Wartime Comrade Questions Kerry's Vietnam Record

Reuters ^ | 08/06/04 | Svea Herbst-Bayliss

[Pikamax]

Wartime Comrade Questions Kerry's Vietnam Record Fri Aug 6, 2004 06:23 PM ET

By Svea Herbst-Bayliss BOSTON (Reuters) - One of presidential candidate John Kerry's Vietnam war comrades, who had appeared to back off his criticism of Kerry's war record, recanted on Friday and said, yes, in fact he did question whether the U.S. senator deserved his medals.

Last week at his nominating convention, Kerry painted himself as a decorated war hero capable of leading the nation in troubled times and a man better qualified to be commander-in-chief than President Bush.

That portrayal of his time as commander of a Navy Swift Boat sparked a heated exchange this week between those who support him and those who question that image.

This week a group calling itself the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth launched a television spot accusing the Democratic candidate of betraying his country by speaking out against the war when he returned home.

On Friday, a member of that group who was one of Kerry's supervisors in Vietnam, George Elliott, appeared to back off an earlier affidavit in which he suggested Kerry did not deserve the Silver Star. In the affidavit, he said, "I was never informed that he had simply shot a wounded, fleeing Viet Cong in the back."

In Friday's Boston Globe, Elliott was quoted as saying: "It was a terrible mistake probably for me to sign the affidavit with those words. I'm the one in trouble here."

Elliott told the Globe Kerry did deserve the medal.

PLAYING GOLF

Inundated with calls to verify the statement, Elliott grew media shy and said through his wife he would not talk. Earlier in the day, Mrs. Elliott said her husband was playing golf and would call back when he returned in the afternoon.

Elliott later issued another affidavit -- witnessed and notarized -- this time saying he was misquoted by the Globe and reaffirming his belief that Kerry has "not been honest about what happened in Vietnam."

Elliott also wrote: "Had I known the facts, I would not have recommended Kerry for the Silver Star for simply pursuing and dispatching a single wounded, fleeing Viet Cong."

Martin Baron, editor of The Boston Globe, said in a statement: "Regarding George Elliott's statements on John Kerry's military service, which ran in the Globe this morning, the Globe stands by the article. The quotes attributed to Mr. Elliott were on the record and absolutely accurate."

Next week the group will step up its campaign against the candidate with a book, "Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry."

Veterans supporting Kerry called the ad a "smear campaign" and two whose lives were saved by Kerry hit back.

"What these people have said is not true and a lot of it is grossly inaccurate," said James Rassmann, who has appeared at many campaign appearances with the candidate.

"These gentlemen appear to be making this up as they go along and they are not keeping their stories straight," he said.

Fred Short, who also served with Kerry, said the ad shows "The Bush campaign has nothing to talk about, so they resort to these dirty tricks."

Meanwhile Republican Sen. John McCain, another Vietnam veteran, called the attack dishonorable and dishonest.

The Bush administration distanced itself from the advertisement on Thursday but did not condemn it. "We have not and we will not question Sen. Kerry's service in Vietnam," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

[Arpege92]

Is it true that the man that Kerry "supposedly" saved changed political parties from Republican to Democrat in January?

[gramho12]

The "quotes are absolutely accurate" - just like "medals, ribbons - they are absolutely interchangeable". Is the Globe mimicking Kerry or vice-versa?

[EllaMinnow]

Reuters?!?

[Just mythoughts]

YES!!!!

[wattsup]

The Washington Post "reporter" who wrote the story about the Vet that retracted his statement was on contract to write the foreword to Kerry and Edward's next book. Look at the Fellowing:


XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX FRI AUG 06, 2004 14:05:38 ET XXXXX

BOSTON GLOBE 'REPORTER' COMMISSIONED TO WRITE CAMPAIGN BOOK FOREWORD -- WHILE COVERING KERRY

BOSTON GLOBE journalist Mike Kranish has been commissioned to write the foreword of the Kerry-Edwards campaign book -- just as he is covering the campaign in an official capacity as a journalist for the BOSTON GLOBE!

Kranish made waves on Friday by reporting in the GLOBE how a key figure in the anti-Kerry vet ad campaign, Kerry's former commanding officer, "backed off one of the key contentions."

But Captain George Elliott claims the Kranish article is "extremely inaccurate" and highly misstated his actual views.

Developing...

[Just mythoughts]

"Martin Baron, editor of The Boston Globe, said in a statement: "Regarding George Elliott's statements on John Kerry's military service, which ran in the Globe this morning, the Globe stands by the article. The quotes attributed to Mr. Elliott were on the record and absolutely accurate." "


The Globe has made it official, they are one and the same as the JFKerry campaign.

[twntaipan]

Wow! How amazing! The "recollections" of two who support Kerry are automagically accepted as more accurate than that of 20 plus who oppose him.

