Obama Skips Key White House National Security Briefing Amid Worst Territorial Crisis Since End of the Cold War

Again, just short of astonishing.

In August 1990, President George H.W. Bush declared that "a line in the sand" had been crossed by Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. We saw an intensity to events that's rare in world politics. And we're returning to the intensity with developments in Russia and the Ukraine. Unfortunately, the intensity's everywhere except 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

At Twitchy, "President Empty Chair skips Saturday’s national security meeting?"

And at Weekly Standard, "Obama Skips National Security Team Meeting on Russia, Ukraine."

Full statement from WH official pic.twitter.com/xx13P8TsYd

— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) March 1, 2014

A senior admin official said POTUS was not at WH national security mtg. But he has been briefed by Nat Sec. Adv Susan Rice and nat sec team.

— Jim Acosta (@JimAcostaCNN) March 1, 2014

Putin warns Obama he could intervene in eastern Ukraine beyond Crimea to protect interests of Russian speakers http://t.co/AiHfxBgHp9

— Jack Grimston (@GrimstonJack) March 1, 2014

Russian Pres Putin speaks with Pres Obama, tells him #russia reserves right to protect its interests in eastern #Ukraine

— Elise Labott (@eliselabottcnn) March 1, 2014

I don't know. At some point things are going to get so big that the entire Western world will be looking at Washington for a decisive green light to intervene with force in Ukraine. Whatever happens, if the use of force is seriously considered, the United States cannot be on the sidelines. These are really monumental maneuvers taking place over there. Like I said on Twitter earlier, Russia's acting like a superpower.

More at Reuters, "Putin tells Obama Russia has right to protect interests in Ukraine," and "WRAPUP 8-Putin ready to invade Ukraine; Kiev warns of war."