Oh my god. I’m speechless, have no words, and my brain just froze. So pardon my terrible blogger protocol in just copying over from Wonkette.com:
The CIA has inexplicably come up with a logo for the “Terrorist Buster,†some sort of imaginary Christian cheerleader representing the DCI Counterterrorist Center. Take a better look at the logo, realize that this is actually happening, and then continue reading. We’ll wait for you. [Pause]. Ready?
THIS IS AN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT LOGO?!
This is not a joke. I can’t believe this is not a joke. The CIA really did create a logo for a “Terrorist Buster” (who the hell would that be anyway? Is this related to those “If you see something, say something” campaigns? Does a counterterrorist center really need a logo? If yes, then THAT?!) and unveiled the logo on the official CIA website. Go see for yourself at www.cia.gov
As Wonkette goes on to point out, the logo looks like some mad, racist twisted version of the logo (after the jump) from the Ghostbusters movie. Goddamn. What would Peter Venkman say??
Re 9:
It’s called a banana clip . . . the only instance of a solution to an optimization problem (an eternal problem in Soviet Russia: how to skimp on sheet metal) becoming a design icon!
Speaking of design icons, I am told that, to the fashion-conscious female, a banana clip means something very different. Is that true, and could SM readers clue me in on what the “other” meaning is ?
Oooops, scratch comment #51. Call me remarkably dense, but I only just noticed the sickle/crescent, and that ain’t a banana clip. And it isn’t “cute” (to use Dravidian Lurker’s adjective). So the question is: is the sickle/crescent (subtext: commies/islamofascists) intentional ?
Do y’all really see a sickle/crescent? I see a plastic super soaker! (just kidding, I suppooooose it could be an AK)
OMG, it took me this long to see the blade attached to the super soaker. What the freak? It doesn’t even match with Grimace’s ninja outfit. Now I’m disturbed. Worthless graphic designers.
Maybe the CIA was inspired by Johnny Hart tyle “sublimal imagery” ?
As appalled as I am by the whole concept, I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw the logo. I would soooo buy the t-shirt.
Whatever it is, it sure does seem cheerful. It’s definitely prevailing over the “ban the” part of the symbol, like some kind of demented Kalashnikov-wielding tar-baby redneck leaning out of a pickup-truck window.
“W00T!”
Damn, I need to get the hell out of rural NC soon.
LOOOOOL…. belly laugh of the day!!!
You’re right that the smileyness of the logo kind of undercuts the terrorism-is-bad angle. The dude looks like ninja Gumby with a gun.
Why is the terrorist smiling? And are we banning him and not his gun?
Amateurish and pixelated. I’m still shuddering at the use of the shadow, which of course that crescent shape is part of. And the outline! The graphic artist in me is crying.
AK. Not to be confused with ak.
Word! I’m most offended by how badly they designed the logo. God, the government really can’t do anything right.
It reminds me of when those Ready.gov “safe procedures in the event of a terrorist attack” graphics came out and were promptly ridiculed without mercy.
“Don’t get trapped under stuff.”
Because he is a card-carrying member of the NRA, and knows that even if we can ban him, we can’t ban his gun 😉
Beyond all the rightly remarked stupidity of this logo, what’s it for? What does one do with such a logo? Is it to be placed on Michelle Malkin’s blog? Rendered as a lapel pin for Fox Newz anchors? Stitched as an arm patch for an Army Ranger? Stenciled onto a Tomahawk missile? Cast in brass as a seal and mounted on the floor of CIA headquarters?
Is it just me or does the end of the barrel of that rifle look like a fist (holding a sword)? If I am right in assuming that the rifle shoots swordy fists, then I really am scared. Why do you people hate America?
Yes, it looks like a fist holding one of those evil curved Asian swords; or a bayonet morphing into an Islamic crescent. Of course, the designer could just be a native of South Carolina. Try wearing this logo while trying to board an airplane:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_South_Carolina.svg
Clickable: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_South_Carolina.svg
It quite simple really: here’s how it works. Terrorist decides to do some terroristy thing. Goes down to the airport: sees the small red and black sticker at the front gate. Sorry, no terrorists allowed inside. Damn! These feds, how do they always know.
And to think he didn’t shave for a week for nothing.
It does, doesn’t it? I think the sword is called a Scimitar.