Enduring Freedom Picture Cards

T-shirts, etched glass eagles, porcelain angels — Enduring Freedom picture cards are only the latest in a long line of Sept. 11 kitsch. And while the idea of making money off the tragedy is questionable, these cards go one step further by presenting the "New War on Terrorism" as a fun, pleasant way for kids to learn about current events.

The cards come seven to a pack, along with a sticker, usually some sort of a flag/eagle combination. While Topps breaks the set down into such categories as "The World Supports America" and "Defending Freedom," the cards themselves draw on two basic image types: reproduced newspaper photos and stock military shots. The former mostly depict the events of Sept. 11, the days immediately after and various government officials; the latter show a now-familiar cast of helicopters, jets and aircraft carriers.

Topps, best known for its sports cards, issued special sets during the Korean War and the Gulf Conflict, as well as a commemorative Civil War collection. In most cases, the cards have gone on to collectors' item status. Which is why one has to wonder — if Topps has done this before, why does this latest set suck so much?

The cards from Sept. 11 and its aftermath have the look of rejected AP shots. Aside from a few action photos from that day, the most exciting cards include "Wall Street Responds" (#24) and:

"Bush Calls NYC Mayor Giuliani" (#29). Nothing raises a kid's eyebrows quite like a Republican talking on a phone.

Going down the checklist, there are photos of F-16s, of soldiers standing in line ("Marines Head Out For Overseas Duty" [#85]), but none of the cutting-edge weapons we're hearing about in the news — Predator recon drones, thermobaric bombs, CIA agents named "Bob" and "Mike." There are no photos of Afghanistan, let alone U.S. forces in action in Afghanistan. Try "Army Paratroopers Boarding An Aircraft" (#65). These cards are generic in the extreme; it's easy to imagine Topps keeping a secret stash of file photos on hand, ready to be stuck on cards and shipped to Wal-Mart at the drop of a bomb.

And Topps has forgotten a vital principle of collectible cards, that the back has got to be at least as interesting as the front. With sports cards, you get lifetime stats and memorable plays, factoids you might not find elsewhere. Not so with Enduring Freedom cards. If you've spent even an hour watching CNN between Sept. 11 and now, there's not a single bit of information on

"Condoleeza Rice, National Security Advisor" (#35) — or any other card — you haven't heard already, in triplicate.

But beyond quality issues, these cards beg for a justification. Why? Who needs this? On its Web site, Topps claims the set:

presents the New War on Terrorism in a format that children understand. Not included are the disturbing images shown repeatedly on national newscasts. Instead, Topps has chosen to focus on America's strengths — its elected leaders, the security of its military, its worldwide support … and the courage and unity of its people.

Also "not included" are any references to the human side of the war — of refugee camps, of wounded soldiers or of anti-war protests. That would be "disturbing." And anyway, this is the "New War," in which the bad guys get incinerated, civilians go untouched and U.S. servicemen don't die. A kid-friendly war, and that means a profit-friendly war as well. With merchandise like this, who needs Fox News?

Inconvenient moral issues aside, it's hard to imagine that these cards are worth their $2 asking price. Their value as collectibles is dubious; after 10 years, Desert Storm cards are still getting less than $20 for an unopened box on eBay. But then who knows? One day you may be walking down the street and overhear two boys sitting on a stoop, saying, "I'll trade you Colin Powell's rookie for two 'B-2 Spirit Bomber Prepares for Refueling' (#48)." Or not.

— Clay Risen (clay@flakmag.com)