Museum Metadata Exchange

Names

Name PrimaryGuide to the Iraq 2003 Collection

IDs

ID LocalAWM00011

ID Urihttp://www.awm.gov.au/findingaids/special/Ephemera/iraq2003.xml

Descriptions

Brief DescriptionThe collection contains postcards, souvenirs, stickers, playing cards,email jokes, posters, leaflets publications and power point presentations produced during Iraq 2003. The collection pre-dominantly exhibits anti-war sentiments but also includes a small number of pro-war posters and commemorative publications.The playing cards feature figures from the 55 Most Wanted posters in the collection and also include subsequent card decks praising US politics and war in Iraq. The souvenirs part of the collection includes admission cards, toilet paper and gift certificates that were used by Australian Servicemen in Iraq. There is also a cd of jokes that were distributed via email during the war.

Full DescriptionSERIES 1: Postcards (12 items). Description: This collection includes postcards created before, during and after the war in Iraq, including advertising postcards drawing on themes related to the war.; SERIES 2: Souvenirs (13 items). Description: This series contains souvenirs collected by service personnel serving in Iraq during the Second Gulf War and includes admission cards, toilet paper and gift certificates.; SERIES 3: Stickers (5 items). Description: The sticker collection reflects the sentiments of both anti-war and pro-war supporters through the messages conveyed. Included in this collection are a small number of bumper stickers published by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA).; SERIES 4: Playing Cards (9 items). Description: This series contains playing cards designed to assist troops in recognising key Iraqi figures wanted by the Coalition forces. The series also includes some examples of other card decks subsequently created to praise US politics and war in Iraq.; SERIES 5: Digital Material (58 items). Item title, date and description: This collection contains a cd of jokes that were distributed around the world via email and two power-point presentations relating to Operation Red Dawn.; SERIES 6: Posters (62 items). Item title, date and description: This series inlcudes a large number of posters in A4 and A3 format supporting both pro-war and anti-war stances. The majority of anti-war posters provide details of peace demonstrations and consequently support the leaflet collection. There is also a large collection of notices that were produced and authorised by the ANU Liberal Club in support of military action against Iraq. These notices were placed on boards around the university.; SERIES 7: Leaflets (101 items). Item title, date and description: This collection of leaflets is dominated by notices of anti-war demonstrations in Australia. Also included are propaganda leaflets, media releases, advertisements and leaflets produced by government bodies in order to provide information to service personnel to prepare them for deployment in Iraq. The latter provide background information on the culture, customs, structure, language and history of Iraq, as well as information on personal safety.; SERIES 8: Publications (23 items). Description: This series of printed material includes magazines, newspapers and booklets used by military personnel and by supporters of pro-war and anti-war responses to the war in Iraq.

SignificanceIraq 2003 commenced on 19 March 2003 following attempts by the United States to persuade the United Nations to authorise the use of military force to disarm Iraq and remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from power. US President George Bush claimed that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and posed a significant threat to world security through links with terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda. The United Nations did not agree as investigations in Iraq by the Security Council were reporting very little in the way of this class of weapons. On 17 March 2003, Bush gave Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave Iraq or face invasion. The United States had the support of 35 countries with Britain, Australia and Poland providing troops and other members of the Coalition providing assistance ranging from financial support to military equipment and intelligence. Australia contributed 18 000 service personnel. In Australia, there was vigorous debate over the rights and wrongs of going to war with Iraq. Those opposed to invading Iraq reminded people of the human suffering which war inevitably brings, and highlighted the United Nations' opposition to using force against Iraq. Proponents of the war argued that its costs would be outweighed by the benefits of removing Saddam Hussein's brutal regime, while also raising the fear that Iraq might still have weapons of mass destruction. It took 6 weeks for Coalition forces to remove Saddam Hussein from power and achieve the goal of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Major combat operations in Iraq were declared to be finished by the Pentagon on 14 April 2003. Saddam Hussein was captured two weeks before Christmas 2003 in Operation Red Dawn. However, the situation in Iraq remains tense.

RightsContact Senior Curator, Published & Digitised Collections, Australian War Memorial.

AccessOpen - Contact Senior Curator, Published & Digitised Collections, Australian War Memorial.

NoteSelected additional and related material available at http://www.awm.gov.au/search/collections/ using the search terms described under 'subject _local'. Copies of many items from the Memorial's collections may also be purchased @ http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/sales/.

Subjects

localIraq; Map collection: Iraq 2003

scotMilitary service; War service

pontPlaying cards; Postcards; Stickers

Coverage Spatial

TextIraq

Coverage Temporal

From2003

To2003

Related Collections

Dates

Date Record Updated2012-05-30 23:40