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AP stands by its story about anti-Bush SEAL (Freeper Travis McGee mentioned)
WorldNetDaily ^ | 9/13/04

Posted on 09/13/2004 1:43:11 PM PDT by ambrose

about anti-Bush SEAL

This is a WorldNetDaily printer-friendly version of the article which follows.
To view this item online, visit http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=40427

Monday, September 13, 2004



ELECTION 2004
AP stands by its story
about anti-Bush SEAL

Man with Muslim name doesn't come up on search of elite sailors


Posted: September 13, 2004
4:06 p.m. Eastern

By Ron Strom


© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

An Associated Press reporter is standing by his story that describes an anti-Bush veteran as a former Navy SEAL in the face of questions about whether or not the man was in fact a member of the elite unit.

The reporter, Elliott Minor says the Albany, Ga., man, Ahmad Majied, doesn't show up on lists of former SEALs because he changed his name when he converted to Islam after leaving the Navy.

In a story reporting the reactions of U.S. military personnel and veterans to allegations that President Bush failed to perform to National Guard standards, Minor quotes several current and former military men. Here is an excerpt from the AP story:

Ahmad Majied of Albany says the latest allegations about Bush's military record are more troubling to him than allegations about service honors leveled at Democratic challenger Kerry.

Majied, a Democrat from Albany who served 30 years in the Navy, including five years as a SEAL in Vietnam, said the memos support his belief that Bush was a "playboy" during his service years.

"He had enough money to get what he wanted," Majied said. "I think his main concern was not to go to Southeast Asia. I bet he never dreamed it would come back to haunt him."

After reading the account, Travis McGee, a poster on FreeRepublic.com, contacted an organization called AuthentiSEAL, which researches claims by people posing as Navy SEALs, to see if Majied indeed had been a SEAL. According to his post, McGee received a response from Gregory Platt, an investigator with the group, saying the name Ahmad Majied does not come up on a search of former SEALs.

McGee says he became suspicious of the claim when he read that Majied had been in Vietnam for five years.

"When this fake SEAL's claim of spending five years in Vietnam was pointed out to me, I knew he couldn't be for real," he writes at Free Republic. "SEALs deployed to VN for six month tours, so 'five years in Vietnam' seemed highly improbable. I knew lots of multiple tour 'real deal Vietnam SEALs' during my peacetime duty in the teams in the 1980s, and I never heard of this guy.

"This only took a couple of minutes time for 'amateurs' on Free Republic to check out. The 'professional' journalists at the AP must have been to busy to do this basic checking."

In an interview with WorldNetDaily, however, Minor says he has no reason to disbelieve Majied's story.

"I really trust this guy," he said. "I believe he's a real straight shooter."

Minor says Majied didn't give him his previous name, "and I didn't press the matter."

The vet has received "nasty calls" since the issue has been publiclized, Minor says, adding, "This is a very peaceful guy. … There's a peace about his voice."

Minor says Majied homeschools his seven children. "These are really upstanding people," he told WND.

The AP reporter addressed McGee's criticism of spending five months in Vietnam, saying Majied told him he was based in the Philippines and would go to Vietnam for short stints and then return to the islands.

"Altogether it was probably five years [in Vietnam]," Minor said.

Minor spoke to Majied this afternoon to try to verify the issue, and he said the veteran has refused to speak to other media about the issue.

He said of the Majieds: "I've met them around town, and they're just nice people. … I just really think a lot of him."

Internet bloggers challenging the claims of mainstream media outlets has become more prevalent recently. It was on the Net where the first questions were raised about National Guard memos CBS News claims show that Bush's former commander, Lt. Col. Jerry B. Killian, was resisting pressure from his superior, Col. Walter B. "Buck" Staudt, to "sugarcoat" Bush's officer evaluation files.

Document experts and amateur sleuths began questioning the memos' authenticity within hours after they were published on the Internet, citing typographical and formatting issues that suggest they were created by a modern-day word processor rather than a Vietnam War-era typewriter.

Despite the irregularities of the memos and the fact that a source CBS used to prove its case is saying the documents are forgeries, network anchor Dan Rather stands by the story he presented on "60 Minutes II" last week.

Related stories:

Bush Guard papers forged, says source

Rather backs docs on Evening News

Ben Barnes' daughter: Father lied about Bush

CBS News denies Bush docs forged


Ron Strom is a news editor for WorldNetDaily.com.



TOPICS: Free Republic; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: ahmadmajied; ap; associatedpress; congrats; elliottminor; fakeseal; fakeseals; majied; medialies; mediots; minor; poorjournalism; seal; seals
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To: ambrose
This is getting amusing. Not so much the fake Seal. (Nearly every man played high school football, or can run the 100 in near record time), but the AP refusing to admit it has been had.

Sort of reminds me of "The Simpsons" episode in which Principal Skinner has Superintendent Chalmers stop by unexpectedly for lunch of "Smoked Clams" er Smoked Hams etc. and the lying just keeps going on.

201 posted on 09/13/2004 4:26:48 PM PDT by yarddog
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To: nicmarlo
If I were to put forth into print, claims against others by an alleged Navy Seal

He didn't make a claim. He offered an opinion. Opinions are like AHs, even from a SEAL. (Okay, a SEAL would be a better AH but I'm sure there are some.)
202 posted on 09/13/2004 4:28:30 PM PDT by UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide (Give Them Liberty Or Give Them Death! - Islam Delenda Est! - Rumble thee forth...)
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To: UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide

You are right.

I was only going by what other information was posted.

I stand corrected.


