Rather, on the subject of black propaganda. I recently came across some of it in an unlikely place: my inbox. I received a forward called “THE SECRET BEHIND THE NUMBER 11″. It’s a kooky chain mail, but with a 9-11 twist; most of the email is about all the different ways that a series of 9-11 related numbers or letters fortuitously equal “11″ when added together or counted. (i.e., did you know that “New York City” has 11 letters? It’s true! Woah!) Silly and harmless.

But then it ends off with:

“The most recognized symbol for the US, after the Stars & Stripes, is the Eagle. The following verse is taken from the Quran, the Islamic holy book: “For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced: for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah and there was peace.” That verse is number 9.11 of the Quran.”

Of course, the quote was entirely manufactured. Verse 9.11 of the Koran says nothing of the sort. It reads: “But if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, they are your brethren in faith; and We make the communications clear for a people who know.” Sounds more like an ad for Sprint than a Nostradamusian prophecy.

The point though is the quote itself, especially the last line: “the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah and there was peace”. Some idiot is obviously trying to play with the brains of the mystically inclined to give a pro-war message.

I wouldn’t be worried, if only it weren’t for the fact that this ridiculous forward was given to me by a good friend, critical thinker, philosophy-psych student, who called it “spooky”.