Pouring from the annals of government design

October 24, 2007 12:48 PM

Remember the new, inscrutable license plate put out by the state of Oklahoma commemorating 9/11? Well, apparently the CIA can design logos pretty well too. Presenting the Terrorist Buster.
posted by chlorus (72 comments total)

That's from the Onion, right? Right? Please tell me I'm right.
posted by found missing at 12:51 PM on October 24, 2007

The war on Mr. Bill's shadow continues unabated...
posted by Pastabagel at 12:54 PM on October 24, 2007 [2 favorites]

With designers like that on our side, I expect Al Qaeda to be on its knees any minute now.
posted by Camofrog at 12:56 PM on October 24, 2007

Oh. My.

Someone forwarded me this logo a few days ago with a copy of the Ghostbusters logo, and I thought it was a joke. Definitely pegged it for a The Onion story.

Now I see it on the CIA site for real. Words fail me.
posted by Zinger at 12:57 PM on October 24, 2007 [2 favorites]

I love America a little bit more every day!

hums theme to TerroristBusters!
posted by Tacos Are Pretty Great at 12:59 PM on October 24, 2007

Ninjas! Yes!
posted by arcticwoman at 12:59 PM on October 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Give me ten minutes and the first version of Paint and I'm pretty sure I could still kick that CIA designer's ass.

Please let this be a case of agency nepotism, wherein the program head let his middle schooler create the logo: "OK Timmy, just give him a big phallic gun, and one of those no-smoking circles with a line through it. Oh yeah, make him look like a black man. This will totally earn you your Computer Literacy scout badge!"
posted by SassHat at 12:59 PM on October 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Upon viewing the logo, I feel like there should be animated .gifs of fireballs arrayed on the page (using tables, of course) and a .mid of "Master Of Puppets" blaring from my Power Computing Mac clone. I also feel like killing myself while vomiting.
posted by Sticherbeast at 1:00 PM on October 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

this is about 5 years old. how did this get recycled?
posted by machaus at 1:02 PM on October 24, 2007

Who you gonna call???
posted by skepticbill at 1:05 PM on October 24, 2007

And yes, Al Quaeda will be on it's knees soon and not praying to mecca. They'll be busting a gut thinking that they are fighting(?) a country that can piss away epic amounts of money on truly shitty design.
posted by skepticbill at 1:07 PM on October 24, 2007

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit...wait....are we at war with gingerbread men?
posted by The Light Fantastic at 1:11 PM on October 24, 2007 [3 favorites]

That license plate is the tackiest thing I've ever seen.
posted by empath at 1:11 PM on October 24, 2007

I htink they got the guy who does the IRA murals in to do it.
posted by Artw at 1:12 PM on October 24, 2007

More like HoodedJusticeBuster.
posted by googly at 1:14 PM on October 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Where exactly are they planning on using this logo? Their matching jackets? Their Ghostbusting proton guns? Secret tattoos?
Never mind, I'm too disgusted even to care.
posted by bassjump at 1:20 PM on October 24, 2007

Wait, this is a real link. Was the CIA hacked?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:22 PM on October 24, 2007

If there's IEDs in your neighborhood. Who y'gonna call?
If he's got a beard, and he's up to no good. Who y'gonna call?
posted by eyeballkid at 1:22 PM on October 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Die Gumby scum!
posted by fefofifum at 1:23 PM on October 24, 2007 [2 favorites]

It's nice to see America finally joining the Global War On Cavity Creeps.

Or is that a Soggy (scroll down 3/4 of the page)?
posted by Atom Eyes at 1:24 PM on October 24, 2007

I think the CIA is experimenting with moronic cuteness as a new interrogation technique. Because that thing is wince-inducing for me.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 1:24 PM on October 24, 2007

The irony here is that they chose the image of the Twin Towers and 9-11 rather than Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building that was bombed on April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City.

You want the "OKC Bombing" Specialty plate, with the teddy bear and the flowers and the heart in the second "O". Also available: "Agriculture", "Heart of the Heartland", "American Patriot", "Support Adoption", and "Choose Life". (Not available now or ever: "Right to Choose".) It's a grand old state, it is.

(Meetup Nov. 16th at Tapwerkz in OKC!)
posted by ormondsacker at 1:25 PM on October 24, 2007

The irony here is that they chose the image of the Twin Towers and 9-11 rather than Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building that was bombed on April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City.

Ironic, like RAAAAINN on your wedding day. When did the word "ironic" become a catch-all for things that are obviously stupid? Is Alanis to blame?
posted by psmealey at 1:27 PM on October 24, 2007 [3 favorites]

I think I'm moving to OK.
posted by OmieWise at 1:27 PM on October 24, 2007

Shall I put you down for the meetup, then?
posted by ormondsacker at 1:34 PM on October 24, 2007

Two thoughts:

1. In addition to coffee mugs and T-shirts, is that CIA logo also available as a cookie cutter? 'Cause that would totally kick ass.

