Wade Zirkle

Wade Zirkle (Born ?) is a decorated American military veteran of the Iraq War. He is the cofounder and former executive director of the Vets For Freedom Action Fund, a political action committee (PAC) that advocates against the immediate withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

Zirkle spent two tours in Iraq as a U.S. Marine infantryman, first during the invasion of 2003, and next in the Battle of Fallujah in 2004. He is a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal. [ [http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/about/ Vets for Freedom ] ]

He returned to Iraq for the third time as a civilian freelance journalist in 2006, where he imbedded himself with the Iraqi Army in Ramadi. He was the first American journalist to report that the new American counter-insurgency strategy being implemented in Anbar Province was working, and later wrote controversial editorials in the "Philadelphia Inquirer" [http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/news/philadelphiainquirer070606.pdf] and "The Weekly Standard" [ [http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/443zhpmy.asp Birth of an Army ] ] claiming the "oilspot strategy" was seeing signs of success in Iraq. It was not until three months later, that the Los Angeles Times was the next newspaper to report such news, as it stated "tribal leaders in Anbar province were turning against the Al Qaeda resistance." It was not until 11 month after Zirkle's initial report that the New York Times acknowledged that Anbar was "undergoing a surprising transformation" [ [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003685559_iraqramadi29.html Nation & World | Anbar province revitalized as it tames insurgents | Seattle Times Newspaper ] ] .

=Criticism=

In October 2006, the CBS Evening News was criticized for giving free airtime to Zirkle [ [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-johnson/cbs-news-provides-free-ai_b_31824.html Dave Johnson: CBS News Provides Free Airtime To Vets For Freedom Action Fund - A Campaign Organization ] ] to promote a force increase in Iraq of 30,000 troops. Four months later, President George W. Bush announced the increase of 24,000 troops, leading many left-wing activists to speculate that Vets for Freedom Action Fund was coordinating a Republican Party-orchestrated public relations campaign. [cite needed]

Articles by Wade Zirkle

* [http://online.wsj.com/PA2VJBNA4R/article/SB115526062753932948-search.html?KEYWORDS=wade+zirkle&COLLECTION=wsjie/6month The View From the Chow Hall] ; by Josh Clark and Wade Zirkle; The Wall Street Journal
* [http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/443zhpmy.asp The Birth of an Army] ; by David Bellavia, Owen West and Wade Zirkle, The Weekly Standard
* [http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/14973936.htm In Ramadi, a Test of Iraqi Forces] by David Bellavia and Wade Zirkle, Philadelphia Inquirer
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/12/AR2006041201947.html Troops in Support of the War] ; by Wade Zirkle, The Washington Post
* [http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/14682197.htm Celebrating Those Who Gave Chase to Evil, Safe Harbor to Liberty] ; by Wade Zirkle, The Contra Costa Times
* [http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/14558502.htm When Media Pull Back, Coverage is a Casualty] by Wade Zirkle, Philadelphia Inquirer
* [http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/news/zirkle_townhall.pdf Self-Fulfilling Prophecies Do Not Equal National Interests] by Wade Zirkle, Townhall.com
* [http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/news/zirkle_desmoinesregister_033006.pdf Benefits Ripple Beyond Iraq's Borders] by Wade Zirkle, The Des Moines Register
* [http://www.riponsoc.org/forum306d.htm On the Frontlines of Freedom] by Wade Zirkle, The Ripon Society

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/ Vets For Freedom official site]
* [http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/multimedia/ Wade Zirkle Televised Commentary]
* Wade Zirkle debates Michael Blake on C-Span. Paste URL into browser: rtsp://video.c-span.org/archive/c06/c06_wj102906_blake_zirkle.rm
* Congressman John Murtha Fires Back at Wade Zirkle on [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-john-murtha/its-not-the-questioning-_b_19117.html The Huffington Post Blog]
* [http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/multimedia/ Comprehensive listing] of Wade Zirkle media sourcing.