In an interview with ABC News on Thursday, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) said Georgia and the Ukraine should be admitted into NATO, despite Russian objections. Asked whether the United States would have to go to war in response to a Russian invasion of Georgia, she said: “I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, is if another country is attacked, you’re going to be expected to be called upon and help.” She called Russia’s August military invasion of Georgia “unprovoked.” Palin also said a nuclear Iran would threaten “everyone in the world.”

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) participated in a forum on national service (AP) on Thursday. McCain said immediately after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, he would have called on Americans to serve by helping guard nuclear power plants or by joining neighborhood watch groups. Obama criticized the military draft, calling it unfair because “the wealthiest found ways to avoid” serving. Both candidates said ROTC recruiters should be allowed on college campuses (TIME).