Veteran Backs Off Attack on Kerry's War Record

Reuters ^ | 8/6/2004 | Reuters

[FreeMeansNoID]

John Kerry's commanding officer in Vietnam has backed away from attacks on the Democratic presidential candidate, saying he made a mistake in accusing the U.S. senator of having lied about his wartime record.

George Elliott, who was one of Kerry's superiors in Vietnam when he was awarded medals for heroic actions, had signed an affidavit suggesting Kerry did not deserve the Silver Star.

In the document, Elliott said, "I was never informed that he had simply shot a wounded, fleeing Viet Cong in the back."

But in Friday's Boston Globe, Elliott said: "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 newspaper he thinks Kerry did deserve the medal.

"I still don't think he (Kerry) shot the guy in the back," Elliott is quoted as saying in the Globe.

[MaryFromMichigan]

The timing is curious....

[skeeter]

Elliot is naive if he didn't expect the press to spin his expression of hesitation over ONE PARTICULAR CHARGE he & his mates had made against Kerry into a total repudiation of the Swiftboat vets' campaign.

[Racer1]

Doesn't matter what this guy Elliot thinks. Its what the people that were with him know.

[CaptRon]

There's another post on FR where Elliott states the Globe misquotes him and he stands by his original statement.

[battlegearboat]

I'm taking his place.

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

See Drudge and later threads...the Globe story is inaccurate and the vet stands by his condemnation of Kerry.

[Congressman Billybob]

The exact opposite of this story appeared in the Boston Globe this morning. And an official biography of Kerry quotes him as saying that he shot the Vietnamese soldier in the back because "I was afraid he would turn around." If confusion and smoke are all that the Kerry people can bring up against the Swift Boat Vets, then the Vets win.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Backbenchers in Boston, The Unnoticed Democrats "

If you haven't already joined the anti-CFR effort, please click here.

[fritzz]

I didn't know Reuters was even aware of this story. LOL.

[JPJones]

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

Just the Globe making things up again. Elliot stands by the ad, completely.

[Paleo Conservative]

This story is a lie!

"Viet Vet Captain George Elliott describes an article appearing in today?s edition of the Boston Globe by Mike Kranish as extremely inaccurate and highly misstating his actual views. He reaffirms his statement in the current advertisement paid for by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Captain Elliott reaffirms his affidavit in support of that advertisement, and he reaffirms his request that he ad be played.

[js1138]

See Drudge and later threads...the Globe story is inaccurate and the vet stands by his condemnation of Kerry.

Worth repeating...

[Rocket1968]

I'd like to see somewhere other than Drudge. He's been missing a lot lately.

Is this anywhere else?

[Katya]

"George Elliott, who was one of Kerry's superiors in Vietnam ,"

ONE of his superiors....yet they don't want to speak to any "other" superiors.

[hflynn]

I missed exactly what Rush just said about Elliot before going to the 2PM (EST) newsbreak but apparently this guy Elliot is writing a history of the campaign at the behest of Kerry/Edwards camp. I will find out after break.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Elliot is naive if he didn't expect the press to spin his expression of hesitation over ONE PARTICULAR CHARGE he & his mates had made against Kerry into a total repudiation of the Swiftboat vets' campaign.

Bump!

[battlegearboat]

I'm very happy to hear that he is still onboard.

I have the credentials: 12 Months in-country Brownwater U.S. Navy LCM boatdriver and Combat Action Ribbon award...I've been fighting this war for 35 years and it is entering it's most dangerous phase.

[hflynn]

Sorry not Elliot but the Boston Globe reporter who wrote the article.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Doesn't matter. The damage has been done to the swiftvets. The liberal media will play segments of the veteran "retracting" his statement, and the swiftvets will be painted as a bunch of kooks.

(Voice of Superfriends' narrator) "Meanwhile, back at the Kerry headquarters, Soros and MoveOn.org plot their next nefarious move..."

[skeeter]

I think you're referring to the writer of the Globe piece. Elliot is a Swiftboat vet.