Wade Zirkle

William Wade Denman Zirkle, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, was a co-founder and the founding Executive Director of Vets for Freedom, established in January 2006 as a "nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the unbiased, nonpartisan truth of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to educate the public and mobilize public support for the Global War on Terror." 

In May 2007, Zirkle was replaced as Executive Director by Pete Hegseth, a First Lieutenant in the U.S. National Guard and a Policy Specialist at the Center for the American University at the conservative Manhattan Institute think tank.

In 2006, Julie Kosterlitz wrote in the National Journal that Zirkle ran the 527 group Veterans for Freedom "out of a basement sublet in Washington, D.C."


 * Advisory Board, [[Warrior  Legacy  Foundation]]

Rose Garden photo-op props with President Bush
On July 20, 2007, President George W. Bush, who "has relied on veterans for support and credibility" since the war in Iraq began, met for an hour in the Oval Office "with Zirkle and four other Vets for Freedm Action Fund Lobbyists." The group formed the "backdrop for a Rose Garden speech in which Bush asked Congress to let his 'surge' strategy work and for passage of a defense-spending bill that stalled last week when Senate Republicans blocked an amendment calling for withdrawal," Cory Reiss wrote July 23, 2007, in Lakeland, Florida's The Ledger.

Meeting with Bush on behalf of VFF were executive director Pete Hegseth, "retired Marine Capt. Knox Nunnally, retired Army Sgt. Mark Seavey, and retired Marine Lt. Wade Zirkle," Miles wrote.

2007

 * "While many veterans said the killing of civilians deeply disturbed them, they also said there was no other way to safely operate a patrol," Chris Hedges and Lailia al-Arian wrote July 13, 2007, in a Guardian Unlimited (UK) article in which Zirkle was quoted thusly:


 * "The ground forces were put in that position,' said First Lieut. Wade Zirkle of Shenandoah County, Virginia, who fought in Nasiriya and Falluja with the Second Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion from March to May 2003. 'You got a guy trying to kill me but he's firing from houses...with civilians around him, women and children. You know, what do you do? You don't want to risk shooting at him and shooting children at the same time. But at the same time, you don't want to die either.'"


 * On January 17, 2007, Zirkle refers to Muslims as "vicious Islamic extremists" on CNN's "This Week at War" with John Roberts. See transcript and YouTube video of the interview.


 * "'The military's job is to carry out and implement foreign policy, not influence it, ... That's what separates our country from military dictatorships. That's why we don't have military coups and military people running our country.' ... For service members to appeal for redress 'is un-American in principle,' Zirkle said" about antiwar group Appeal for Redress&mdash;Washington Post, January 17, 2007.

2006

 * "I feel like people are already penning the obituary on this war, ...It's still winnable in my opinion."&mdash;quoted by Claudia Parsons, Reuters, August 11, 2006.


 * "The Islamo-fascists are fighting us on an asymmetrical, global battlefield that spans from Baghdad to Pakistan to Indonesia to the streets of London. To retreat from any battlefront where we are engaged with this enemy is foolish and reckless."&mdash;Wade Zirkle, VFF-AF, August 11, 2006.

2005

 * "When we found out about the Blackwater killers, it again reaffirmed what we knew about these people that we were fighting. They were bad, bad, evil, horrible human beings, if you can even call them human beings."&mdash;Paula Zahn, CNN, January 26, 2005.


 * Comment: Throughout the interview, Zirkle makes no distinction between "Iraqis" and "terrorists," making it clear that he thinks they are one and the same. The entire interview can be seen in streaming video here.

2004

 * In Fallujah, Zirkle describes the insurgent resistance as "just a few," minutes before the over 100 Iraqis launch a brazen, daytime, full scale ambush against him and 200 marines. North County Times (CA), April 4, 2004.


 * "At a U.S. base about two miles east of the city, 1st Lt. Wade Zirkle, when asked whether U.S. forces would enter the city, said, 'It is our job to go there and maintain security in the city and we are making sure that something like that will not happen again.' ... He said Wednesday's attack was carried out by a 'few bandits and terrorists … who are terrorizing the city.'"&mdash;Associated Press/CBS News, April 1, 2004.
 * "Marine First Lieutenant Wade Zirkle said that pacifying Fallujah will take time: 'We've gone in on several occasions since we've been here. So we're not afraid to go into the town; we're eager to go in there; win the hearts and minds of the people. And provide a secure environment for a secure and free Iraq.'"&mdash;WBUR.org (Boston), April 1, 2004.
 * "Just a few minutes before the fighting started Tuesday, First Lt. Wade Zirkle described troubles in Fallujah as caused by 'just a few in town,' and he said it would be the Marines' job to 'separate the good from the bad.'"&mdash;Darrin Mortenson, "reporting from Iraq with Camp Pendleton Marines," which included Wade Zirkle, North County Times (CA), April 4, 2004.


