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McClellan: Bush Admitted Authorizing Plame Leak

Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan took to the airwaves Thursday to explain his speaking out on his former bosses in the Bush administration. In a new memoir, McClellan accuses the administration of deliberately manipulating the public to wage the war on Iraq. McClellan also criticizes his former bosses for the handling of Hurricane Katrina and the CIA leak case. Appearing on the Today Show, McClellan said he had mistakenly allowed his personal admiration for President Bush to overshadow concerns about the deceptive rush to war in Iraq.

Scott McLellan: “I felt like we were rushing into this, but because of my position and my affection for the President and my belief and trust in he and his advisers, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. And looking back on it and reflecting on it now, I don’t think I should have.”

McClellan went on to say President Bush had personally told him he authorized the leak of former CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity. McClellan says he asked President Bush aboard Air Force One if he was the one who approved outing Plame to the media. McClellan says Bush replied, “Yes, I was.”

Lawyers: US Rushing 9/11 Trial to Coincide with ’08 Election

Lawyers for the alleged conspirators behind the 9/11 attacks are accusing the Pentagon of rushing the case to court to time it with the 2008 presidential campaign. In a new court briefing, the defense team for the four prisoners on trial with alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed cite a prosecution document proposing to set the trial date for September 15th. That would come just ten days after Senator John McCain is expected to be officially nominated as the Republican nominee.

Army Suicides Rise to 115

In military news, army suicides continue to rise. On Thursday the Pentagon said 115 soldiers killed themselves last year, up from 102 in 2006. The army suicide rate is at its highest since the military began keeping records in 1980.