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Vet denies retraction of Kerry war criticism
World Net Daily ^ | August 6, 2004

Posted on 08/06/2004 11:30:16 AM PDT by Conservative Coulter Fan

Vet denies retraction
of Kerry war criticism

Boston Globe story saying he backed off 'extremely inaccurate', 'highly misleading'


Posted: August 6, 2004
2:16 p.m. Eastern


© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

A Vietnam veteran who appears in a television ad critical of Sen. John Kerry says a Boston Globe article asserting he retracted his criticism of the presidential candidate's war service is "extremely inaccurate" and "highly misleading."

In a statement, Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth says "Captain Elliott reaffirms his affidavit in support of that advertisement, and he reaffirms his request that the ad be played."

The Globe story by Michael Kranish said Elliott, in an interview yesterday, backed off one of the key contentions of a book to be released next week by the veterans group, "Unfit for Command."

Elliott, according to Kranish, said he had made a "terrible mistake" in signing an affidavit that suggests Kerry did not deserve the Silver Star.

But the veterans group says the article is "particularly surprising given page 102 of Mr. Kranish’s own book quoting John Kerry as acknowledging that he killed a single, wounded, fleeing Viet Cong soldier whom he was afraid would turn around."

The group says it has more than 250 members "who are revealing first hand, eyewitness accounts of numerous incidents concerning John Kerry’s military service record."

"The organization will continue to discuss much of what John Kerry has reported as fact concerning his four-month tour of duty in Vietnam," the statement said.

In the affadavit, given to the newspaper to back the group's contentions, Elliott is quoted as saying that Kerry "lied about what occurred in Vietnam ... for example, in connection with his Silver Star, I was never informed that he had simply shot a wounded, fleeing Viet Cong in the back."

The statement refers to a Feb. 28, 1969 incident in which Kerry won the Silver Star after shooting a Viet Cong soldier who had been carrying a rocket launcher and running toward a hut. Kerry's crewmates said in interviews last year they thought the action was necessary and it was Elliott who recommended Kerry for the Silver Star, the Globe reported.

But some Kerry critics have questioned whether the soldier posed a danger to the crew.

The Globe quotes Elliott as saying yesterday, "I still don't think he shot the guy in the back. It was a terrible mistake probably for me to sign the affidavit with those words. I'm the one in trouble here."

The book says "Elliott indicates that a Silver Star recommendation would not have been made by him had he been aware of the actual facts."

In the television ad, Elliott says, "John Kerry has not been honest about what happened in Vietnam."

The book also raises questions about the action of March 13, 1969, for which Kerry was awarded a Bronze Star and his third Purple Heart.

In the interview with the Globe, Elliott said that based on the affidavits of the veterans on other boats, he now thinks his assessment about the Bronze Star and third Purple Heart may have been based on poor information.

"I simply have no reason for these guys to be lying, and if they are lying in concert, it is one hell of a conspiracy. So, on the basis of all of the information that has come out, I have chosen to believe the other men. I absolutely do not know first hand."


Related offer:

"Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry"


Related stories:

Dems press TV stations to shun vets' ad

White House avoids criticism of Vets' ad

Vets: Kerry lied to get Silver Star

Kerry's Viet comrades call him a liar in TV ad

Kerry's wounds self-inflicted?

Kerry flip-flop on war footage

Controversy over Kerry's re-enacted war scenes

Anti-Kerry vets to sue candidate?

Kerry honored at communist museum

'Kerry lied while good men died'

Vets to Kerry: Stop using photos

Vet: Officers told Kerry to leave Vietnam


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bostonglobe; denial; elliott; georgeelliott; kerry; medialies; swiftboat; swiftboatveterans
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Comment #21 Removed by Moderator

To: Conservative Coulter Fan

The book "Unfit For Command" will be the nail in the political coffin for Ketchup Kerry...

he won't even be able to cut in line at Starbucks after the book is released next week!

"Traitors to the end of the line, junior..."


22 posted on 08/06/2004 11:43:57 AM PDT by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1/5 1st Mar Div. Nam 69&70 Semper Fi http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.com)
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To: Conservative Coulter Fan

People, start buying copies of Kranish's book before they disappear like the New Soldier one! If the information on page 102 in Kranish's book is correct, then you can bet the Dems will pull the book off the market.