2. Oklahoma used to have a motto on their license plates, "Oklahoma is OK," but that was only because the folks designing the plates were too stupid to spell "mediocre."
posted by mosk at 1:35 PM on October 24, 2007 [6 favorites]

(Not available now or ever: "Right to Choose".)

OK, but ironically amusingly, the Animal Friendly Specialty Plate features the adorable phrase "Overpopulation Crisis."
posted by kittyprecious at 1:40 PM on October 24, 2007

The irony here is that they chose the image of the Twin Towers and 9-11 rather than Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building that was bombed on April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City.

There's no irony, the plate honors the Global War on Terrorism. They just as easily could have picked the London Subway, or the Madrid Rail system, as they were all civilian targets of terrorism. The OK bombings were on a government building (like the Pentagon, also not depicted).
posted by Gungho at 1:41 PM on October 24, 2007

Um... looks like that terrorist is breaking through the big red 'NO' circle.
posted by Elmore at 1:42 PM on October 24, 2007

When I was in the Air Force I would occasionally see aircrew with "Commebusters" patches (the red circle/line being replaced with a hammer and sickle). I guess it just never gets old.
posted by MikeMc at 1:43 PM on October 24, 2007

What a cheerful looking terrorist. He's like all, O HAI!!! I HAS AN AK47!!! YAY 4 ME!!!
posted by oneirodynia at 1:45 PM on October 24, 2007 [7 favorites]

More like "pouring for the anals of government design"!
posted by papakwanz at 1:46 PM on October 24, 2007

Choclate Rain! Some license plates don't have the fame!

(I breathe out, away from the text box)

Chocolate Rain! The Right to Choose is not found on the plains!

Chocolate Rain! Scary logo created by the insane!

Chocolate Rain!
posted by zerobyproxy at 1:47 PM on October 24, 2007 [7 favorites]

Man, do the citizens have to do everything?
posted by klarck at 1:48 PM on October 24, 2007

CIA agent: Answer the question.
Prisoner: I-I don't know any-
CIA agent: Answer the question!
Prisoner: Please! I'm don't make any keys-
CIA agent: Are you the Keymaster?
Prisoner: No! Please.
CIA agent: ARE YOU THE KEYMASTER?
Prisoner: No! No! NO! [begins sobbing]
CIA agent #2: [whispering] Waterboard?
CIA agent: No.
CIA agent #2: Gozer won't be happy.
CIA agent: Okay do it. Just remember-
CIA agent #2: I know, I know. Don't cross the streams.
posted by Terminal Verbosity at 1:51 PM on October 24, 2007 [7 favorites]

The corn is as high as an elephant's eye.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 2:05 PM on October 24, 2007

Oklahoma's got the same crappy drawing on their Choose Life license plate that Arkansas has on theirs.
posted by box at 2:12 PM on October 24, 2007

I'd like to see the losing entries.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 2:21 PM on October 24, 2007 [4 favorites]

I once created a logo for a Cabinet-level agency, and I can tell you this kind of design stuff is the province of interns and other low-level personnel. And, any attempt at novelty or creativity will get picked apart and committeed to death, so there's a tendency to put together something quick, simple, and easily understandable. Don't look to the federal government for feats of brilliant graphic design.
posted by Brian James at 2:25 PM on October 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

The problem with these plates is that once you've pressed like a thousand of them, you'll find that the background image in the rest of the batch is replaced with:

The web site you are trying to access has exceeded its allocated data transfer.

posted by Anything at 2:39 PM on October 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

You guys realize the "terrorist buster" logo is just a goofy enamel pin, right?
posted by hjo3 at 2:42 PM on October 24, 2007

I kinda wish the CIA logo was a bit better known, it'd make a great Halloween costume.
posted by quin at 2:55 PM on October 24, 2007

Others on the likeness to the Ghostbusters logo.
posted by ericb at 2:57 PM on October 24, 2007

GLOBAL WAR ON BAD HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
posted by chrominance at 2:57 PM on October 24, 2007

Ironic, like RAAAAINN on your wedding day.

Ha. There's two kinds of irony. The real sort as defined by the Oxford English dictionary and daytime TV irony. The difference is kind of like the difference between 18 month old cheddar and processed cheese slices.
posted by rhymer at 2:57 PM on October 24, 2007

The scimitar/bayonet is a nice touch. Or did they forget to turn off a layer?
posted by kirkaracha at 3:01 PM on October 24, 2007

Geesh -- why not be more direct -- No Sambos?
posted by ericb at 3:03 PM on October 24, 2007

Oh puleeez, that logo's to laugh. Must be the kindergarten Halloween version of a terrorist. The logo should be this.
posted by nickyskye at 3:44 PM on October 24, 2007

Is that thing cast in metal? It looks like a keychain.
posted by itchylick at 3:55 PM on October 24, 2007

How did Oklahoma go from Cherokee Nation to GWOT?!!!!
posted by snsranch at 4:09 PM on October 24, 2007

So that's what happened to Brak.

