BREAKING NEWS: There are unconfirmed reports of renewed fighting in Ukraine, potentially involving a direct engagement between Russian and Ukrainian military forces. Watch for additional developments over the weekend. Thugs around the world, from Putin to ISIS, are on the march as they see America in retreat. 

"Obama Calls For Calm, Then Golfs" 

That was the prevailing headline after President Obama interrupted his vacation schedule yesterday on Martha's Vineyard to address the ongoing crises in Iraq (see next item) and Missouri. 

I'm sure many Americans are praying that the situation in Ferguson, Missouri, is peacefully resolved, that the rule of law is observed by all sides and that justice is done. I don't think there is much I can add to the debate. 

But I have to comment on this: There is outrage by liberal commentators and the president himself that a couple of reporters were arrested by local police. The circumstances surrounding their arrests are unclear and they were quickly released. Yesterday, Obama said this: 

"And here, in the United States of America, police should not be bullying or arresting journalists who are just trying to do their jobs and report to the American people on what they see on the ground.  Put simply, we all need to hold ourselves to a high standard, particularly those of us in positions of authority."

I agree with his last sentence. But this administration has tried to put more journalists in jail than any in history. Don't take my word for it. In recent days, multiple journalistic associations have protested the White House's "politically driven suppression of news and information." 

When the public affairs officer at the Department of Justice applauded one of the arrested reporters as "gutsy," CNN's Jake Tapper tweeted, "How do you distinguish between the 'gutsy' reporters and the one the administration is threatening to put in jail?" 

Tapper is referring to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist James Risen, whom the Obama Administration is threatening to lock up unless he reveals his sources. 

And beyond the White House's official press operation is a myriad of left-wing outfits like Media Matters that routinely harass and bully news outlets that do not toe the liberal line. 

Is Yazidi Crisis Really Over? 

Yesterday Obama declared that the jihadi siege of Mt. Sinjar had been broken and that the Yazidi crisis was essentially over. The brief effort was so successful in fact that Obama said, "It's unlikely that we're going to need to continue humanitarian air drops on the mountain." The president added, "The majority of the military personnel who conducted the assessment will be leaving Iraq in the coming days." 

But is the crisis really over? A disturbing report from the New York Times suggests otherwise. 

Vian Dakhil, a Yazidi member of the Iraqi Parliament who barely escaped Mt. Sinjar this week, told the Times: "It's not true. It's better now than it had been, but it's just not true that all of them are safe -- they are not. Especially on the south side of the mountain, the situation is very terrible." 

According to Ms. Kakhil, there may be 70,000 to 80,000 Yazidis still trapped on the mountain.

David Swanson, a spokesman for the United Nations, said, "The crisis on Mount Sinjar is by no means over. … there are still thousands of others up there… The situation is far from solved."

Tune In To Greta Tonight 

Tonight on Fox News Greta Van Susteren is hosting a special show devoted entirely to the growing crisis of Christian persecution. Please make every effort to tune in or record this live show at 7:00 p.m.Share this message with friends and family -- and your pastor too! 

Also Making News…

• Good News: the Bibles are back -- for now. Public outrage has forced the Navy to return Gideon Bibles to hotels and lodges pending a thorough review of its religious accommodation policies. 
   
• A federal judge was unsatisfied with the IRS' response to his order demanding information on efforts to recover data from Lois Lerner's crashed hard drive. The judge is ordering additional sworn testimony from IRS tech experts. 
   
• Crack reporter Sharyl Attkisson tells Laura Ingraham that Border Patrol agents are operating under orders to release as many illegal immigrants as possible. Congress should investigate. If that's true, why bother having a Border Patrol at all? 
   

Join Me In D.C.! 

Join me at the 2014 Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C., September 26th - 28th. 

The Values Voter Summit is sponsored by American Values, the Family Research Council, FRC Action, AFA Action, Liberty Institute, Liberty Counsel and Liberty Council Action.  Co-sponsors include the Heritage Foundation, National Organization for Marriage and National Religious Broadcasters. 

This year's Summit features an incredible lineup of speakers, including:

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

David and Jason Benham

Lt. Gen. William Boykin (Ret.)

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)

Erick Erickson

Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA)

Mark Levin

Michelle Malkin

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA)

And many more outstanding conservative leaders!

There will be educational sessions on a broad range of topics, including: the threat to religious liberty, the cultural state of America, how moral decline leads to big government, the pro-life movement and the future of marriage. 

American Values will host a special luncheon on Saturday, September 27th. (To attend the luncheon, you must purchase a separate ticket.) 

To learn more or to register online, click here now. 

I look forward to seeing you there!