Yesterday, Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and John Kyl (R-AZ) filed a ‘Sense of the Senate’ resolution imploring the U.S. to “combat, contain, and roll back” Iran’s “violent activities and destabilizing influence inside Iraq.”

The amendment, which is attached to a defense appropriations bill, counsels “the prudent and calibrated use of all instruments of [U.S. power], including diplomatic, economic, intelligence, and military instruments,” and “urges the administration to designate the Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization.”

Some fear that the resolution could further strain Iranian relations and push the U.S. towards military confrontation. Jonathan Schwarz notes that “if something like this passes both the House and Senate, I think Bush could legitimately argue that between it, the War Powers Act and the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations to Use Military Force, he has all the authority he needs to attack Iran.”

Back in 2006, former NATO supreme allied commander Wesley Clark warned against the military option.

We should join now - right now - in opening a new round of talks with Iran, in which we ourselves participate, before pressing for UN action or moving toward the military option. No one should be mistaken: there is a military option.

We can strike hard enough to set back Iran’s nuclear quest by many years, and take out much of their military capacity in the process. And we can at the same time protect most of the oil flow from Iran and deny their capacity to block transit through the Straits of Hormuz. But we also must recognize the possible consequences of this action: an embittered, vengeful Iran, seeking further destabilization of the region. Far better to pursue dialogue now, whatever the precedents, and save the military option for truly last resort. Understand: unlike others you may hear, I know when and how to determine our course with Iran.

UPDATE I: ThinkProgress notes that on September 14th, “Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) sent a letter to President Bush on Iran telling him that the 9/11 Authorization for Use of Military Force does not cover any military actions against Iran. Dodd called on Bush to appoint a special envoy to Iran to invigorate US diplomacy.”

UPDATE II: Today, Adm. William Fallon, the head of U.S. Central Command “accused Iran of supplying powerful roadside bombs to militants in Afghanistan and said the U.S. would ‘act decisively‘ if the cross-border flow continues.

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