider the analysis of a professor regarding the partition of Punjab as I work with a light touch to examine his work. As he travels to Delhi and Lahore in the coming weeks my own intellectual passport will receive a stamp from Punjab. smile

Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com

Fort Hood Massacre: First Anniversary Remembrance

There was hesitation on my part to add thoughts to the stream of news regarding events at Fort Hood and within the Killeen community today. The base is a sprawling and grand but faded landscape. It will be dressed up a bit today. Old Glory is unfurled across the landscape, military tradition is on full display and grieving families will try to make sense of the unimaginable behavior of an American Army officer on November 5, 2009.

Sentinel and traditional events provide outlet for human exploitation. Whether weddings, births or deaths capitalism flourishes with provision of not only the tangible means of expression but also the intangible accessory of sentiment on the sale rack. So it is little surprise the hawking of tickets for a large civilian event to accompany the military commemoration of our dead. Speeches will be made and books will be sold. As the saying goes, "Thar' is gold in them hills", and credit cards will be swiped.

There is little sense to be made regarding a man who violated his oath of defense. But when did an officer begin to hate the cloth of his nation? Bitterness is one of the most exploitable of human emotions. It is hoped that what was exploited within his human frame will not be exploited today amongst the grieving should bitterness be their portion. Grief requires comfort. Grief is like fragile glass and requires adept handling by intimate friends and a loving community. Fort Hood seeks to anchor a few emotions today. May a gentle emotional warmth be the gift received by those who mourn today.

As far as the cleric/recruiter Anwar al-Awlaki, I must speak. Let me pit my rank against his own miserable entitlement. His words against our military, his mocking of my community, his comparison to the house of the spider have not fallen on deaf ears. The hunt box is active. Justice requires he be brought to account for his part in the fratricide against my own.

LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR, NC

The Shahnama of Firdawsi

Last night it was a pleasure to attend _A Thousand Years of Feast and Lore: The Shahnama of Firdawsi_. The event was hosted by SMU and it was a pleasure to return to this beautiful campus.

Familiar with works such as _Gulistan_ by Sa'di, _Rubaiyat_ of Omar Khayyam and _Manteq-ut-tair_ by Farid-Ud-Din Attar my lack of familiarity with _The Book of Kings_ by Firdawsi was apparent.

An area scholar provided me with a few pages of biography on the poet from _The Encyclopaedia of Islam_ (E. J. Brill, 1991) and that allowed enough knowledge to show up as the local artistic insurgency to an event attended by great minds willing to tolerate lesser lights. I did manage to croak out one small question in private regarding molecular analysis of a folio. My mother taught me well: Keep your mouth shut and no one will call you a fool. These folios can generate a million dollar price tag for the serious private collector.

Dr. Francesca Leoni, Ph.D is a delightful person and the curator for the Arts of the Islamic World, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas. This was my first venture back into the world of Islamic Art since viewing the exhibit, _Palaces and Mosques_ several years ago.

The presentation lasted an hour and was well worth my time. It was well-attended on a cozy and intimate scale - approximately seventy individuals.

My alma mater is offering the same educational opportunity tonight if any in the DFW area wish to attend. Here is the information. The time is 6 p.m.

University of Texas at Arlington
Architecture Building Room 204
601 N. Nedderman Drive
Arlington, Texas 76019

Tammy Swofford

Integrity: The Requirement for America's Leadership

Before the new office staff moves into the D.C. area, prior to boxes being unpacked and spatial arrangements for furniture designated, and in advance of a first quarter calendar, the madam awaits. She is cunning, street smart and knows exactly what her customer wants.

Her name is seduction and her perfume is power. She provides escorts for mornings at the golf club, coctail receptions, dinner parties and fact-finding missions. The escorts are discreet when initiating their in-house calls inside the Beltway. They are willing to provide their service in two's and three's, if such is the proclivity. These escorts are touted to be disease-free. They wash up well between customers.

How many days before the first lobbyist makes it onto the calendar of a Tea Party winner? To closely monitor the interface between lobbyists and the representative is the next step toward reform of a system which has moved away from care and concern for the electorate. The Tea Party must follow through with accountability and integrity.

It is too soon to celebrate.

Tammy Swofford

Election 2010: Czarry, Mr. President. The Party is Over!

Czarry, Mr. President. The party is over!

You have steered your ship up into the shoals.

Your party has distanced itself from the feelings and sentiment of the average American patriot.

The liberal left has berated us for the wound of 9/11 and a desire to maintain Ground Zero as sacred ground.

The liberal left has deemed the working middle class be slowly absorbed into the lower middle class by unsustainable tax burdens for an entitlement system which erodes the Republic.

The liberal left has sought a dismantling of the UCMJ for the benefit of a small but politically adept military demographic.

The liberal left has mocked Christianity and the followers of Jesus Christ. His teaching to "love thy neighbor" sustains communities across America during time of need. And to cast a devotion which prays for those in government as one which threatens government or is radical to legal leadership is distinctly unfair play.

The liberal left believes freedom of expression is the "right" for their ideas and the "rant" for our own.

Turn the lights off when you leave. The party is over.

Tammy Swofford

Jihad Sites: Allowing Citizens to Drink the Kool-Aid

18 November 1978:

Nine hundred men, women and children formed a line to await a small glass of Kool-Aid laced with cyanide. Would that our government had intervened sooner to prevent this tragedy.

October 2010:

Cyber-seated with greater than 3,000 online guests at a popular jihad site I watched as the independent "correspondents" posted the latest "news" every few minutes. Noting a psychological sense of being part of a small satrapy, the sentiment of kinship amongst the citizens of this particular cyber jihad community is readily apparent.

The correspondents lean toward breathless "breaking" misinformation of the latest insurgency operation against alphabet government agencies, body counts for IED incidents or successful suicide bombing attacks, etc. Entrails of thought....

Seeking threads of the forum noting involvement of women and children within the asymmetrical theater of operation there is a small slice of news on October 20th. The correspondent states that children in Gaza are being used not only to build rocket components but also to launch the rockets under the auspices of Islamic Jihad. They are suffering "the loss of a large number of children martyrs in the border areas...."

Moving to another site, the IP address is coming from Portland, Oregon. The language is Pashto. Is this individual influential? How many are reading his site and the small convoluted factoids to have their minds slowly untouched by reality?

How many citizens are gradually being drawn away from government by consensus? How many being poisoned so they no longer comprehend that reform requires a partnership with logic and problems require solutions as opposed to angry outbursts? How many are being drawn to citizenry of a new nation? It is not the one in which they reside rather one with a political frame which exterminates problems as opposed to examines and resolves problems.

Our agencies sit amongst these groups monitoring what is a growth industry. In allowing these sites to remain active we neglect the lessons of Jonestown. The war must be vigorously fought on the ideological front. Monitoring what is being nurtured seems to me a policy of neglect. We are watching the distillation of poison and it is not safely secured within a containment lab such as at Fort Detrick. There is no containing nor extracting this stuff once it poisons the mind.

I support obliteration of this industry. Otherwise, to every citizen, a cup!

Follow my lead!

Tammy Swofford

tammyswofford@yahoo.com