23 posted on 08/06/2004 11:45:40 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: Grampa Dave

I am one of the doomers and gloomers and I will gladly eat crow if the Boston Globe report is discredited. Waiting for other sources.


24 posted on 08/06/2004 11:45:42 AM PDT by tirednvirginia ((But things are looking up!))
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To: ScottFromSpokane
LOL...

And Kerry returned to the boat.....minus a few *Death Cards...allong with his M-79 Grenade launcher and a sack of Mangos : )

25 posted on 08/06/2004 11:47:08 AM PDT by Light Speed
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To: ScottFromSpokane

I'll bet that the Poodle has got the shock troops and snoopers out in a big way right now checking for any chinks in the Swiftvets' armor. All out looking at records, looking for ex-friends and lovers, digging in garbage cans.


26 posted on 08/06/2004 11:47:15 AM PDT by myheroesareDeadandRegistered
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To: Blood of Tyrants
And it confuses me. What exactly is he denying? Has he flip-flopped AGAIN?

Such is the POWER of the MEDIA. IF, as is true in this case, you are a hack for a political party AND just happen to be a REPORTER, well you can interview someone and slant the wording to make it anything that will help your PARTY'S candidate, then when the nuances start being dissected and the party that you interviewed DENIES some of the things you printed.........WALLAH......you have succeeded in BLURRING the truth, causing the uninformed to tune it all out.

You then have successfully discredited an otherwise honorable man and made a clear story very NEBULOUS!!

Any lingering doubt about the POWER of the PRESS/MEDIA??

27 posted on 08/06/2004 11:49:45 AM PDT by PISANO (NEVER FORGET 911 !!!!)
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To: Conservative Coulter Fan
Michael Kranish books:

John F. Kerry: The Complete Biography by the Boston Globe Reporters Who Know Him Best

Kerry and Edwards: Their Plans and Promises - not yet released

John F. Kerry - not yet released

Kerry. La alternativa a Bush - not yet released

28 posted on 08/06/2004 11:50:03 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: azhenfud; All
I was in the trenches and low and behold the Democrats were in a frenzy lashing out at the Republican Funded Swift Boat Vets and they howled over the story in the Boston Globe about Elliot retracting his story. Now they’ll be getting served – Kranish is a crony of the Kerry/Edwards Campaign getting paid to write a book and now Elliot is denying he retracted his story, stands by the Affidavit, and maybe at the next Kerry/Edwards stop – Bush supporters in addition to chanting “four more years” can pepper Kerry about his “service” in Vietnam.

This is like Reuters and other Mainstream Media outlets...they thought McCain's condemnation was more newsworthy than the actual charges.
29 posted on 08/06/2004 11:50:30 AM PDT by Conservative Coulter Fan (BURN IN HELL, MICHAEL MOORE!)
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To: ScottFromSpokane
It sounds to me like Elliott intended to retract only the assertion that Kerry shot the VC in the back. And if that assertion was not based on his own firsthand knowledge, but on what he'd heard from other people, he's right: he shouldn't have signed it.

Sounds plausible, but stay tuned.

30 posted on 08/06/2004 11:53:33 AM PDT by secretagent
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To: All
Here is the reporter who wrote this story and the book in a clear violation of ethics.

Kranish, Michael
Washington Bureau / News
(202) 857-5119
m_kranish@globe.com

This is a clear violation of the Society for Pressional Journalists Code of Ethics:

"Act Independently Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know. Journalists should: Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility. Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity. Disclose unavoidable conflicts. Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable. Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage. Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news."

Kranish is outrageous.....he violated lots of these just by writing the book.

31 posted on 08/06/2004 11:54:01 AM PDT by rwfromkansas (BYPASS FORCED WEB REGISTRATION! **** http://www.bugmenot.com ****)
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To: tirednvirginia

As I used to ask the Quagmire posters how they like their Crow, rare, medium rare or well done.

How would you like your crow?

Remember I'm waiting for the more on the supposed recanting of the Swift Boat Operator. So your order will be served when confirmation is here.

I never believe anything the Globus Hystericus, the bastard child of the NY Slimes prints. Remember the photos of the prison that weren't that were posted by these lying bastards pretending to be editors?

