Catholic League Calls For War

The Catholic League published the above message in today's New York Times.

McCain Battles With Former White House Spokesman Jay Carney Over ISIS Plan

Mediaite sets the stage:

Jay Carney, on his very first night working for CNN, ended up sparring with Senator John McCain over President Obama‘s ISIS speech, in which McCain repeatedly took shots at Carney for not telling the truth, saying at least once that “facts are stubborn things.” The second McCain appeared on CNN, he immediately got combative with Carney. McCain said that Obama unilaterally decided, against advisement from his national security team, not to train Syrian rebels. In addition, he said not leaving a residual force in Iraq was a huge mistake on Obama’s part. Carney disputed McCain’s claims, but the senator said, “Again, Mr. Carney, you are saying facts that are patently false.” They kept talking over each other and arguing, with McCain continuing to insist that Carney has his facts wrong.

Obama: It's Time To Get ISIS

Via CNN:

It's time to go after ISIS in Iraq and Syria, President Barack Obama said Wednesday night in a nationally televised address intended to sell stepped-up military efforts to a war-weary public. Obama said the United States would expand its airstrikes against the Sunni jihadists in Iraq to target them across the border in Syria. "I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are," he said. "That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency: if you threaten America, you will find no safe haven." The declaration answered calls from a growing number of U.S. politicians for such a step, with increasing public support.

Obama also announced another 475 American military advisers would go to Iraq, pushing the total figure to about 1,700. At the same time, he made clear the strategy differed from all-out war again in Iraq less than three years after he withdrew combat forces from the country. "It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil," Obama said. His address from the White House also sought to convince allies and the nation of a firm U.S. commitment to lead an international coalition to fight the jihadists who rampaged across northern Iraq from Syria this year. They are known as ISIS, ISIL and Islamic State.

Ukraine PM: Russia Wants World War III

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk today declared that Russia wants to start World War III.

"Attempts at military conflict in Ukraine will lead to a military conflict in Europe,'' he told an interim cabinet meeting that was broadcast live. The remarks were also translated into English and posted on the official government website. "The world has not yet forgotten World War II, but Russia already wants to start World War III," he said. Russia announced new military exercises Thursday involving ground and air forces near its border with Ukraine. The latest move follows stepped-up operation by Ukraine to remove pro-Russian insurgents from occupied buildings in the east. At least two people were killed in a clash at another checkpoint.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov: "The West wants -- and this is how it all began -- to seize control of Ukraine because of their own political ambitions, not in the interests of the Ukrainian people."

Russia Test-Fires ICBM

Via Reuters:

Russia said it had successfully test-fired an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) on Tuesday, with tensions high over its seizure of control in the Crimea and its threat to send more forces to its neighbour Ukraine. The Strategic Rocket Forces launched an RS-12M Topol missile from the southerly Astrakhan region near the Caspian Sea and the dummy warhead hit its target at a proving ground in Kazakhstan, the state-run news agency RIA cited Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Yegorov as saying.

CNN is reporting that Russia had previously alerted US defense forces that the test-firing would take place today. Both the US and Russia routinely advise each other about missile tests, but keeping to the firing schedule in light of how things have been the last few days is certain to rattle many nerves. Mine included.

Sen. John McCain: Ukraine Crisis Is Result Of Obama's "Feckless Foreign Policy"

Russia Issues Ultimatum To Ukraine Military: Leave Crimea By 10PM Tonight

Russia today issued an ultimatum to Ukraine, saying that if the Ukraine military is not withdrawn from Crimea by 10PM tonight (NYC time), there will be a "military storm."

Aleksandr Vitko, Russia's Black Sea fleet commander, said that "ff they won't surrender by 5 a.m. tomorrow (10 p.m. ET Monday) there will be a military storm on all UA (Ukraine Armed) military forces all over Crimea," Interfax reported, citing a source in Ukraine's Defense Ministry. A Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman, Vladislav Seleznyov, told CNN that members of the Russian military are going to Ukrainian military bases in Crimea and demanding surrender. The Russian troops are threatening "harsh reaction" if the Ukrainians don't comply, Seleznyov said.

John Kerry will hold a press conference shortly and I'll add that video to this post. This is all reminding me of the opening scenario in the nuclear war classic, Threads.

