Congressman Gregory Meeks: Media seeking wrong voices on Iraq war

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Iraq is unraveling with potentially dire consequences for the region and for the United States’ interests.

Conservatives who were pro-war in 2002 have taken to the airwaves to condemn President Obama as “ineffective” in the face of an insurgent offensive that threatens to engulf the capitol of Baghdad and topple the fragile U.S.-backed government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Will history repeat itself as the drumroll toward military intervention grows louder, or will those who got it right back in 2002 emerge as the voice of reason and temperament?

Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) appeared on All In with Chris Hayes Monday night and talked about the latest developments in Iraq and that lop-sided voice in favor of those who are demanding that President Obama act now. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Meeks voted against the war in 2002 and looks back on that decision as the right choice.

He told Hayes that among fellow Democrats, the appetite is low when it comes to rekindling US ground troop involvement in Iraq. He supports the President’s decision to send 275 military personnel to protect U.S. citizens, but when it comes all out military conflict, Meeks said, “Even some members who voted for the war are now saying that was the one vote that they regret most in Congress.”

As for the lack of congressional voices that would oppose large scale re-involvement, Meeks said the media is partially responsible. Meeks said that his office is not getting calls from news outlets to voice his opinions, but his constituents are calling urging that we not go back to war in Iraq.