RAY SUAREZ: The Bush White House came under fire today from its one-time defender, former press secretary Scott McClellan. In a new book, he charged the president used a political propaganda campaign to sell the war in Iraq.
McClellan stopped short of saying it was out-and-out lying. Instead, he said Mr. Bush and his aides made a "decision to turn away from candor and honesty when those qualities were most needed."
McClellan spoke briefly to reporters today outside his home in Arlington, Virginia.
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, Former White House Press Secretary: I'm going to be doing my interviews tomorrow, and so I hope people will get a chance. I think there have been a lot of comments. People haven't had a chance to really look at the book.
And it's got an important message that I think people need to take a look at. And today, I want to let it kind of speak for itself, let people get a chance to look at it. And then tomorrow, I look forward to going on the air and talking about it.
RAY SUAREZ: The president did not mention the issue as he gave the commencement address at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. He told his audience the war in Iraq will be won if the country keeps its nerve.
GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States: This means that to win the first war of the 21st century, we need to prevail not just in the battle of arms, but also in the battle of wills. And we need to recognize that the only way America can lose the war on terror is if we defeat ourselves.
RAY SUAREZ: In her own statement, Dana Perino, the current White House press secretary, criticized McClellan. She said, "We are puzzled. It is sad. This is not the Scott we knew."
A federal judge today affirmed the Democratic Party's right to bar Florida's delegates from the national convention. The move was designed to penalize the state for holding an early primary. It's the second time this year a judge has thrown out a lawsuit over the issue. We'll have more on the Democrats' battles over Florida and Michigan later in the program.
Chinese soldiers and emergency workers labored today to open roads for quake survivors. Debris and landslides from the May 12th earthquake have hindered recovery efforts and made it harder to evacuate people.
As part of the effort today, a major bridge was destroyed in a controlled explosion. Two supporting pillars had been severely damaged in the quake. The bridge linked smaller towns to a large urban center.
The government also raised the quake death toll past 68,000; nearly 20,000 people are still missing.
A U.S. commander cautioned today time is running out for Myanmar to accept expanded U.S. military aid for cyclone victims. Admiral Timothy Keating said American warships just off Myanmar's coast will likely move on in days, not weeks, unless something changes. He said helicopters on those ships could do much more if the military junta gave the green light.
ADM. TIMOTHY KEATING, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command: These guys, they know what they're doing. And they know how much help they can provide just that quick. That's all it would take is, "Yes," and there would be significant material going ashore within an hour, I'd say. And they badly, desperately want to help.
RAY SUAREZ: So far, U.S. aid has been limited to 70 cargo flights from Thailand, mainly carrying water, mosquito netting, and plastic sheeting.
Fourteen states sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today over air pollution standards. In March, the agency announced new limits on ozone, a key factor in smog that causes breathing problems. Environmental groups, and some EPA scientists, say the standards should be tougher still.
Dow Chemical Company announced today it's raising prices by 20 percent, effective almost immediately. The company said its energy costs have quadrupled since 2002. It blamed the government for failing to develop a sound energy policy. Dow supplies chemicals for a wide range of products, from anti-freeze to cosmetics to textiles.
On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 45 points to close at 12,594. The Nasdaq rose 5 points to close above 2,486.
That's it for the news summary tonight. Now: polluted skies in China; climate change in the U.S.; aid efforts in Myanmar; the presidential race; the Democrats' delegate battle; and praising good teachers.