The Globus Hystericus and this POS author in the bed with moi Kerri Writer are responsible for moi Kerri getting by with massive lies for decades.


32 posted on 08/06/2004 11:55:17 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (The Franchurian Dork Candidate, moi Kerri, in his convention speech "Judge me by my record"...)
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To: Conservative Coulter Fan
koward kerry bump...
33 posted on 08/06/2004 11:57:15 AM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: Conservative Coulter Fan

So is this just an example of a Kerry fan in a position to do so using his position to counteract a story even if he has to lie to do it?


34 posted on 08/06/2004 11:59:41 AM PDT by aruanan
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To: Conservative Coulter Fan
ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE THE LIBERAL MAINSTREAM MEDIA REFUSES TO ASK KERRY THE TOUGH QUESTIONS ALL AMERICAN'S DESERVE ANSWERS TO.....JUST LIKE WITH THEIR BOY BILL KLINTON....THEY FAIL TO INFORM US OF THE BACKGROUND OF KERRY.

NOT ONLY HIS VIETNAM EXPERIENCE.
( NONE OF THEM HAVE INTERVIEWED THE SWIFT BOAT VETERANS WHO TRIED MONTHS AGO, VIA A PRESS CONFERANCE, TO LET THE MEDIA KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH KERRY. OF COURSE, THE MEDIA KNOWS THIS, BUT THEY ARE LIBERAL AND THEY DON'T WANT AMERICANS WHO VOTE TO KNOW THIS!!! HORRENDOUS!)

BUT THEY REFUSE TO TALK ABOUT HIS SENATORIAL RECORD. ( WHICH SUCKS AND THEY KNOW IT-ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES OF TERROR) tHEY REFUSE TO TELL AMERICANS ABOUT HOW HE REALLY VOTED, ABOUT HOW MANY INTELLIGENCE MEETINGS HE MISSED, THEY, THIS LIBERAL PRESS, HATE US SO MUCH, THEY ARE WILLING TO LIE TO ALL OF AMERICA IN ORDER TO GET THEIR BOY IN...THAT IS NOT A FREE PRESS....THAT IS AN HITLERIAN PROPAGANDA MACHINE.

BUT THEY ARE THE MEDIA, THEY ARE LIBERAL, THEY WANT TO CONTROL THE INFORMATION SO THAT IT FAVORS THEIR BOY, SO THEY ARE WILLING TO CHEAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OUT OF THE FULL STORY!

35 posted on 08/06/2004 12:00:27 PM PDT by Republic (joe wilson is a LIAR-but since he is a democrat-the mainstream press is OK with it :^()
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To: Grampa Dave; All
You aren't going to believe this...wait a minute...you'll believe this - Reuters is now listing the Globe Story about the veteran retracting the story here. I suppose they are trying to hurry up and mislead as many people as possible...we all know they'll do hardly nothing if anything when it comes to retracting it.
36 posted on 08/06/2004 12:01:29 PM PDT by Conservative Coulter Fan (BURN IN HELL, MICHAEL MOORE!)
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To: Veto!
This is beyond bias. It is propaganda. One of many current examples.
37 posted on 08/06/2004 12:02:39 PM PDT by exhaustedmomma (“John Kerry has fought harder for the Vietnamese communists than he fought against them in Vietnam.”)
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To: rwfromkansas

Great response to the Globus Hystericus.


38 posted on 08/06/2004 12:03:13 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (The Franchurian Dork Candidate, moi Kerri, in his convention speech "Judge me by my record"...)
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To: Conservative Coulter Fan

Besure to make copies of the original article and post it to FR if not done yet.

This article will disappear like Joe Wilsons's lying web site from moi Kerri's web site very soon.


39 posted on 08/06/2004 12:04:58 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (The Franchurian Dork Candidate, moi Kerri, in his convention speech "Judge me by my record"...)
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To: Grampa Dave

As my quoting should show, this is more than a conflict of interest.

This is what I would classify as secondary employment.

It is despicable.

Journalism, when done right, is noble.

This is NOT.....it is an utter betrayal of the truth...it is sick and I am mad as hell.


40 posted on 08/06/2004 12:08:09 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (BYPASS FORCED WEB REGISTRATION! **** http://www.bugmenot.com ****)
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