freeSpeech: Wade Zirkle

Former Marine Speaks About Staying The Course In Iraq

(CBS)  Two years ago in Fallujah, my platoon was hit by a car bomb that killed seven fellow Marines and three patriotic Iraqi soldiers. I was wounded and was recovering in a Texas hospital when I received a call from a survivor of the blast, an Iraqi soldier named Sergeant Saleem.

He told me his brother died in the car bomb, but that he would continue to fight for Iraq. "My people deserve freedom," he said. "Even if it means I must die too."

Americans don't hear much about Iraqi patriots like Sergeant Saleem. Too often, the media focuses on carnage, ignoring the patriotism of the Iraqi Army, which has lost twice as many troops as American forces have.

What's more, when the fight in Iraq is viewed through a narrow lens of daily body counts, we lose sight of our long-term national security interests. If we give up on Iraq now, we will inevitably face a more costly military intervention down the road.

So it is imperative to treat Iraq with the seriousness it deserves right now. That means the President committing 30,000 more troops to secure Baghdad, to seal the borders, to defeat the insurgency and to help the Iraqi Army disarm the sectarian militias that are attempting to provoke a civil war

Iraq has turned out to be a much tougher fight than most Americans expected. But we cannot panic in the face of adversity. We cannot effectively fight a war by looking in the rearview mirror and we must persevere, for in this long, global war, success is achievable and failure cannot be an option.

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Wade Zirkle is the founder and Executive Director of the Vets for Freedom Action Fund, a bipartisan political action group supporting pro-military, pro-mission policymakers in the war on terror.

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 platoon commander in the invasion 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 43 Marines. Zirkle'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, Zirkle was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps. Zirkle is the recipient of the Purple Heart Medal, and two Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medals for Valor.

In the summer of 2006, Zirkle returned to Iraq for the third time, this time as a civilian reporter embedded with the Iraqi Army in Ramadi. Zirkle appears regularly on CNN and Fox news to offer commentary on the war on terror. His written work has appeared in numerous national publications including the Washington Post, The Weekly Standard, The Wall Street Journal and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

He is from Shenandoah County, Virginia.

[godshorn]

When you send your soldiers into another individual's neignborhood without knowing the lay-out or the people you put your soldiers in harms way. When a President decides that he is going into someone elses country because he believes he has enough fire power to destroy a country but knows nothing about the people he puts his soldiers in harms way. When you start a war without reason you put your soldiers in harms way. Colin Powell had a post attack plan for the Iraqi people but Bush gave the responsibility to Rumsfeld who had no plan. If the plan initiated inside of Powell than Powell possessed the rest of the plan: not Rumsfeld. We need to begin to take a good look at who we are allowing to make decisions for this country. If this is a democracy then the people need to be listened to.

[jimc52]

I respect the service this man has done, but I disagree with the logic. We cannot ignore "body counts" when they add up to between 400,000 and 700,000 dead people. Try stacking that many dead bodies up in front of the White House, if they don't get the meaning of it - because that is what has happened. After World War II, we ourselves, tried and convicted Germans as war criminals for this level of death. The fact is, sooner or later, we HAVE to leave Iraq because we cannot sustain the situation...nor can we afford to keep spending money we don't have.
And despite the opinions of high level senior military officials, we are not LISTENING! The fact is that there will ALWAYS be yet another war and another challenge from someone. The logic saying staying there prevents future conflict is nonsense. The reason we don't leave is because it would make our politicians look like idiots. So people there have to die every day to save political face. Political face is not, however, being saved! Our politicians have lost ALL credibility. I am ashamed at the level of death this war has wrought and how our world image as a nation of equity and tolerance has been sullied.

[frankly6]

Liberal media! Stay the course! Freedom's on the march! 9/11! Support our troops! Don't cut-n-run! Mushroom clouds! Mission acomplished! Winners never quit! Uhhh...family values! Hmmm....I'm out of slogans here. Let's see what are the facts again?

[kailumego1]

There are those who are leaders and those who are followers.
Now, the differences between the two, followers believe whatever%u2019s being told to them without questioning and leaders will exhaust themselves until the truth is known.
Followers will believe any propaganda that others spew, without researching it for validity, and leaders will always have a degree of skepticism, thereby, scratching beyond the surface.
Followers will always proclaim some type of pseudo-honor or duty behind their reasoning, while leaders proclaim the facts.
Followers, will always, no matter what, stand behind a sinking ship, even when it is evident, while leaders will abandon and create an alternative.
Followers will react before soundly thinking and leaders will think before reacting.
And last, followers will %u201Cstupidly%u201D convince themselves that things are always worst than they really are and no matter what happens we must never give up the fight, even when evidence has proven contrary, and leaders will examine the facts and critically think of alternative ways, while considering both sides.

[trailboss49]

It's good to see a man who has served his country honorably and has an intelligent point of view based upon experience and input from others.

Only due to this type of attitude and fortitude will America lead the other nations in victory over the war on terror.

[samthetvcat]

Part 2 (lol)

Liberals are always getting criticism for not having an alternative 'plan' which I didn't address below. I think to develop alternatives a good first step would be to start encouraging Iraqi Americans to greater participate in the national debate. Not only are Iraqi Americans capable of bridging the cultural gap between Iraqi life and American life for the rest of us, but they are the personification of 'success' for this situation - they are Muslims (unless they're Christians ;) ) who are thriving in a capitalistic, democratic society. People who might be especially helpful would be those who have previously lived in Iraq. Like I don't know if you can count Fareed Zakaria in that group, who's like the Muslim American equivalent to Al Gore, although I do enjoy his work. I mean we need to start engaging everyday people - the middle-class surburban set like (perhaps) you and I who make up the bulk of any society. I would guess they have the knowledge and insight that would be key in helping us generate alternative courses of action. PS Great post, manvicjam!

