Kyl-Lieberman Update

It is possible that the Kyl-Lieberman Amendment No. 3017 could be voted on today. My colleague Travis Sharp just called the Cloak Room and apparently there is not yet an agreement for a vote on either the Biden amendment or the Lieberman-Kyl amendment.

According to Laura Rozen citing a veteran Hill source, "Schumer allegedly [is] working on a side by side. Levin will likely vote yes, while ... Reid is likely to vote no. ... The alternative will still condemn iran, but probably use less inflammatory language and likely make clear that it is not authorizing force in any manner."

Meanwhile, 25 organizations from a broad spectrum, including Americans for Democratic Action, MoveOn.org, Open Society Policy Center, National Iranian American Council, Council for Livable World, US Labor Against the War and Win Without War, among others, have sent a letter to every Senate office this morning. Citing the talking points developed by the Council for a Livable World and endorsed by the Open Society Policy Center, the letter reads:

"The Kyl-Lieberman amendment is a provocative measure that will only undermine efforts to resolve tensions with Iran through diplomacy.

"Provocative measures such as the Kyl-Lieberman amendment can lead to a tit-for-tat escalation resulting in military confrontation between the U.S. and Iran. There are no good military options for solving our disagreements with Iran. By further destabilizing the Middle East, a military confrontation with Iran would result in disastrous and unintended consequences damaging to the interests of U.S., Israel, and indeed the entire world. If we have learned nothing else from Iraq, it is that there are limitations to the use of military force.

"We strongly caution against any legislation that increases the chances of military force being used against Iran. The current crises must be resolved through diplomacy, not military action. A military confrontation with Iran would have disastrous consequences for security throughout the region and put U.S. forces in Iraq in far greater danger.

"We urge all Senators to vote 'No' on the Kyl-Lieberman amendment No. 3017 to the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization bill."