You may have the mature view that President Bush will veto a key federal troop funding legislation that is headed for the white house. I personlly felt divided about signing petitions from the various camps urging the President to reconsider the veto and to pass legislation that will fund and train the troops.

Wes Clark was an extremely successful general - and no stranger to the way in which politics can interfere with either military operations (such as bombing runs) or the proper training and recuperation that our troops need. General Wesley Clark led a successful campaign and the people of Kosovo threw flowers at the feet of his commander in chief when he returned there to visit just this past year.  Will the Iraq government throw flowers at the feet of American officials in the future?

Wes Clark has issued a petition that supports a senate and house position urging President Bush not to Veto the war spending bill simply because it has a definite and measurable sense of when America will transition to the Iraqis the control of their country. Despite president Bush's veto threat, this bill has already been used as diplomatic ammunition to encourage the Iraqis to take control of various provinces including anbar and the southern regions - with some positive effect.

So at any rate I thought I'd post here a nice link to the petition because frankly its the one that I feel safe, as a parent and also as someone who cares - because my view is that nobody should play chicken with the troops. If President Bush sends the funding bill back to the floor it will lose valuable time.

Here's the petition - and a copy of the message:

General Wesley Clark,
Former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO,
Western Europe

Right now Americans are coming together with one voice to demand George W. Bush follow the will of the people and not veto the Democratic plan for change in Iraq.

I've spent my entire professional career standing up for our men and women in uniform. I have carefully reviewed and considered the Democrats' plan for change in Iraq. More than any bill passed by the previous Republican Rubber Stamp Congress, it ensures our troops have the training and equipment they need - and our veterans get the services they deserve.

What it doesn't do, however, is give George W. Bush a blank check to continue his strategy for failure in Iraq.

We want a New Direction in Iraq and, together, we need to show that the American people support the Democratic plan for change in Iraq. That is why I am joining the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in telling the President not to veto the Democratic plan for change in Iraq and to treat our troops with the dignity and respect they deserve.

We have a goal of sending 50,000 signatures to President Bush before April 20th to show our support. Will you join us?

On November 7, 2006, the American people voted for change. They want to see fewer troops in Iraq - not more. I can tell you it's not only civilians who want a New Direction. Generals on the ground and Pentagon officials know we cannot succeed if we stay the course. The President is increasingly becoming more isolated in his stay-the-course strategy.

The Bush Administration also continues to falsely claim that resources for American troops will begin to run out later this month - despite the fact that the Pentagon and the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service confirm resources will be available well into the summer. Congressional Democrats will never cut off funding to our troops in harm's way.

Our nation has seen the terrible consequences of President Bush's failed policy in Iraq. It has made us less secure while costing us close to a trillion dollars. This administration sent our troops into harm's way without adequate equipment to protect them, and abandoned them when they returned by failing to provide proper health care to treat the wounded.

If President Bush vetoes the Democratic plan, he will be sending yet another signal that his 'plan' is simply to continue these failed policies.

I am standing up for the troops and I hope you will too. Join me in telling President Bush you stand with Democrats and insist on a new direction in Iraq.

Here's the link..
http://www.dccc.org/action_center/petiti ons_oi/clark_no_veto