Ah... the blissful world of liberalism.

[lstanle]

"Wartime Comrade Questions Kerry's Vietnam Record,,, Reuters."

Allright!!! This flap is finally getting some print media attention. And nobody on the Kerry side has disproved anything the Swift Vets are saying... As I understand it, Kerry said, at one time, that he didn't shoot the wounded, fleeing viet cong in the back.

I understand Capt. Elliott said the wounded viet cong may have been back pedaling, (running backwards). In this case he would not be shot in the back. But Kerry has said he was afraid the fleeing wounded cong would turn around and fire at him. If he was running backwards he wouldn't need to turn to fire at Kerry. If he was running forward and Kerry shot him he was probably shot in the back.

[mylife]

yup, I heard him say it himself.

rassmann owes kerry one in his mind.

and Im sure kerry did pull him out of the water.

that doesnt negate the charges leveled by these other vets

[cyncooper]

Well!

This is very interesting, indeed.

[Texas Eagle]

"What these people have said is not true and a lot of it is grossly inaccurate," said James Rassmann, who has appeared at many campaign appearances with the candidate.

A "lot of it" is inaccurate??? Gee, Jim, why don't you tell us which parts are accurate and which parts aren't. Or does it depend on what the meaning of "accurate" is?

[Viet-Boat-Rider]

Veterans supporting Kerry called the ad a "smear campaign" and two whose lives were saved by Kerry hit back.

Now Kerry saved TWI lives...This guy deserves the CONGRESSIONAL MEADEL OF HONOR..ISSUED BY JOHN McCAIN!

[Soul Seeker]

Martin Baron, editor of The Boston Globe, said in a statement: "Regarding George Elliott's statements on John Kerry's military service, which ran in the Globe this morning, the Globe stands by the article. The quotes attributed to Mr. Elliott were on the record and absolutely accurate."

Wasn't this the paper that posted fake Abu Grabib photos?

Their credibility is absolutely stellar.

[SandRat]

If I recall correctly the fabricator that the NYT was forced to terminate for "Creative" journalism came to the NYT from the Boston Globe.

de jeau vux all over again?

[gilliam]

CLEMENTS, O'NEILL, PIERCE, WILSON & FULKERSON
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ATTORNEYS AT LAW
WELLS FARGO PLAZA
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JOHN E. O'NEILL
Partner
(713) 654-7604
oneilljohn@copwf.com

August 6, 2004

Re: Swift Boat Veterans For Truth

Dear Station Manager:

The Kerry Campaign has continued its effort to prevent our voice from being heard. You were presented with an article from Kerry's hometown newspaper, The Boston Globe, written by Michael Kranish, Kerry's biographer, claiming that Captain Elliott had withdrawn his affidavit and disavowed the ad. This is totally false.

Enclosed is Captain Elliott's affidavit executed this morning after the false Globe story.

Captain Elliott affirms his original affidavit; affirms his ad statement; and adds additional detail. In the ad, Captain Elliott says that Kerry was not honest about his service in Vietnam. This is indisputably true.

The use of a surprise false article to strike pending ads represents a new low in ambush journalism.

Very truly yours,

John E. O'Neill

JEO/cas

Enclosure

http://www.swiftvets.com/index.php?topic=Releases

[gilliam]

SWIFT BOAT VETERANS FOR TRUTH CALL ON JOHN KERRY TO STOP UNAUTHORIZED USE OF PHOTO

Kerry Fraudulently Using Picture of Swift Boat Vets who Condemn him in National Advertising
(May 17 -- Alexandria, VA) Today, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group of more than 220 Swift Boat veterans from the unit in which John Kerry served, call on Kerry to stop the unauthorized use of their images in national campaign advertising.

For example, the photo in Kerry’s national campaign ads contains 20 officers, including Kerry, 11 of whom signed a letter condemning Kerry yet their image is being widely used in his own campaign. It was taken on the island of An Thoi on January 22, 1969. These officers together with Swift Boat Veterans for Truth call upon him to cease the unauthorized use of their photo by his campaign. They are jointly submitting the attached letter to John Kerry. (Photo, letter to Kerry, link to authorized use of the photo and earlier letter to Kerry below.)

Of the remaining eight officers in the photo: two are deceased and four do not wish to be involved in any manner; only two of the 20 are believed to support Kerry.


read more (708 words)
http://www.swiftvets.com/article.php?story=20040701194042737

[syriacus]

"Wartime Comrade Questions Kerry's Vietnam Record,,, Reuters."

"Wartime Comrade Questions Kerry's Vietnam Record

[gilliam]

Captain Elliott's updated affidavit:

http://www.swiftvets.com/Elliottaffidavit08062004.pdf