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.
And Kerry returned to the boat.....minus a few *Death Cards...allong with his M-79 Grenade launcher and a sack of Mangos : )
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.
Sounds plausible, but stay tuned.
I appreciate this vet's candor and appreciate him all the more.