Journalism Note
Soon enough, I will place a blog on the page which will become a series of occasional pieces titled, " Schrödinger's Cat".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger's_cat
My novel "Arsenal" was a simple cryptograph built around a small group of characters who represented a network of journalism contacts (beginning back in 2004-2005). Friendships cultivated over decades enriched my life and also understanding of geopolitical Islam, triggers for terrorism, and of course - the hopes and aspirations of Muslims residing in this land which I call "Blessing".
Journalism, if nothing else, should be generous regarding her thoughts, educational in scope, and a tool which uses Freedom of Expression to push the boundaries of human thought. Journalism, should never stand proud, be greedy, nor selfish. I see too much of it; and it discredits our profession.
My theoretical research model has always been "Sign, Signal, and Code". The word ayat means "sign" in Arabic. It sends a "signal" which is then decoded using the Sunnah of the Prophet (Ahadith - which also ties into several distinct disciplines of Islamic thought). A legal Mufti once told me that "The Qur'an is a code book. Ahadith is the key to the code." The Qur'an also has seven layers of meaning. There is no allegory. Read my lips: It is code... code... code. It is important to learn how to signal, when conversing with geopolitical Islamists.
One of the most strident jihadist writers after 9/11 is a man who most of you are probably unfamiliar with; a man with a nom de guerre that gave a "nod" to this concept of signals - and more importantly - his name was mentioned by the Chapman Base suicide bomber as a source of inspiration for his heinous actions. My belief was that he lived in the West and was educated in the West - and that thought made me queasy.
I recognized his name because I had already parsed his words and thoughts and he had a potency which would easily recruit others toward acts of violence against both political figures and the innocent. That document, was not only that of a Shaheed giving witness prior to his single-amirate operation, but it also... was a signal. When I found it online, out of an abundance of caution, I sent it to the military command at Quantico. Most likely, the digital wizards had already located it. And I know that "first siting" is not always "discovery"; which is a mistake made by new journalists.
But... Swofford - never violates her oath.
Here is the issue: Is the cat in the box alive or dead? And is it even a cat in the box or is it a pit bull? Does the box just contain just text or does it contain an operational order? Are we looking at a biological, chemical, or radioactive attack? Is this a single raid amirate with a suicide bomber or are we facing down a sleeper cell? Are the couriers female? Where do they secure their messages?
So let's have some fun. The intent will be to teach each of you the importance of an intelligence platform which incorporates a unique set of signals into the mix. Enter the world of imagination with me. Because it is a lack of imagination which sets us up for intelligence failures.
swoffordwrites@gmail.com
Old stomping grounds: https://thelastenglishprince.wordpress.com/
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