John Kerry On Ukraine: President Obama Is Considering All Options

Kerry Announces Agreement On Syria

NPR has this morning's development:

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Saturday they have reached an agreement on a framework for Syria to destroy all of its chemical weapons, and raised the specter of a potential U.N. Security Council resolution that could authorize sanctions — even military action — if President Bashar Assad's government fails to comply. The diplomats announced on the third day of intense negotiations in Geneva that some elements of the deal include a timetable and how Syria must comply. Notably, Kerry said they had agreed on grounds under which they might request a Security Council "Chapter 7" resolution — authorizing both military and non-military sanctions.

Obama Addresses Nation On Syria

Senate Vote On Syria Postponed

Details.

Headline Of The Day

MSNBC has the latest:

Syria confirmed it would accept a Russian-brokered deal to hand over its chemical weapons Tuesday, but the White House said President Barack Obama would still ask Congress to approve the use of military force against Damascus. Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem told NBC News in Moscow that he hoped acceptance of the "peaceful solution" would "put an end to the war." He was speaking hours after France announced it would seek a U.N. Security Council resolution along similar lines. That added to the international momentum behind the proposal, which has already been endorsed by Iran and China and cautiously welcomed by Britain and Germany.

The Senate vote on a potential strike on Syria is tomorrow.

Tweet Of The Day - Rep. Alan Grayson

Senate Vote On Syria Is Wednesday

Wednesday is also the anniversary of 9-11 and that has Teabagistan very upset.

Headline Of The Day

CBS News reports:

Syria on Monday quickly welcomed a call from Russia, its close ally, to place Syrian chemical arsenals under international control, then destroy them to avert a U.S. strike, but did not offer a time frame or any other specifics. The statement by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem appeared to mark the first official acknowledgement by Damascus that it possesses chemical weapons and reflected what appeared to be an attempt by Syrian President Bashar Assad to avoid the U.S. military attack. But it remained to be seen whether the statement represented a genuine goodwill gesture by Syria or simply an attempt to buy time. Moallem's statement came a few hours after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Assad could resolve the crisis surrounding the alleged use of chemical weapons by his forces by surrendering control of "every single bit" of his arsenal to the international community by the end of the week.

RELATED: Today the White House announced that 14 more nations have joined in the call for an "strong international response to Syria."

Among the new nations announcing support are Germany, Denmark, Morocco, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Estonia, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Honduras, Romania, Latvia, Albania and Lithuania. The countries that initially backed the statement were Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Bill O'Reilly Backs Obama On Syria

Tweet Of The Day - Wall Street Journal

Details.

Sen. Bernie Sanders On Syria

Where Does Congress Stand On Syria?

The Washington Post has created an interactive graph which notes the known positions of Congress members on a possible US strike on Syria. So far only two Senate Democrats have said that they oppose US intervention: Sen. Chris Murphy (CT) and Sen. Tom Udall (NM). Perhaps the most notable House Democrat to oppose intervention so far is Rep. Alan Grayson (FL), who has been very active on social media with his objections. Listed as "leaning no" are openly gay House members Rep. Mark Pocan (WI) and Rep. David Cicilline (RI).  On Saturday, openly gay Sen. Tammy Baldwin (WI) issued this statement:

"I am pleased that the President is seeking Congressional authorization for any potential strike in Syria. I still believe there must be a strong and convincing case made to the American people and we must work to build an international coalition before we lead or join any military response. My judgment on any military action in response to the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons will be based on whether clear, focused and achievable objectives and goals are set.”

Syria Protests Planned Nationwide

The International Action Center has posted a lengthy list of planned protests against US intervention in Syria, most of which are scheduled for this Saturday. In New York City, anti-war activists will gather in Times Square at 1PM.

We are non-violently protesting the escalation of US military involvement in Syria, as well as the complete disregard of the will of the American people in the decision to begin a new war. We in no way support the actions of the Assad regime, but are concerned that US intervention will instigate more violence and suffering. We are all guaranteed our right to protest freely, nevertheless, we will be operating under the guidelines that we do NOT interfere with pedestrians or cars (Times Square can be a busy place) and we will not be using sound amplifiers.

In Washington DC, anti-war activists will gather outside the White House.

Now is the time for the people to step up pressure on Congress and demand that they vote NO to any resolution authorizing a military attack on Syria. On Saturday, September 7, people are descending on Washington, D.C., for a march from the White House to Congress for a major demonstration as Congress returns to Washington, D.C., and prepares to vote. This demonstration is initiated by a broad ad hoc coalition called the Vote No War Against Syria Coalition.

Demonstrations are also planned for Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Houston, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and many smaller cities.