203 posted on 09/13/2004 4:28:37 PM PDT by NavySEAL F-16 (Proud to be a Reagan Republican)
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To: Squantos; humblegunner; TheMom
You silver tongued devil!!!

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

204 posted on 09/13/2004 4:29:16 PM PDT by Eaker (Deer Camp North Gives a Whole New Meaning to Labor Day Weekend!!!)
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To: cricket

Isn't amazing that AP and the rest of dying MSM has done zero investigation of this Bush hater?

Their arrogance will be the end of their power in the new information age.



205 posted on 09/13/2004 4:30:34 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (When will the ABCNNBC BS lunatic libs stop lying to Americans? Answer: NEVER!)
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To: Ditto

It would not too hard. My older brother is 50 my youngest 1/2 sister is 16. My mother and father were divorced in '67 and he remarried a 18 year old. My father did 3 tours in Viet Nam and retired in '72. When he was 60 he still had 6 kids at home.


206 posted on 09/13/2004 4:35:38 PM PDT by Kadric
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To: muir_redwoods
So, as I understrand it, they found ONE navy SEAL who doesn't like Bush. And he's a muslim. WOW!!! Stop the presses.

Exactly. And somebody named "Ahmad" does Kerry more harm than good with his support, SEAL or not.
207 posted on 09/13/2004 4:36:34 PM PDT by UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide (Give Them Liberty Or Give Them Death! - Islam Delenda Est! - Rumble thee forth...)
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To: Squantos; Eaker
"Amateur's" prove them wrong every damn day of the week...

Thats one of the reasons why I'm here, sir!
With enough folks like us watching.. 3 shifts & no lapses..
We can nail 'em down in their holes.

I love you guys.

208 posted on 09/13/2004 4:43:03 PM PDT by humblegunner
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To: ambrose
In other words, the AP smear is just another fictious ANONYMOUS claim, and there is NO WAY to refute or confirm the person or check his background.

Sounds like Commander Rather.

Or maybe the fictious V.V.A.W soldiers.

209 posted on 09/13/2004 5:01:50 PM PDT by Future Useless Eater (FreedomLoving_Engineer)
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To: Grampa Dave

>> the AP and the rest of dying MSM has done zero investigation


DYING MSM... Maybe that sums up why they are so desperate


210 posted on 09/13/2004 5:04:06 PM PDT by Future Useless Eater (FreedomLoving_Engineer)
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To: Tax-chick

Ah! I had forgotten. Good thing we tend the checkbooks!

Ours will be out in 3 and 10 years, respectively. He has them out sweeping and picking up shingles at the moment. New barn slideshow in a week or so.

Mr. Okie celebrates his 63rd B-day on the 29th of the month. The patience of Job.

Note to self: Buy cheesecake ingredients.


211 posted on 09/13/2004 5:13:29 PM PDT by annyokie (Now with 20% More Infidel!)
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To: Travis McGee; dix; humblegunner; Allegra; antivenom; bobbyd; eastforker; Flyer; Humidston; ...
Something about spending hours a week swimming at night in freezing cold shark infested waters did not seem to attract many ............

Humans.

I am glad to be your friend.

For any interested I am listed in this fine man's book, Enemies Foreign and Domestic, on the acknowledgement page.

One of the biggest honor that I can point to in my life.

Think about it. It means the world to me to be mentioned by a Real Deal SEAL. How the hell does one lie about being a SEAL???

By the way, I have spoken to Matt and he not only has a laid back voice, but he spoke the truth.

Go get them Matt!!



Note: Everything that I just posted can be verified easily as I am damn proud of it, as I would provide proof that I was SEAL if I ever could have been one!

212 posted on 09/13/2004 5:20:52 PM PDT by Eaker (Deer Camp North Gives a Whole New Meaning to Labor Day Weekend!!!)
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To: Eaker

Thanks Eaker!


213 posted on 09/13/2004 5:30:51 PM PDT by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: Eaker
Think about it. It means the world to me to be mentioned by a Real Deal SEAL. How the hell does one lie about being a SEAL???

AlGore invented the SEALs you putz.
AlGores SEALs had copies of Word73 provided to them by John Kerry
who liberated them from the VC in Cambodia 'way back in '68.

Don't you ever watch the news???

214 posted on 09/13/2004 5:32:33 PM PDT by humblegunner
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To: UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide

I stand corrected - from a more definitive Naval source:

MACM = Master Chief Master-at-Arms

...can I have my jammies now? ;)


215 posted on 09/13/2004 5:42:58 PM PDT by Mystic
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To: annyokie

Can't wait to see the barn! And happy birthday to Mr. Okie - what a trouper!


216 posted on 09/13/2004 5:44:09 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Dick Cheney is MY dark, macho, paranoid Vice President!)
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To: Travis McGee

I’m more like the Fox commentators refraining from calling Dan Rather a liar and turning off half the population. Instead staying cool, presenting the facts, and spicing it with just a little irony and ridicule.


217 posted on 09/13/2004 6:12:56 PM PDT by elfman2
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To: Travis McGee

well, if it's a fake SEAL, Travis will trip 'em up!!!

(soon you'll be a contributing editor to WND.Com! ... can I have your autograph?)


218 posted on 09/13/2004 6:23:16 PM PDT by Bobby777
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To: Mamzelle
How many 30-yr vets have kids at home young enough to homeschool?

How many 59-year-old, converted muslims with 7 school-age home schooled kids can there be in Albany, GA? About 1??
219 posted on 09/13/2004 6:28:53 PM PDT by savannah eagle
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To: Travis McGee

Bravo Zulu Travis!


220 posted on 09/13/2004 6:34:52 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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