Thank you, General Eaton

I was reading my daily dose of blogs because I knew there would be some shouting about the veto. What I came across (thanks again, Mickey) was a letter from General Eaton (retired) to the President regarding the veto on the war spending bill Congress passed last week. I think his message is clear. Bush is NOT listening to the Generals as he constantly says he is. Bush does not GET that our forces are spent. They are spread too thin. Our national safety and interest is in jeopardy here on US soil because Bush is just not listening. I think that it bears a reprint on every blog out there. I urge you to send this to your Congressmen and ask them to listen to a man who has been on the ground in Iraq and helped train the Iraqi forces.

Here's the letter (Daily KOS):

May 1, 2007
President George W. Bush The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

Today, in your veto message regarding the bipartisan legislation just passed on
Operation Iraqi Freedom, you asserted that you so decided because you listen to
your commanders on the ground.
Respectfully, as your former commander on the ground, your administration did not listen to our best advice. In fact, a number of my fellow Generals were forced out of their jobs, because they did not tell you what you wanted to hear -- most notably General Eric Shinseki, whose foresight regarding troop levels was advice you rejected, at our troops' peril.
[...]
As someone who served this nation for decades, I have the utmost respect for the office you hold. However, as a man of conscience, I could not sit idly by as you told the American people today that your veto was based on the recommendations of military men. Your administration ignored the advice of our military's finest minds before, and I see no evidence that you are listening to them now.
I urge you to reconsider your position, and work with Congress to pass a bill that achieves the goals laid out
above.

Respectfully,
Major General Paul D. Eaton, USA, Retired