Tammy Swofford

Freedom of expression is consistently addressed for readers of Daily Times. I stand firmly in liberty’s corner and remain a staunch advocate of freedom of the press with minimal interference (and/or manipulation) by the government and its agencies. I strongly encourage vibrancy, originality and creativity in the comments section. I am especially sensitive to the […]

The flea is a tiny creature. It can be crushed between finger and thumb. But when its bite carries Yersinia Pestis, this little pest changes roles. It morphs into a monumental foe and potent human threat. The flea becomes a weapon of mass destruction called bubonic plague. The flea has shown us that God can […]

This is what I know and it is fully embraced: freedom of expression is the most valuable liberty of man. And a free press and the right to peaceful assembly are the eternal breath of a Republic. To these truths I cling. The concepts have validity. Unfortunately, with the upheaval of the ‘Arab Spring’ there […]

Act I: bigots make bad neighbours.In the first act, the principal character, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, makes his appearance on stage in the flowing black robes of a war-cleric. He is known by his kunya (name given in respect to an elder) ‘bad knees’ and is seen climbing the stairs in the manner of a man […]

The last time I attended an iftar meal was during Ramzan of 2011. I was an invitee of Dr Yusuf Ziya Kavakci, who was the scholar-in-residence of the Islamic Association of North Texas. This was strictly an interfaith endeavour. Seated at each table were individuals from the Christian and Muslim communities. My companion for the […]

During the month of Ramzan, jihad portals experience an uptick in traffic. Individuals mix Ramzan greetings with political diatribe. Interestingly enough, I am not seeing the usual appeal for funds. Perhaps these communities are now awash with the loot of war. However, a few days ago a major jihad portal released the English version of […]

The Obama administration has suffered so many epic scandals that it is hard for any newsroom, much less an individual journalist, to keep up with what is boiling over on the political stove. Unfortunately, White House tethers to the mainstream news media are at an all-time high. Perhaps using the word ‘tethers’ is too passive […]

The combined forces of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) swept through Mosul with lightning speed. This speed was accelerated by the flight of leadership. As the story unfolded I took a few minutes to tap into a jihad portal to view images on the ground. The citizens of Mosul noted government personnel […]

This is not a trick question. How long does it take for a swarm of angry relatives to ambush a woman, stomp her into the ground and pound her with bricks until she dies? Answer: 15 minutes. Second question: how many police officers stood aside and violated their oath to protect and defend? Answer: two. […]

Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl is in Germany. Rejoice not, America.A man who deserted his military post in Afghanistan crawled through the bushes into the waiting arms of the enemy. He now emerges from the shadows five years later. The posture he exhibited in the limited-release videos after his capture put the meat on the bone of […]