Urban legends gain popular acceptance because they tap into our deepest fears.

And after September 11, what could be more terrifying than a clever terrorist plot?

Militants use games to recruit Tech-savvy militants from al-Qaeda and other groups have modified video war games so that US troops play the role of bad guys in battles with heavily-armed Islamic radical heroes, US Defence Department officials told Congress. — The Daily Telegraph, Militants use games to recruit, 6th May, 2006

Reuters was also the source for that story in Sydney's Daily Telegraph.

And The Sydney Morning Herald ran the same Reuters report in their online news.

Both told readers about the disturbing content of these video games.

... the game depicts a man in Arab headdress carrying an automatic weapon into combat with US invaders. "I was just a boy when the infidels came to my village in Blackhawk helicopters," a narrator's voice said as the screen flashed between images of street-level gunfights, explosions and helicopter assaults. — Reuters, Islamists using US video games in youth appeal, 4th May, 2006

Read the full Reuters article.

But that unnerving quote about the infidels caught the attention of lots of readers - because they'd heard it all before.

I was just a boy when the infidels came to my village in their Blackhawk helicopters. The infidels fired at the oilfields and they lit up like the eyes of Allah. Burning oil rained down from the sky and cooked everything it touched. I could only hide myself and cry as my goats were consumed by the fire of black liquid death. — Scene from "Team America: World Police"

Yes that wannabe Jihadist is a puppet.

That's a scene from "Team America: World Police" an animated satire made by the creators of South Park.

And it quickly led computer gamers to this video, which can be downloaded from several internet sites.

I was just a boy when the infidels came to my village in their Blackhawk helicopters. The infidels fired at the oilfields and they lit up like the eyes of Allah. Burning oil rained down from the sky and cooked everything it touched. — The "SonicJihad" video

It's not a game really - just a video of a game and contrary to the claims of Reuters, the creator of that video is not a tech savvy Mujahadin using American games to recruit terrorist fighters.

He's a young gamer who calls himself "SonicJihad" - after a rap music album. He posted the video on this site in December last year.

Planet Battlefield SonicJihad: A Day in the Life of a Resistance Fighter Be sure to download it, it's my first so...Suggestionz are welcome. ...It's a big download though, but worth it guaranteed!!!!!!! — Planet Battlefield forum

The Pentagon and its highly paid contractors, who are hired to keep watch on extremist Islamic websites, told Congress the video was a modified version of Battlefield 2 - the country's most popular war game.

In evidence, they said:

... you can see where the games are set to psychologically condition you to go kill coalition forces... You can see how the entire campaign is carefully crafted to first evoke an emotion and then to evoke a response and to direct that response in the direction that they want. — Panel I of the Hearing of the House Select Intelligence Committee. Subject: Terrorist Use of the Internet for Communications

Read the full hearing of the House Select Intelligence Committee.

But though "SonicJihad" - whose real name is Samir - is a Dutch born Muslim, he was rather shocked by the Pentagon's claims.

... my ethnic background and religion have nothing to do with this video. My political views are like most of the people of Europe...I live in the west, I love the west and I do love American culture... Did my views effect my choice? Nah man we were just making videos for fun. Just look at the [Battlefield 2] community, there are lots of videos made. — "SonicJihad" from the LiVEJOURNAL website

Samir tells us that Reuters want to interview him, but we're still waiting to see if they retract the story.

They demonised me by directly labeling me to someone from al-Qaeda who's trying to recruit innocent children that are playing this game... If they label me al-Qaeda just for making this silly video, that makes you think, what is this al-Qaeda? And is everything al-Qaeda? — "SonicJihad" from the LiVEJOURNAL website

But the US Defence Department says it doesn't matter who made the video or why, if it's turning up on Islamist websites.