AP stands by its story about anti-Bush SEAL (Freeper Travis McGee mentioned)

WorldNetDaily ^ | 9/13/04

[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

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ELECTION 2004
AP stands by its story
about anti-Bush SEAL
Man with Muslim name doesn't come up on search of elite sailors

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

By Ron Strom

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© 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

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Ron Strom is a news editor for WorldNetDaily.com.

[Dead Dog]

In all seriousness however. The "Blogsphere" will now be taken as a serious threat to the Socialist (in Media and the DNC). I would expect them to start infiltration, character assassination, and story planting. Anything and everything to discredit and demonize blogs, and FR. Somewhere between Monica Lewinsky and Dan Times New Roman Rather, the internet has gone from fringe annoyance a lethal threat. Although this is nothing new, I think the intensity and quality of attacks might escalate. Just something to keep in mind.

[Tax-chick]

But Moslems, you know, are inclusive, pluralistic, feminist, secular, tolerant, and assimilited.

No, what I really mean is, most journalists are leftist moonbats.

(There, I said something that makes sense, and it's only Tuesday!)

[Dead Dog]

Tell her to quit stalking me in my dreams, it's over!

[edfrank_1998]

I've received an email from AuthentiSEAL.com confirming that both names (Majied, Ahmad and Williams, Artis) are not SEALS. I waited until receiving confirmations on both names before posting.

Redundant, perhaps, as Majied has apparently said something else about his status now, but I wanted something definitive.



found via: http://www.sandiego.courts.ca.gov:8080/CISPublic/namesearch

San Diego Superior Court

View Case Detail - MAJIED vs PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME
Case Number: 399146 Case Site: San Diego
Case Type: Civil Date Filed: 05/26/1977
Category: A61702 Change of Name

Plaintiff/Petitioner
Last Name or Business Name First Name Primary (P)
MAJIED AHMAD HAKIM
WILLIAMS ARTIS GEORGE

Defendant/Respondent
Last Name or Business Name First Name Primary (P)
PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME P

Microfilm
Microfilm ID Location Reel Number Frame Number
This case has not been microfilmed.

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Due to the large volume of requests my apology for not verifying initially on Williams, Artis George!
WILLIAMS, ARTIS GEORGE- IS NOT A REAL SEAL.

You may consider checking out this site below for the truth concerning Majied, Ahmad Hakim who was "NOT a SEAL, but did
work WITH SEALs".

http://www.leanwrite.com/politics/040913sealtrackers.html

Respectfully,

Gregory Platt
UDT/SEAL 1970-1974
SEAL Authentication Team - Investigator

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"

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" wrote:

> Thank you for the prompt reply. I just want to confirm that he wasn't a
> SEAL in his original name (). Your message doesn't
> address that specifically. Thanks.
>
>

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> SFC, US Army (Retired)
>

[annyokie]

There are those pesky "honor" killings, but, hey, nobody's perfect.

Moonbats, indeed!

[TaxRelief]

There is no greater service that FReerepublic can do for the American people than to cause the demise of the MSM practice of quoting and worshipping "unnamed sources".

Does our constitution not say that American citizens, including public figures, have the right to "face our accusers?"

The MSM (main stream media) has yet to figure out that we are only as good as our credibility, and a reputation once damaged is rarely ever recovered.

[Little Bill]

What was this persons non "Slave Name", the only person that I could find with the same Muslim name was a Fellows, J. Came from the area.

[Hank Rearden]

I told you guys the other day: this guys pre-Moo name was Frizzel Gray.

[Travis McGee]

Great work, thanks!

[twigs]

Homeschooling terrorists. Great.

I've worried about this for some time. This could be a practice that will end homeschooling for the rest of us. Can't you imagine the scurry for legislation when a home-grown Muslim terrorist is shown to have been educated at home in the US?

[Criminal Number 18F]

The 1963-66 is what's out of place

It is possible that Majied could be a retired Master Chief, and that those are the dates when he served on USS Diodon.

As I understand it -- and I am not a SEAL and was never in the Navy -- enlisted SEALs used to (still do?) maintain their original rating; SEAL is a duty, not a rating. In the navy, your "rating" is kind of your job and your rank rolled into one. Majied has not claimed to be a retired Master Chief of the Navy, so the folks pointing out that he wasn't one of these ten Chiefs aren't proving much. There are hundreds maybe thousands of retired Master Chiefs.

As Travis points out there have been black frogmen, but they are relatively few. (One thing they have to overcome is physiology. Olympic swimmers of African descent are as rare as Olympic runners of southern European descent -- not unheard-of, but rare). "Based in the Phillipines" does not ring true to me, as far as I know the SEALs who went to Vietnam came from the USA and rotated in a platoon at a time. But as stated above IANAS.

I am inclined to believe that Majied's SEAL claims are false, and agree with those that say Mr Minor has not defended them effectively. A tone of voice and irrelevant comments on Mr Majied's other sterling qualities (both also noted by our elfman who spoke to him) are not of any evidentiary value. (Compare: "Clinton must not have banged that intern... did you notice how he bit his lip, so sincerely?... and he's kind to his dog Buddy.")

