Obama to Implement ISIS Plan With, Without Congress

President Barack Obama will address the nation Wednesday night, making his case to take aggressive measures to "degrade and defeat" the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group.

His prime-time speech comes on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

"This is an important opportunity for the president to communicate a very important message about our priorities and our national security to the American public," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said.

The president's plan is expected to call for Congress to sign off on a program to arm and train Syrian rebels to take the fight directly to the jihadist group on the ground. It also seeks to increase U.S. airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq -- possibly expanding them into Syria.

Several excerpts from his speech were released in advance of his speech tonight.

"This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort ot take out ISIL wherever they exist using our air power and our support of rpartner forces on the ground," Obama is expected to say.

"I want the American people to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil," the president is also expected to say.

Meanwhile, polls show he won't have to convince the American people about the need to take more aggressive action.

The latest Washington Post-ABC News survey shows 71 percent supporting airstrikes in Iraq and 65 percent wanting to see airstrikes in Syria.

The president already outlined his plan for a broader military effort to congressional leaders inside the Oval Office Tuesday.

Still, the White House is telling congressional leaders of both parties he doesn't need their authorization to carry out it out.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was in that meeting.

"The view of myself and most of my members is the president should be seeking congressional approval, period, for whatever he decides to do," McConnell said.

While lawmakers support the president's bid to take action, some question why it's taken him so long to react to the threat from ISIS, which is now trying to recruit young women using social media.

On the eve of the anniversary of 9/11, an NBC News poll shows 47 percent believe America is less safe now than before Sept. 11.

One Catholic scholar said President Barack Obama can't ignore the Islamic State's religious appeal as he works on a strategy to combat the terrorist group.

Law professor Robert Destro, with Catholic University of America, said the Obama administration was blindsided by ISIS because CIA analysts "don't pay attention to religion."

Destro said the Islamic State group is engaged in "a fight for the soul of Islam" as well as for territory in which to establish a caliphate.

Meanwhile, U.S. and Mideast Christian leaders are urging the president to start addressing the plight of religious minorities targeted by ISIS.

Robert George, with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said Americans "should demand action" so the Middle East's persecuted Christians know they haven't been abandoned.