Strike against Syria ‘catastrophic’  —  Russia and China have stepped up their warnings against military intervention in Syria, with Moscow saying any such action would have “catastrophic consequences” for the region.  —  The US and its allies are considering launching strikes on Syria in response to deadly attacks last week.

Responding to Syrian Atrocities  —  There is little doubt now that President Obama is planning some kind of military response to what the administration says without equivocation was a chemical weapons attack by the Syrian government that killed hundreds of civilians.

Military strikes on Syria ‘as early as Thursday,’ US officials say  —  United States intelligence officials are convinced the Syrian regime used chemical weapons against rebels last week, and are building their case for military action without putting troops on the ground.  NBC's Richard Engel reports.

Obama orders release of report justifying Syria strike  —  (CBS News) President Barack Obama called his national security team together Saturday to talk about the next move in Syria.  Director of National Intelligence James Clapper led off the three-hour White House meeting with detailed analysis …

Conservative blacks irritated with liberal flavor of march anniversary  —  Black conservatives are rankled by the liberal flavor of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.  —  They contend the left is appropriating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s memory …

Obama, race and class  —  Martin Luther King and Barack Obama, the two most important black leaders in American history, operated in vastly different eras and political arenas — under a strikingly similar set of ground rules.  —  King and Obama — born 32 years apart …