Council for a Livable World condemned the Senate’s refusal today to hold a substantive debate on President Bush’s effort to escalate U.S. troop levels in Iraq. The Senate voted 56-34 Saturday on a motion to invoke cloture on S. 574, which is identical to the resolution just passed in the House and expresses support for U.S. troops while criticizing President Bush’s proposal to commit an additional 21,500 combat soldiers to Iraq. The final vote fell 4 short of the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture and move past ongoing procedural obstructionism by Senate Republicans.

Today the House of Representatives passed a resolution opposing President Bush’s escalation of the war in Iraq while vowing to “continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces.� The final roll call was 246 – 182 with 17 Republicans breaking ranks to vote in favor and only two Democrats registering opposition.

The Council for a Livable World today praised Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) brave decision to move forward with Senate debate on President Bush’s escalation in Iraq despite weeks of obstructionist stalling by Senate Republicans. Debate is expected to take place Friday or Saturday.

Council for a Livable World today released its annual national security scorecard showing that major Democratic candidates for President are bunched closely together with comparable scores.

Council for a Livable World, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious organizations devoted to national security issues, today announced the selection of former Colorado Senator Gary Hart as its chairman.