This AM Hugh Hewitt brings us another email exchange about the Eason Jordan affair, this time with Rebecca MacKinnon. MacKinnon, although she was in the forum when Jordan’s remarks about American soldiers “targeting journalists” in Iraq were made, doesn’t actually clear up the situation because she neither recorded or took detailed notes during this forum.

… HH: Did Mr. Jordan offer the idea that American military forces had “targeted” journalists before Representative Frank entered the conversation?

RM: My recollection is that he did. However I have been trained not to trust my memory unless I have really detailed notes. And I do not have detailed notes. … “

To keep up fully on this story, Hugh recommends reading Easongate, a new blog that is dedicated to the full disclosure of what was actually said, what was actually meant, and pursuit of consequences if the worst is found out. Their post of the Hugh Hewitt interview with MacKinnon along with further remarks is available here.

Michelle Malkin has just talked with Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass) who goes on the record with:

… Rep. Frank said Eason Jordan did assert that there was deliberate targeting of journalists by the U.S. military. After Jordan made the statement, Rep. Frank said he immediately “expressed deep skepticism.” Jordan backed off (slightly), Rep. Frank said, “explaining that he wasn’t saying it was the policy of the American military to target journalists, but that there may have been individual cases where they were targeted by younger personnel who were not properly disciplined.” … “

She also provides multiple other links to more information.

Captain Ed at Captain’s Quarters highlights Jay Rosen’s getting the BBC’s Richard Sambrook, who attended the Davos forum, on the record as to what he heard Jordan say.

Eason’s comments were a reaction to a statement that journalists killed in Iraq amounted to “collateral damage”. His point was that many of these journalists (and indeed civilians) killed in Iraq were not accidental victims–as suggested by the terms “collateral damage”–but had been “targeted”, for example by snipers. … “

This story just is not going to stay on the blogs, so keep your eyes peeled for the MSM breakout. As they say, stay tuned for more . . . (db)

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[Update: 4:48 pst] Michelle Malkin breaks more stories with David Gergen going on record here, and with Sen. Chris Dodds press spokesman, Marvin Fast giving a short statement on “Easongate” here.

Jim Geraghty at TKS (formally The Kerry Spot) warns us all to stay prudent on this story, that it is not completely alike “Rathergate”, as the bloggers are missing the key piece of evidence this time.

Here, we bloggers are still missing a vital piece of evidence to get to the bottom of this: A videotape or transcript of the event. The videotape is this controversy’s Burkett memo. That tape is in the hands of someone in Davos. And they’re reconsidering the decision to release it.

Jim also contemplates whether this Eason Jordan event is about “Right and Left, or Right and Wrong”.

More . . . as it comes in. (db)

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