I think the worst thing about this design, and there is much to choose from, is that he is literally shaking his guy outside the NOT. The NOT is supposed to hold him back. He could shoot through that thing all day. It looks like they're winning.
posted by damn dirty ape at 4:09 PM on October 24, 2007

First Thought: That is AWESOME! The CIA has lost its collective mind, and the end result is something akin to that photoshopped crying American eagle picture that was going around about six years ago. Any time I'm feeling down, I need only think of this and be lifted to a higher plane of mirth and merriment.

Second Thought: Wait a minute... Oh shit! I STILL LIVE HERE!
posted by Parasite Unseen at 4:14 PM on October 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Once again, my state fails to create a license plate with Jesus driving an elevated Ford F-350 with a bootleg Calvin sticker on the rear window, urinating on the word "Osama."
posted by Saydur at 4:53 PM on October 24, 2007

Hey, did any of y'all head over to the "Kid's Pages"? Dig the groovy cartoon spy chick with a shoe phone!*

*Valerie Plame in a black wig?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:03 PM on October 24, 2007

MetaFilter, the best of DIGG

This was DIGGED to death and REDDITed yesterday AND in the local (Australian) papers.
posted by mattoxic at 6:25 PM on October 24, 2007

I thought the comment upthread, about an OKC Bombing license plate was a joke, but poking around I found this:

OKC Bombing plate.

This reminds me of visiting the scene of Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, and learning that the Book Depository sells a coffee mug with an image of the book depository on it.
posted by jayder at 6:34 PM on October 24, 2007

"Put down the airbrush, kick it over to me, and nobody gets hurt!"
posted by rob511 at 7:03 PM on October 24, 2007

This was DIGGED to death and REDDITed yesterday AND in the local (Australian) papers.

oh, its worse than that. this was BLORTED on october 9, 2001. this shit is older than dirt.
posted by quonsar at 7:26 PM on October 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

Do Australian newspapers steal all their scoops from BLORT?

Breaking news: bin Laden captured!
posted by homunculus at 7:45 PM on October 24, 2007

This is as good a time as any to mention that the CIA has a "for kids" page. It used to feature cartoon mascots Decipher Dog and Crypto Cat.

And although it seems to be gone from the site now, who could ever forget the adventures of Ginger, the CIA-compound exploring teddy bear?
posted by JHarris at 7:45 PM on October 24, 2007

How did Oklahoma go from Cherokee Nation to GWOT?!!!!

Well, there were these pale-skinned dudes with guns, see, and...
posted by ormondsacker at 7:46 PM on October 24, 2007

Nice try CIA, but S.N.I.T.C.H. was first, and better.
posted by fandango_matt at 8:10 PM on October 24, 2007

Who cares?

This is far less ridiculous than those stupid "Choose Life" anti-choice license plates some states have allowed.
posted by drstein at 8:20 PM on October 24, 2007

I think the message here is that as long as we allow crescent-shaped holes in the Big Red Circle, the demons of terrorism will continue to be able to penetrate and defile the sanctity of our Nation.
posted by BaxterG4 at 8:25 PM on October 24, 2007

You know, "choose life" is actually interesting wording for an anti-choice plate, if you think about it - it reinforces that one should in fact have the ability to, you know, choose.

Also, choose is a funny word if you look at it long enough.

Also, I'm drunk.
posted by naoko at 8:27 PM on October 24, 2007

Well, just wake us up, before you go-go.
posted by fandango_matt at 8:30 PM on October 24, 2007

Crypto Cat sounds like a guilty-secret specialized furry guy that is just waiting in hiding to corrupt the children.
posted by Iosephus at 11:53 PM on October 24, 2007

Hello, CIA.
posted by empyrean at 2:37 AM on October 25, 2007

Nothing will ever be this classic, ever. (For the few who don't know, yes, it's real, it was on the Homeland Security site in its earliest stages.)
posted by abcde at 3:24 PM on October 25, 2007

It's actually a pretty acurate statement of intent.
posted by Artw at 4:07 PM on October 25, 2007

That is the cutest goddamned terrorist I've ever seen. Is there a plush version?
posted by malocchio at 8:07 AM on October 26, 2007

In addition to coffee mugs and T-shirts, is that CIA logo also available as a cookie cutter? 'Cause that would totally kick ass.

Wait, wait,wait: I can get this on a mug? Awesome. Can someone point me towards the CIA gift shoppe?
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 8:18 AM on October 26, 2007