Here's an interesting sidelight to the CNN/Eason Jordan scandal. In an email I receive regularly from the Media Research Center, they recounted a phone call they received from Jordan himself on Friday regarding the flap. Of course, he defended himself and CNN's actions, but I was fascinated by an aside he threw out during the conversaition. Here's the description from MRC analyst Rich Noyes (who received the call from Jordan) as relayed in the MRC email (though it appears that this hasn't been posted yet on their website, so there's nowhere to link to):

I [Noyes] told [Jordan] that I was going to make the point that other networks should come forward with their own stories, that he shouldn't be hanging out there alone. He noted with some pride that when the Iraqi Foreign Minister indicated CNN could come back to Baghdad if they would hire Peter Arnett, he replied "Bull****. No f****** way." I chuckled.

Incredible. According to CNN's news chief, Iraq tried to pressure them into rehiring Peter Arnett (who was pushed out the door in the late 90's in the wake of his involvement in another journalistic scandal). Is anyone suprised by this?