He hasn't been quite right since the last Gulf War
Kind-of erratic.
He's certainly entitled to his opinion, but he was hired as a reporter. His mistake was not in having an opinion, but to be interviewed and express it the way he did. He crossed the line of good journalistic practice, and for that alone NBC would have had to fire him.
If he had said uncomplimentary things about the Iraqis, the viewer protests that sealed his doom would have been fewer, but the basic reason for his dismissal would remain the same.
On the other hand, it's downright refreshing in a way to see a reporter own his POV so publicly. Nobody on the planet who's paid any attention can have the slightest doubt what Arnett's angle is. I wish other reporters could be so frank.
Regards--
Mary Anne