 * "The general people that are shooting with us -- that are shooting at us are terrorists. And they dress like the local population. And that's the nature of the insurgency. You know, they fight like cowards and they fight amongst families. And that's what's difficult about -- in an insurgent fight. ... But when we get fired at, we have positive identification on our enemy targets and we take them out and we do away with the terrorists and protect the families at the same time."&mdash;Video Clip: Kyra Phillips, CNN's Live From ..., April 7, 2004.
 * "From his platoon's commandeered house along a main road through the Euphrates farmland, 1st Lt. Wade Zirkle said that during the lull in the fighting the Marines are making themselves known. ... 'We're doing random checks so word gets out that this is not a porous point anymore,' Zirkle said. ... He and others said that while they have to let the neighbors come and go, they watch them all as if they could be enemies."&mdash;Darrin Mortenson, North County Times (CA), April 14, 2004.

Military Status
While stationed in Iraq at Fallujah, Zirkle was cited in North County Times (California) news articles as "Lt. Wade Zirkle". He is currently using "Wade" as his first name, seeming to have abandoned using the more formal "William W. Zirkle", the name by which he is identified in 2004 and 2005 U.S. Marine Corps Reserve retention and promotion selection records. Note that the number 3244&mdash;which would be the last four digits of his SSN&mdash;appears in all three records.

In April 2004, the USMC Selection List for Captain shows Zirkle as "951 ZIRKLE WW 1GS 3244" and the FY 2005 Officer Retention Board (ORB) Notice signed May 2, 2005 (05/02/2005MARADMIN Number: 05/05) again shows him as "ZIRKLE WILLIAM W 3244 0302 1GS". Additionally, the Officer Promotions List shows the promotion of "WILLIAM W. ZIRKLE 3244 CAPT MOBCOM", with an effective date of August 1, 2005. MOBCOM is the acronym for Marine Corps Mobilization Command, the "command directly responsible for the administration and mobilization of the more than 60,000 Individual Ready Reserves of the Marine Corps."  It is apparent, based on the April 20, 2006, article "Marine caught in grenade blast gets Silver Star" by John Hoellwarth, Times staff writer, quoted in Leatherneck.com, that Zirkle was promoted to Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps Ready Reserve:


 * "Lance Cpl. Benjamin Gonzalez ... But he was able to stand in formation as his Silver Star was pinned to his suit jacket [in March 2006] by Capt. William Zirkle, who, as a first lieutenant, was Gonzalez’s commanding officer at the time of the attack."

This connection could be easily missed because the name&mdash;"William Zirkle"&mdash;and rank&mdash;"Capt."&mdash;would not appear to be the same as that for VFF's Wade Zirkle. However the Gonzalez reference cinches the connection, as in his January 26, 2005, CNN appearance with Paula Zahn, Zirkle related Gonzalez's ordeal in Iraq.

Additionally, Zirkle does not identify himself as a U.S. Marine Reserve Captain in his Vets for Freedom profile (see below), but&mdash;although truthfully&mdash;rather as "a former Marine Lieutenant who served two deployments to Iraq."

Townhall.com
According to Townhall.com, Wade Zirkle "graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2000 with a B.A. in Political Science. Shortly thereafter, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He went on become a Marine infantry officer where his first duty assignment was with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. He was a Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) platoon commander in the invasion and liberation of Iraq in 2003, with tactical command of over 50 Marines. Upon returning to stateside, he was promoted to Company Executive Officer, second in command of 150 Marines.

"In February, 2004, Wade volunteered to return to Iraq with a shorthanded infantry unit from Camp Pendleton, California. He was named a rifle platoon commander with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines (2/1), in charge of 41 Marines and two Navy Corpsmen. Wade's unit deployed to Fallujah, where over half of his men earned Purple Hearts, and seven of his men were killed in action. On Labor Day of 2004, Zirkle was wounded and evacuated to the States after being hit by a suicide car bomb.

"After rehabilitation, Wade was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps."

In February 2006, Jim Patrick wrote in My Shenandoah County: "Wade's now recovered and living in Shenandoah County again. He's active in politics, but also actively promoting this nonpartisan effort to give balanced reports on conditions in Iraq."

Vets for Freedom
According to his Vets for Freedom profile, Zirkle is "a former Marine Lieutenant who served two deployments to Iraq, first with Second Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (Camp Lejeune, N.C.) and most recently with the Camp Pendleton, California-based infantry unit Second Battalion, First Marines in 2004. He holds a Purple Heart. Wade is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and is from Shenandoah County, Virginia. Wade (and David Bellavia) are heading back to Iraq this June [2006] as civilians, to report on the training and efficacy of Iraqi Security and Police Forces, and to gauge the morale and combat effectiveness of US forces."

