Badges of Secrecy

Black Ops patches offer glimpse into the military's clandestine operations

Conspiracy theorists take note: a bunch of colorful fabric patches might confirm your views. The emblems' origins remain somewhat mysterious, but the nature of some of the Pentagon's most top-secret missions has now been revealed via a series of cryptic badges that depict aliens, spy satellites, cyberattacks, and covert renditions to allude to the 'black world' that inspired them. Author Trevor Paglen, who happened upon the patches while conducting research on secret military locations, showcases his collection in a new book, 'I Could Tell You But Then You Would Have to Be Destroyed by Me.' In an audio narration he explains the significance of some of the insignia. All patch images: Trevor Paglen / Melville House; Author photo: Lori Spears

Email To A Friend

Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link.

Discuss

Member Comments

- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: cheio3k @ 03/10/2008 10:10:40 PM

On the black manta patch the stars are in the shape of the constellation Capricorn.
- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: Piscine @ 03/07/2008 2:44:02 AM

Please, please write a screenplay and put this in the climactic scene, then see if Jack Nicholson is available for his next Academy Award winning performance.
- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: Piscine @ 03/07/2008 2:29:18 AM

What a load of hooey - I can't believe Newsweek would even address this. As if the government would have these made...and they're in mint condition too for you anxious eBay bidders out there! And here's another morsel to chew on - aliens supposedly travel light years to get here and yet they can't seem to navigate well enough not to keep colliding with Earth? Um, yeah.