CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Interview

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BLITZER: Brian Todd, thanks for that report. Brian Todd reporting for us.

Let's bring in Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut right now. He's a key member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Senator, thanks very much for joining us. What do you think? Should the U.S., under these kinds of circumstances, team up, at least a little bit, coordinate policy, strategy with Iran?

SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D-CT), FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE: Well, I think we spent 10 years ignoring Iran, much to the detriment of U.S. national security. The reality is, is that they are a player in the future stability of Iraq. And I think we'd be fools if we didn't contemplate at least some basic level of conversation with Iran as to how we can make sure that, if we are to wade into a more substantial fight against ISIS, we're not simply taking sides in a sectarian civil war.

And Suleimani is not your only option there. In fact, there is a war going on within the foreign policy infrastructure of Iran between the new foreign minister, Zarif, the new head of government, Rouhani, and Suleimani, who really wants to exert Iran's influence by agitation versus cooperation, which is, I think, more where Zarif is coming from.

So we don't have to talk to Suleimani. We can talk to more moderate elements of that government.

But the politics of coalition building in the Middle East, if we're going to take on ISIS, are going to be messy. And we'd better be prepared to get our hands dirty if we want to get this done right.

BLITZER: We're just getting started, Senator.

I want you to -- I want to take a quick break.

We have a lot more questions to ask, including this provocative question: should the Obama administration start assassinating ISIS leaders in Iraq and Syria?

Stay with us.

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BLITZER: Can the United States and a growing coalition of allies actually carry out President Obama's stated goal of destroying ISIS?

We're back with Democratic Senator Chris Murphy you have Connecticut, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Senator, you heard the president say today that in order to destroy, defeat ISIS, to destroy al-Qaeda, you've got to the in his words take out their leadership. He pointed with pride to the fact that in recent days a U.S. missile fired from a drone killed the top commander of al-Shabaab an al-Qaeda affiliate in the Somalia.

Here's the question to you, Senator. Would you support the United States starting targeted air strikes to assassinate the top officials, the top leaders of is in Iraq and Syria.

SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D), FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE: I think we have to have all options available to us, including counter-terrorism options, including targets air strikes. But here's the condition for my support. That it be done in coordination with our partners in the region. The President announced today that he's got the support apparently of NATO allies. That's not the most important announcement.

What we need is for our military operations in the region whether they be going after armies or individuals, to be cloaked and endorsed by Sunni states and Shia states in the region. The reality is that when the United States has conducted these counter-terrorism operations how many times have we taken out the Taliban or al-Qaeda's number two or three. They quickly get replaced because for every one we kill, we inspire two more to join the cause. This will only work on any level if it's done in real coordination and partnership with other Arab nations in the region.

BLITZER: If the United States had great intelligence, timely intelligence that the leader of ISIS al-Baghdadi was at a specific location without a lot of civilians around or any civilians around for that matter in Syria. Would you support a drone strike with a hellfire missile to kill him?

MURPHY: I would in part because this man has threatened directly the United States. He has made it clear that his intention is if he is able to establish a caliphate, establish an autonomous region to take that fight to the United States. This is an enemy not just of our partners in the region, this leader is enemy of the United States.

BLITZER: Does the president need formal congressional authorization to launch this kind of military operation not only in Iraq but in Syria right now? Assuming he doesn't want to do combat ground troops but does want to start a war in effect against ISIS inside Syria, does he need authorization from Congress?

MURPHY: I believe he does, Wolf. The fact is, he's got two authorizations on the books now. One gives him authority to go after al-Qaeda. ISIS is not al-Qaeda. The other essentially gave him the authority to go after Saddam Hussein. This is a fundamentally different fight.

I think the President needs to come to Congress for authorization. I get that's not an easy thing to do on the precipice of an election, but there's this tricky thing called the constitution which gives only Congress the power to wage war. And the fact is, is that Congress is the only way the American people are in here.

And right now, while there is outrage at the brutality of ISIS, there is also some concern that we could get ourselves in the middle of a sectarian civil war that could end up intermingling the United States into that conflict for another decade.

BLITZER: Chris Murphy, the United States Senator from Connecticut. Senator, thanks very much for joining us.

MURPHY: Thanks a lot, Wolf.

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