Virginia Republican Political Campaigns 2005
Previously, Zirkle, who is from Edinburg, in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, was the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont Regional Field Director for Republican Jerry W. Kilgore's 2005 campaign for Governor of Virginia. 

In 2005, Zirkle was also campaign spokesman for Shenandoah Valley Republican C. Todd Gilbert who ran against 15th House District Democrat Jim Blubaugh. The 15th District "represents the counties of Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and part of Rockingham County." 

Official campaign records in Virginia dating to 2005 for Kilgore for Governor and Gilbert for Delegate refer to Wade Zirkle as "Zirkle, Wade Denman" of Edinburg, VA.

Articles by Wade Zirkle
Note: The direct links to Zirkle's Townhall.com articles are no longer active. Also, the Campaign Solutions link to Zirkle's The DesMoines Register article is no longer active. However, they have been left in place in case they should become active once again (April 2, 2007).


 * ""Self-fulfilling prophecies do not equal national interests," Townhall.com (cache file), March 19, 2006. (Article reposted here and by VFFAF).
 * "Benefits Ripple Beyond Iraq's Borders," The DesMoines Register (Campaign Solutions), March 30, 2006. (Reposted here and by VFFAF).
 * locally, think globally. Iraq in perspective, three years later," Townhall.com (cache file), April 2, 2006.
 * "Troops in Support Of the War," Washington Post, April 13, 2006; FrontPageMag.com, April 17, 2006.
 * Opinion: "Through a Marine's eyes: Iraq a necessary part of a greater war," The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA), April 28, 2006.
 * Commentary: "When media pull back, coverage is a casualty," Philadelphia Inquirer, May 12, 2006.
 * "Celebrating those who chase evil, give safe harbor to liberty," Townhall.com, May 26, 2006; (cached copy here). Guest Commentary, Contra Costa Times, May 27, 2006; Free Republic, May 28, 2006.
 * "Honoring Our Troops," FrontPageMag.com, May 29, 2006; printable.
 * "On the Frontlines of Freedom. Today's military is the public face of the U.S. in many parts of the world," Ripon Forum/Ripon Society, June/July 2006.
 * With David Bellavia, Editorial: "In Ramadi, a test of Iraqi forces," Philadelphia Inquirer, July 6, 2006.
 * With David Bellavia and Owen West, "Birth of an Army. With the Iraqi forces in Ramadi," The Weekly Standard, July 24, 2006 (issue).

Profiles

 * Vets for Freedom Founders: Wade Zirkle, Vets for Freedom website.
 * Profile: Wade Zirkle, Townhall.com. Link inactive July 11, 2006. Cached Pdf.
 * Wade Zirkle in the Wikipedia.

Republican Political Campaigns/Consulting

 * List of Vendors: Kilgore for Governor, vpap.org, 2005. "Zirkle, William Wade" received $24,230.
 * List of Vendors: Gilber, Todd, vpap.org, 2005. "Zirkle, William Wade" received $1,080.
 * List of Vendors: Kilgore for Governor, vpap.org, 2005. Note: Campaign Solutions/eDonations.com of Alexandria, VA, received $11,027 ("Consulting Fee Processing Fee and Media Expenses") and "Zirkle, Wade Denman" of Edinburg, VA, received $6,682 (for reimbursement of travel, expenses, and supplies).
 * List of Vendors: Gilbert for Delegate, vpap.org, 2005: "Zirkle, Wade Denman" of Edinburg, VA. Transations are listed as reimbursement for tickets and "Consulting".
 * Campaign Donors: Gilbert for Delegate, vpap.org, 2005: "Zirkle, William D (Edinburg, VA) contributed $2,047.

2004

 * Darrin Mortenson, "Troops take over houses of fleeing Fallujah residents," North County Times (CA), April 14, 2004.

2005

 * Transcript: Paula Zahn Now, CNN, January 26, 2005.
 * "Louderback, Goodlatte, Cantor Endorse Todd," Gilbert for Delegate.com (cache file), May 17, 2005: "Gilbert has named Wade Zirkle of Edinburg to be his campaign manager. Zirkle, 27, has a degree in Political Science from the University of South Carolina. He is a former Marine Infantry Officer who served two tours in Iraq. He is also currently the Field Director for former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore in his 2005 Campaign for Governor. Zirkle will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the campaign and its staff."
 * Remarks of Jerry Kilgore, Former Attorney General and Republican Candidate for Governor, VFW State Convention, Richmond, VA, Veterans for Kilgore/JerryKilgore.com, June 17, 2005.
 * Veterans for Kilgore. Remarks of Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, Veterans for Kilgore/JerryKilgore.com, September 26, 2005. Unveiling of "our 'Veterans for Kilgore' coalition."

