Other allies have argued the president should definitely not go to Congress — Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) warned that Republicans would turn any potential bill into a feeding frenzy.

“I think it’s different,” Cohen said on CNN on Tuesday. “I support the president’s action, and I see no reason to come to Congress. Because if he does, it will just become a circus. Congress is dysfunctional, and no matter what the president does, Republicans will oppose it and find reason to find fault.”

Even some of the lawmakers most skeptical about using U.S. military force in the Middle East say the Islamic State poses a significant danger.

“ISIS is a threat — it’s a dangerous organization, it’s a terrorist organization,” Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), the lone lawmaker to vote against the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, said on MSNBC. “We need to be in Washington, D.C., talking about the pros and cons and talking about what options are available for the president.”