AUSTIN - Sept 29 -- Retired Army General Wesley Clark swung through Texas on Monday, meeting with supporters in Austin, Ft. Worth, and Witchita Falls.

In Austin, Clark was introduced to a crowd of 800+ by Democratic Rep. Richard Raymond of Laredo, who pointed out that were Bush to be removed in the next election, Texas would likely be called upon to take him back. His comment - "General, if you send him back to us, we'll swallow hard and we'll take him" - was taken with a widespread combination of amusement and dread.

After this eye-opening introduction, Clark stepped onto a stage in front of a large Texas flag at a downtown park and was greeted with cheers and Texas hospitality. Clark returned the sentiment - seeming genuinely excited by the large screaming crowd and noting that he probably shouldn't discuss the recent football game between Texas and Arkansas.

"I'm happy to be down here in George W. Bush's home state. I think people in Texas know very well what this administration in Washington is about today," said Clark.

In his Austin speech, he called for an independent investigation into the leaking of the name of an undercover CIA Agent to 6 members of the press by senior whitehouse officials. Clark said the name was released "in violation of law, in violation of good sense, in violation of protection of the American intelligence system. It's wrong, it's shady, it's cheap. And we're calling for an independent commission to be established." Clark questioned whether the U.S Justice Department would be able to conduct a non-partisan investigation of the federal felony.

On Iraq, Clark echoed his Little Rock announcement speech - making the case that Bush has taken the United States into "an unnecessary war in Iraq in which we've lost hundreds of people. We don't need to be there."

Clark continued on to Wichita Falls, where he gave a detailed foreign policy speech at Midwestern State University. "It's been an elective war, it wasn't connected to the war on terrorism," he said. "We should have gone after Osama bin Laden, put more troops on the ground and bring him in. What's missing in Iraq right now is an exit strategy and a success strategy." This sentiment echoed statements the General made in op-ed pieces before and during the early stages of the Iraqi operation.

After the policy speech, he engaged in a question and answer session with attendees - responding to concerns about the economy, veterans affairs, and the environment.