2006

 * Julie Kosterlitz, "Lobbying & Law - Veterans of Political Wars," National Journal, 2006.
 * Not John Behan, "Veterans for Freedom," Commonwealth Watch (Virginia), February 24, 2006: "This group, Vets for Freedom, includes a gentleman many of us have had the pleasure to meet during (the displeasure that was) the Kilgore campaign where he was a regional director – Lt. Wade Zirkle, USMC, holder of the Purple Heart. Wade is a founder and now Executive Director of Veterans for Freedom."
 * Heidi Collins, Transcript: The Situation Room, CNN, April 13, 2006. Includes interview with Wade Zirkle.
 * Drew Brown, "White House rebuffs generals' calls for Rumsfeld to resign," Knight Ridder Newspapers, April 13, 2006.
 * "Wash. Post op-ed page hosted disingenuous attack on Reps. Moran and Murtha," Media Matters for America, April 13, 2006.
 * Top Dog, "'Vets For Freedom' Announces Leadership Team," American Daughter, April 13, 2006.
 * Jeff, "A Veteran Speaks," State of the Day Blogspot, April 13, 2006.
 * Julie Ponzi, "Steyn on Iran and Europe/Vets for Freedom," No Left Turns, the Ashcroft Center for Public Affairs blog, April 14, 2006.
 * Hugh Hewitt, "Vets for Freedom's Wade Zirkle," Townhall.com, April 14, 2006. Audio link and transcript of interview.
 * Tony Harris, Transcript: "Live from ....," CNN, April 17, 2006. Interview with Wade Zirkle and Rob Timmins, re "Row Over Rumsfeld".
 * "The Danger Zone," April 17, 2006: "On this week's WMAL radio show Danger Zone FDD's Richard Carlson interviewed FDD President Cliff May; FOX News Analyst, Lt. Col. Bill Cowan; Executive Director of Vets for Freedom, Lt. Wade Zirkle; and Senior Fellow at the Claremont Institute and the Center for Religious Freedom, Paul Marshall." Posted on the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies website. (Download 9476K)
 * Greg Sheffield, "Troops in Iraq Say Reporters Have a 'Vulture Syndrome'," NewsBusters, May 12, 2006.
 * Owen West, Opinion: "The Troops Have Moved On," New York Times (International Herald Tribune), May 28, 2006.
 * John Stauber, "Pro-War 'Vets for Freedom' Tied to Bush's PR Team," PRWatch, June 25, 2006.
 * "Former Bush Spokesman Urges Newspapers to Run Pro-War Stories by Former Vets With GOP Ties," Democracy Now!, June 27, 2006.
 * mrs panstreppon's Blog, "Vets For Freedom: William Wade Denham Zirkle, Executive Director," TPM Cafe, June 27, 2006. Also see comments section.
 * Jon Lender, "'Vets for Freedom' Creates Stir," The Hartford Courant (CT) (RedOrbit), August 15, 2006.
 * "News and notes from the campaign trail," Associated Press (Boston Globe), August 19, 2006.
 * "Veterans Group Backing Lieberman," Townhall.com, September 5, 2006.
 * James C. Roberts, "Remember Our Unsung Heroes," Human Events Online, September 11, 2006.
 * Kevin Combest, "Conservative Spotlight: Vets for Freedom," Human Events Online, September 19, 2006.
 * Aaron Glantz, "I'm a Veteran, and I Support/Despise This War," Antiwar.com, September 27, 2006.
 * "freeSpeech: Wade Zirkle. Former Marine Speaks About Staying The Course In Iraq," CBS News, October 10, 2006 (and podcast). Video link posted by Hot Air Blog.
 * Dave Johnson, "CBS News Provides Free Airtime To Vets For Freedom Action Fund - A Campaign Organization," The Huffington Post, October 16, 2006.
 * Patriot, "Military Political Activists," A Soldier's Perspective, October 26, 2006. Scroll down to comments.
 * Claire M. Guehenno, "Local Vote Set On Iraq Pullout. Non-binding proposal for immediate Iraq withdrawal is on Cambridge ballot," The Crimson (Harvard University), October 31, 2006.
 * Aaron Glantz, "Iraq Vets Target Congressional Races," OneWorld US, November 3, 2006.
 * Steve Liewer, "Marine sacrificed his body to protect a sleeping comrade," San Diego Union-Tribune, November 12, 2006.

2007

 * Linton Weeks, "Why They Fight -- From Within," Washington Post (After Downing Street), January 16, 2007.
 * "Marine: No retribution over anti-war Web site," Washington Post (Seattle Times), January 17, 2007.
 * Transcript: "This Week at War" with John Roberts, CNN, January 17, 2007. Scroll down to near end of article.
 * Brian MacQuarrie, "Veterans group assails Iraq troop increase," Boston Globe (posted at JohnKerry.com), February 2, 2007. re VoteVets.org