The turmoil in Iraq has led TV chat shows to trot out an array of hawks, many of whom had been cheerleaders for the 2003 invasion that set up the current crisis. NBC's Meet the Press was no exception, bringing on former Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney (6/15/14) and then more recently Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (6/22/14), who warned that the wrong moves now could strengthen Iran.

It's worth remembering that Netanyahu was wrong about Iraq when it mattered. Jim Lobe (LobeLog, 9/29/13) has recalled some of Netanyahu's 2002 congressional testimony, which included assertions like this:

There is not (sic) question whatsoever that Saddam is seeking and is working and is advancing towards the development of nuclear weapons–no question whatsoever.


The problem might be how "well-briefed" David Gregory is. Iran does not have a nuclear weapons program; there are some allegations that the country may have done some research that was geared towards eventual weapons development, but those allegations remain just that–allegations.