Clyburn: Iraq 'cries out' for drone strikes

Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Wednesday that the deteriorating situation in Iraq “cries out” for President Obama to launch drone strikes.

"I'm a great believer in drones, and I think that this situation cries out for it," Clyburn, the third-ranking House Democrat, said following a closed-door meeting of the Democratic Caucus in the Capitol.

Clyburn is the latest in a growing list of Democratic leaders to support a direct military intervention to prevent Sunni militants from toppling Baghdad and the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

On Tuesday, Sen. Dianne FeinsteinDianne Emiel FeinsteinMurkowski predicts Barrett won't overturn Roe v. Wade Democrats to boycott committee vote on Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court nomination The Senate should evoke RBG in its confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett MORE (D-Calif.), head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called on Obama to "take direct action now" to counter the threat posed by insurgents representing the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a group linked to al-Qaeda.

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Tuesday that Obama "certainly … should be considering" airstrikes to quell the uprising. And House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has remained open to the idea of "providing equipment or some other assist" to the Iraqi government as long as there are no U.S. boots on the ground.

They may have their work cut out for them in convincing their colleagues, however, as many other Democrats are lining up in opposition to the idea of a renewed military involvement in Iraq – at least while Maliki remains atop the government.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, argues that Obama should withhold any military help "until such time as either Maliki's gone or Maliki's policies change dramatically." 

"Just because ISIS is bad doesn't mean that Maliki is good," Sherman said Tuesday by phone. 

Rep. Ruben HinojosaRuben Elroy HinojosaTurning the tables to tackle poverty and homelessness in rural America Ethics: Lawmakers didn’t ‘knowingly’ break rules with Azerbaijan gifts Dems heap praise on Pelosi for trade moves MORE (D-Texas), chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said Wednesday that he supports Obama's decision to send up to 275 troops to protect the U.S. embassy and other facilities in Baghdad. But he is opposed to the idea of "going into war again."

Rep. Xavier BecerraXavier BecerraSecond court blocks Trump's order to exclude undocumented immigrants from census California Republicans agree not to use unofficial ballot drop boxes Schwarzenegger: California GOP has gone 'off the rails' with unofficial ballot boxes MORE (Calif.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, warned that any U.S. intervention with be fruitless without concessions from warring Iraqi factions. 

"I don't know if there's any utility in involving ourselves in what is quickly descending into civil war, unless the leaders in Iraq are willing to say that they want to be a [unified] country," Becerra said.

"I'm not sure where the White House is preparing to go,” he continued. “I'd be supportive of anything that helps us support democracy and freedom but at the same time, you have to prove to me that the Iraqis are willing to step up and say that Shia will protect Sunni, Sunni will protect Shia, and the Kurds will do the same."

The Iraq debate arrives as the administration is eying targeted missile strikes against the ISIS militants in an effort to bring some stability to the embattled nation roughly two-and-a-half years after Obama pulled the last U.S. troops out of it.

Support from Democratic leaders will be crucial, if Obama goes that route, as he faces both a public and a Congress hostile to the notion of launching new operations after more than a decade of war post-9/11.

Obama is scheduled to huddle at the White House Wednesday afternoon with top congressional leaders – including Senate Majority Leader Harry ReidHarry Mason ReidGOP Senate confirms Trump Supreme Court pick to succeed Ginsburg Democratic Senate emerges as possible hurdle for progressives  Harry Reid: Biden should give GOP three weeks to see if they will work with him MORE (D-Nev.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell tees up Trump judicial pick following Supreme Court vote Democrats warn GOP will regret Barrett confirmation GOP Senate confirms Trump Supreme Court pick to succeed Ginsburg MORE (R-Ky.), House Speaker John BoehnerJohn Andrew BoehnerBottom line Pelosi and Trump go a full year without speaking Jordan vows to back McCarthy as leader even if House loses more GOP seats MORE (R-Ohio) and Pelosi – to discuss the issue.

Rep. Marcia FudgeMarcia Louise FudgeOfficials urge social media groups to weed out election disinformation targeting minority voters Letter from Trump taking credit for aid now mandated in government food boxes: report This week: House returns for pre-election sprint MORE (D-Ohio), head of the Congressional Black Caucus, had some advice for the president as he weighs his options.

"Stop listening to the people who sent us there with no plan," Fudge said Wednesday. "I would hate to see another generation of young people have to fight in Iraq in a civil war.

“So let us do what we should have done in the very beginning: let's determine what it is we get out of Iraq, how we get out of Iraq and how we help the Iraqi people,” she continued.

"Enough people have died in this war."