Militants described as Sunni extremists by some, opportunistic thugs by others, have captured the northern Iraq city of Tal Afar today. Thousands of residents are fleeing the city, which is strategically located on the main highway between the Syrian border and Mosul - already an insurgent stronghold after the group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria captured it last week.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said today that American drone strikes are an option. He also said the Obama administration is willing to work with Iran in considering options to return a semblance of stability to Iraq.

What are the risks of talking with Iran? Would U.S. or international action against the militants help protect the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki? What risks does that entail? What are the pros and cons of using drone strikes?

With files from the Associated Press.

Guest:

Joseph Cirincione, President, Ploughshares Fund - a global security foundation; member of Secretary of State John Kerry's International Security Advisory Board and the Council on Foreign Relations; Author, "Nuclear Nightmares: Securing the World Before It Is Too Late"

Patrick Tucker, Technology Editor, Defense One - a security news site owned by Atlantic Media