| Coalition of 25 Organizations Lead Effort to Defeat Kyl-Lieberman War Amendment |
| Written by NIAC | |
| Wednesday, 26 September 2007 | |
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Washington DC - A coalition of 25 organizations have been leading a charge to defeat the Lieberman-Kyl amendment. Several Senators believe that the amendment will bring the US one decisive step closer to war with Iran. The text of a letter circulated to all Senate offices yesterday is attached. Though the effort failed to defeat the amendment, it managed to ensure that the most dangerous aspects of the amendment - Section 3 and 4 - were eliminated. September 25, 2007
Dear Senator, We are writing to urge you to vote "No" on the Kyl-Lieberman Amendment No. 3017 to the Fiscal year 2008 Defense Authorization bill. 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. Signed,
Former Congressman Tom Andrews National Director Win Without War
Medea Benjamin Founding Director Global Exchange
John Burroughs Executive Director Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy
Jacqueline Cabasso Executive Director Western States Legal Foundation
Will Callaway Legislative Director Physicians for Social Responsibility
Simone Campbell Executive Director NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Tim Carpenter Director Progressive Democrats of America
Michael Eisenscher National Coordinator U.S. Labor Against the War
Adam G. Gerhardstein Legislative Assistant for International Issues Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
Morton H. Halperin Executive Director Open Society Policy Center
Amy Isaacs Executive Director Americans for Democratic Action
John Isaacs Executive Director Council for a Livable World
(Rev.) James Kofski, M.M. Associate, Asia/Pacific and Middle East Issues Maryknoll Global Concerns Washington, D.C.
Lynn Kunkle Policy Director 3D Security Initiative
Rabbi Michael Lerner, Editor, Tikkun Magazine Chair, The Network of Spiritual Progressives
Kevin Martin Executive Director Peace Action
Tom Mattzie Washington Director Moveon.org
Mary Ellen McNish General Secretary American Friends Service Committee
Gael Murphy Co-founder CODEPINK:Women for Peace
Robert Naiman National Coordinator Just Foreign Policy
Trita Parsi President National Iranian American Council
Marie Rietmann Public Policy Director Women's Action for New Directions
Sue Udry Legislative Coordinator United for Peace and Justice
Joe Volk Executive Secretary Friends Committee on National Legislation
James E. Winkler, General Secretary General Board of Church and Society United Methodist Church |
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