Iraqi
War is in the Cards
By
Jeremy Loudenback
May 1, 2003
Iraqi
War Cards |
From
Ernie Pyle’s elegant accounts of the day-to-day life of the
American G.I. in World War II to CNN’s round-the-clock coverage,
America continues to welcome the sounds and sights of war into their
living rooms. Now, the conflict in Iraq has created a retail craze
with the introduction of a 55-card deck featuring members of Saddam
Hussein’s regime. The Department of Defense first distributed
200 copies of the infamous deck last month to American soldiers
in their hunt for Iraqi leadership, and the cards, now available
for public purchase, are the hottest-selling novelty item on the
market.
The U.S.
Playing Card Co. has produced its own version of the
cards featuring Iraq’s 52 “Most Wanted,” and the
USPC company has the only deck officially licensed with the Hoyle®
Joker cards. The casino-quality playing cards feature a rogue’s
gallery of Iraqi leadership, ranging from Saddam Hussein (ace of
spades) to more osbscure members of his regime like scientist Huda
Salih Mahdi Ammash (five of hearts).
Sports
Line Distributors’ Dennis Anderson, whose company
has been distributing the Most Wanted cards, views them as a boon
to collectors seeking a timely memento of American involvement in
Iraq.
“Like
any collectible, this is a way for a collector to have a special
connection to our involvement with Iraq and sustaining freedom,”
says Anderson.
While the Internet
has largely driven sales for Sports Line, Anderson expects to see
the cards continue to sell well in collectible and hobby stores,
as well as convenience markets and drug stores.
Mike Le, owner
of Orderbulk.com, sees sales of the collectible prompted by media
coverage of the American occupation of Iraq and resultant mention
of the decks. Orderbulk.com, a wholesale distributor, has sold over
50,000 decks since April 20th and has even filled orders from U.S.
embassies around the world.
For ordering
information, visit Sports Line Distributors at sportslined.com or
orderbulk.com.
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