War Party playing cards

Published October 29, 2022 Updated October 29, 2022

War Party playing cards, in opposition to the Iraq War, USA, 2003.

2003 USAMilitaryMost WantedPoliticalWartimeHeartland Journal

One of several packs published around 2003 in opposition to the Iraq War (2003-2011). This particular pack was produced by the Heartland Journal, Chicago, with a subtitle of “55 most wanted hawks” (the original website www.55mostwantedhawks.com is no longer accessible). The individuals on these cards are “responsible for planning, promoting, and executing the Bush Doctrine of unilateralism and pre-emptive war” [Box]. While mainly politicians are shown, the cards also show figures from right-wing think tanks, the industrial-military complex, and the right-wing media. There are 2 jokers and one extra wild card – Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister of Israel. See the box

War Party playing cards produced by the Heartland Journal, Chicago, USA, 2003 War Party playing cards produced by the Heartland Journal, Chicago, USA, 2003

Above: War Party playing cards produced by the Heartland Journal, Chicago, USA, 2003.

avatar
533 Articles

By Peter Burnett

United Kingdom • Member since July 27, 2022

I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.

Russian Playing Cards

Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.

Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.

Activity for War Party playing cards

Sign in to comment or save this article.


Related Articles

2004 K Deck

K Deck

“K Deck” political playing cards, USA, c. 2004.

2003 House of Cards: Deck of Bush

House of Cards: Deck of Bush

House of Cards: Deck of Bush playing cards presenting reasons not to re-elect President Bush for a s...

2004 Bush League Allstars

Bush League Allstars

Six different decks of “Bush League Allstars” political playing cards, United States, 2004.

2017 Know your deplorables

Know your deplorables

Photographs of political and media figures associated with the Presidency of Donald Trump (2017-2021...

2010 Presidents of the United States

Presidents of the United States

‘Presidents of the United States’ playing cards published by PostCardusa of Florida after 2009.

2006 Game Over

Game Over

‘Game Over’ political playing cards from Israel, 2006.

2008 Politically WILD Barack Obama

Politically WILD Barack Obama

Politically WILD Barack Obama playing cards, USA, 2008.

1994 Oliver North’s Pack of Lies

Oliver North’s Pack of Lies

“Oliver North’s Pack of Lies” produced to help defeat Oliver North in his bid for Senator of Virgin...

2015 Trump Presidential playing cards

Trump Presidential playing cards

Trump Presidential playing cards by Parody Productions, USA, 2015.

1988 Politipack ’88 playing cards

Politipack ’88 playing cards

Politipack ’88 produced by Robert Billingsley, USA, 1988.

2003 Le Régime Bush

Le Régime Bush

“Le Régime Bush” anti-war playing cards designed by Thierry Meyssan, France, 2003.

2003 Operation Hidden Agenda

Operation Hidden Agenda

“Operation Hidden Agenda” playing cards designed by Kathy Eder, USA, 2003.

2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom playing cards

Operation Iraqi Freedom playing cards

Operation Iraqi Freedom: U.S. Military heroes playing cards, 2003.

2004 The Bush House of Cards

The Bush House of Cards

“The Bush House of Cards” with artwork by John G. Doherty, 2004.

2003 Liberated: America's Most Unwanted

Liberated: America's Most Unwanted

“Liberated: America's Most Unwanted” playing cards published in support of the Iraqi War, c.2003.

2004 War Profiteers playing cards

War Profiteers playing cards

“War Profiteers” playing cards, USA, c. 2004.

2003 United Nations of Weasels

United Nations of Weasels

“United Nations of Weasels” anti-war political playing cards, USA, 2003.

2003 Try’em playing cards

Try’em playing cards

Try’em: the U.S. Regime Change, or “52 Most Wanted Criminals” c. 2003.

2003 Republican Chickenhawks of America

Republican Chickenhawks of America

“Republican Chickenhawks of America” playing cards by Jerry A. Vasilatos, USA, 2003.

2003 Iraqi Most Wanted Playing Cards

Iraqi Most Wanted Playing Cards

Playing cards used to help troops identify the most-wanted members of Saddam Hussein's government. 2...


Sign in with Google