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[1Old Pro]

AP backs the story even though they don't know this guy's name because the reporter "trusts" him after a phone interview??? I guess AP doesn't care how stupid it looks.

WOW, AP and Dan Rather don't fact check, they just "trust" sources who are anti-Bush.

[Area51]

Headline should be rewritten to:
AP takes a Dive, attempts a Danny Rather. Journalist Refuses to acknowledge questionable reporting. Author is quoted as saying, 'hey, my standards at that of CBS. What more do you want, Facts?

[Criminal Number 18F]

I think everyone has a right to silence.

Yeah, but in Majied's case, he broke the silence to use his elite status to support a political claim -- then pulled the cone of silence in around himself.

Compare the actions of another left-wing political character who claims to be a veteran of an elite service (actually several), Stan Goff. If you call Goff on his claims he will tell you exactly where he served and with whom and, bedamned if the claims don't check out. Goff is a Communist but he really did serve in Rangers and SF. (I'd like to know who the bozo was that signed off on his security clearance, but Goff's claims about his service can mostly be verified, and other soldiers remember him).

In contrast to this, Majied says that he changed his name after serving as a SEAL and in Vietnam. But he won't tell anybody. He is coy and fences around about his background. He sure didn't do that when he was making his initial claim.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[gcruse]

Well, I was in the Navy from 1961-1965 and this is still confusing. I never heard of a Master Chief of the Navy. Your were a Master Chief of some rating or other with no honorifics. It's a good thing I'm not wearing pajamas, because I'm definitely letting the side down.

[elfman2]

"In contrast to this, Majied says that he changed his name after serving as a SEAL and in Vietnam. But he won't tell anybody. He is coy and fences around about his background. He sure didn't do that when he was making his initial claim. "

And that’s exactly it! Just as you said it, his statements get a little more hilarious by the day. You didn’t call him a liar, a fraud, or call his house to harass him. You ridiculed the probability of his claim and his subsequent silenced very effectively.

A typical middle of the road Democrat who might be inclined to withhold support for Kerry with this as the last straw only has his opinion bolstered by what you said. Very reasonable and measured…

And you didn’t pressure him to break his right to silence after we waved it. You didn’t call him names. You just ridiculed his use of it a little bit because of the suspicious timing. That’s a very effective method of persuasion.

[GatorGirl]

Disclaimer:
I haven't read the thread to completion, so I apologize in advance if this duplicates something someone else has said, but:

He supposedly converted to Islam/changed name after he left the Navy.

But he's had that name since 1975.

And he claims to have been an active duty SEAL in Vietnam.

If he joined the Navy at 17 or 18, he would have been 47 - 48 after a thirty year career in 1975 when he changed his name.

That means he would have been a 40 ish SEAL when he operated in VN.

And now he is in his 70's but has children young enough to home school (I know it's not impossible but perhaps implausible).

hmmm....

[Criminal Number 18F]

Guys, as Grampa Dave has posted, John S. at leanwrite has got an admission from Mr Majied that he is not a SEAL.

As I wrote yesterday, I was willing to go to Albany, GA and apologise in person if I was wrong. Looks like I won't have to take the trip.

"I'm against the idea of investigating Mr. Majied further" wrote John S. at leanwrite (which is now buried on the net, collapsed under the weight of curious FReepers and lurkers). Looks like John and I had the same idea of checking out Mr Majied. "I wish I had never given the interview" is not the same as an apology for pretending to be a SEAL, and the real-deal SEALs may wish to pursue Mr Majied a bit further, perhaps after this lunacy has passed, or hang him up in the Hall of Shame. But once again I find myself thinking remarkably like John S (and no, I ain't him): I think the rest of us ought to leave the "nice old gentleman" alone.

I don't have a beef with him for opposing Bush. That's his right in a free country. My beef was for making a false claim of elite service status. That's just plain wrong and if I catch anyone doing that (on our side or theirs, although most of them seem to be on theirs lately) I will pursue him relentlessly.

Now, as to Mr Elliot Minor -- I note that he quoted a number of pro-Bush vets, and photographed one, and am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. A lot of civilians don't understand what a few shiny badges made of pot metal or cheap thread mean to us. He needs to be informed of Mr Majied's confession, and if someone can do that politely and let him know about some of the fact-checking resources he can use, it will benefit everybody. Who Mr Minor supports for President is not at issue here, the error that got into his story is. I'm sure at some time a prof or his editor told him to check even his mother out: he has just gotten a painful lesson in how true it is.

Remember, though, he didn't make a false claim, Majied did. I do a lot of interviews and you do tend to accept what people tell you, especially if you make a connexion with them as human beings (and you are a crummy reporter if you do not, IMHO).

Props to all who helped solve this small internet puzzle.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[LibWhacker]

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

That's good enough for me! </sarcasm>

Three to one (any takers?) "Majied" is as phony as a three-dollar nickel.

[Vic3O3]

http://diodon349.com/Torpedoman/TMA_newsletter/TMA_Newsletter_Nov2003.pdf
Page 11 is where you will find the info of interest regarding Mr Majied.
Hope this helps ID this guy. Looks like he served only 3 yrs 1963-66?