[pmatylonek]

Another party line, right wing nut. I will be inspired when I hear someone speak their independent and original thoughts, instead of regurgitated nonsense dished out by the Republican's right wing. Zirkle over-simplifies Iraq and the American participation there. By the way, Iraq is pronounced, "EAR-AHK" not "I-RACK"

[borntwice-2009]

Do you think that it is easier for God to love you when you are good? Do you secretely suspect that God chose you because you deserved it? Do you think that some people's behavior is so bad that God couldn't possibly save them? If you ever think this way, you don't entirely understand that salvation is by grace, a free gift. It cannot be earned in whole or in part, it can only be accepted with thankfulness and praise.

[manvicjam]

Moved to US in 1974 mostly because I saw over 7 young men brutally slaughtered for being muslims, I knew then it was matter of time they will come after christians so I decided to get out. I came to a Christian Land where there were no Hindus and Muslims but there were Blacks and Whites and you could cut tension with a knife. My first lesson hatred crosses all boundries, we are safe nowhere, accept in our minds.

Iraq is shia, sunni and kurds, it is land of haves and have nots. They are all muslim, they all believe in Allah and Mohammad, they fight with each other kill each other and will not give a ***, because they have been doing this for centuries, and they will take our help to kill each other. But at the end of the day we will always be the conquerors, the christians, christians who love Abraham son Issac but not the other one. And they will always be Muslims and one with Allah and Mohammad.

we will never get garlands and victory parade in Bagdad, we will never be welcome. Sooner we realize that sooner we bring our children home and start protecting America from here. If they want to come here and fight, let them, we are not afaird, we will fight alongside our young one still they drown in their blood or occean. Atleast our young ones will die defending our country and us.

[samthetvcat]

While I admire, respect, and appreciate what Zirkle and all the troups have faced and accomplished in Iraq, I disagree with his implication that critics of the war lack the fortitude to stomach the body counts and the foresight to be mindful of the security interests at stake. Because for me the issue is not whether the cost of 'success' is too great - it is whether the hoped-for 'success' (of achieving democracy, political stability and economic prosperity to thereby reduce terrorism) is even achievable under the current plan. Nation-building rarely succeeds. Perhaps what critics of the war really wish to say is that there may be other means of combatting terrorism and that it's the means and not the goal with which so many of us take issue.

[jabusario]

Wade Zirkle gives no indication as to whether he thought Gen. Shinseki was right in his estimation of how many troops would be needed following Operation Mission Accomplished and going into Operation Iraqi Train Wreck. Ignoring the advice of your generals can get you into a lot more trouble than a platoon of Zirkles can get you out of. Zirkle strings together a lovely little package of trite expressions, leaving one longing for a baseball game and a platter of mom%u2019s apple pie. Not to make light of his duty in Iraq, but his tale of fellow soldiers and his multiple re-enlistments can%u2019t take the place of a well planned strategy. Being gung-ho isn%u2019t a strategy. We started right out on the wrong foot. We understand that no war plays out like the one you game for. But when Rumsfeld started right out re-fighting the Battle of Hastings, that was the time for him to take his freak show on the road. Still, the first mistake happened long before entering Baghdad. The Supreme Court made the big one when they appointed Bush to the Oval Office. The fact that he just got his queen checked by Kim Jung Il demonstrates the importance of electing a president that can walk and chew gum. Being on a college cheerleading squad and staying AWOL in the Air National Guard doesn%u2019t qualify you for being commander-in-chief.
You'll be able to read more about it as soon as they publish a book entitled "George Bush and the Decline and Fall of the American Hyper-power.

[kpdkpd1]

Mr Zirkle,

God bless you and thank you for your service to our country. Without true patriots like you, we would be fighting these islamo nazis in New York or Chicago or LA instead of Iraq.

[hlee11281]

What I'd like to know from Zirkle is this: What about the men and women in the Armed Services who want to get out, but can't because their tours are extended because nobody is signing up for King George's power trip? Sounds like breach of contract to me...

[huronman]

I don't agree with Zirkle.. it was a big mistake to go in, and a bigger mistake to stay in. Let's move out slowly, deploy more troops in Afganistan. We should do everything in our power to make a success out of one country where we still have a chance.

It would be nice to assure our own future by investing more of my tax dollars in our kids, our middle class, and a secure healthcare system for all. Let's also create more home jobs by securing our ports, airports, and recreating a real diplomacy with the rest of the world.

[amr16]

Zirkle is out of his domain here. He has definitely swallowed the "horse goo" that the military dishes out. I'm a veteran, been there done that. Who gives us the right to go to another country and say,"we'll take care of your dictators and make a democratic government that will free your people?" Freedom doesn't come cheap. But the people of a country must pay the price as we have over the years. Ok, we took care of Saddam, so now let's move on and take care of our own. Forget trying to play the nice guy, let Iraqians pay their dues and make of themselves what they can. If we have to go in there again, then we will, but I doubt it. Living free makes converts even out of those who don't want it. Get us out of Iraq. There is a more clear danger ahead, North Korea. We can only try to contain the possibility of a nuclear war, whether we can prevent one is another matter.