Bush, George W. (Second Gulf War)

Second Gulf War Magazine Collection

ISBN: (ISSN)00289604;00407
New York, NY: Newsweek, Inc.; Time Inc., 2003. First Printings. Stapled Wrappers. " 'SHOCK AND AWE': A WAR OF STRATEGY & SURPRISE" read the front cover headline of Newsweek's issue of March 31, 2003, with a fiery, smoldering Baghdad in the background. The Second Gulf War (or Gulf War II) was initiated by President George W. Bush in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Nearly two decades later as of this writing, the war on terror & attempts at nation-building are finally all-but-over and yet not really resolved, with conflict & confusion still prevailing. Here are seven original major American magazine issues from the period of the Iraq war as it quickly unfolded, with headlines & cover stories that now resonate with grim hindsight & irony: (1) Newsweek, March 31, 2003 issue with front cover headline & image noted above, many relevant articles throughout. (2) TIME Special Issue (circa March 31, 2003) with front cover headline "GULF WAR II: BAGHDAD MARCH 21, 2003" & background image of blowing-up, Shocked-&-Awed Baghdad. Entire issue devoted to the war, with context of TIME's coverage of previous crises. (3) Newsweek Special Report issue, April 7, 2003 with front page headlines "How Bloody? Wanted: More Men And Muscle"; "A War for Hearts And Minds" & background image captioned "Wounded U.S. Marine in An Nasiriya, Iraq" showing the wounded Marine being carried along by another. Mostly devoted to the war, with other national & world news articles. (4) TIME, April 7, 2003 issue with front cover headline "WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO WIN?" & background image captioned "U.S. Marines near Nasiriyah, Iraq" showing bloodied face of a Marine with another aiming-firing his weapon beside him. With many war-related articles, & on other contemporary topics. (5) Newsweek, April 14, 2003 issue with "INSIDE BAGHDAD" above front cover masthead & headline "SOLDIERS & SPECIAL OPS: Saving Private Lynch" regarding the wounding, capture & rescue of U.S. Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch with a nod to the contemporary hit movie Saving Private Ryan about D-Day during World War II, & image of Pfc. Ryan in front of an American flag. With many war-relate & other articles. (6) TIME, April 14, 2003 issue with front cover headline "SADDAM'S LAST STAND" & image of a manic, beleaguered Saddam Hussein (appears to be a somewhat blurry video still). With many war-related & other articles. (7) TIME, April 21, 2003 issue with illustration of Saddam Hussein's face bloodily crossed-out- a direct, intentional reference & descendant of TIME's issue of May 7, 1945 with an exactly similar depiction of Adolf Hitler just after confirmation of his suicide in the Berlin bunker on April 30, 1945. Saddam was captured eight months later during December 2003, tried & executed after three years in December 2006. Soon after these issues were published, President George W. Bush dramatically flew onto an aircraft carrier & emerged to announce "Mission Accomplished..." Step back in time (literally & figuratively) to near-contemporaneous coverage of the Second Gulf War, as well as time-capsule contemporary ads & articles, with this fascinating collection. All magazines individually preserved & in very fine condition, all but pristine inside & out. (1) with short, closed tear at upper spine & spine-corner; (2) with profusion of tiny non-penetrating dimple-pinmarks (probable production flaw) at front cover which do not significantly effect text or images. All the issues were from home subscriptions & have small windows with subscriber information (inherent, not stickers) near either left or right lower corners of front covers, only very slightly effecting images. Very Fine. [Item #3749]

Price: $50.00