Former Bush aide defends book against criticism

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former White House spokesman Scott McClellan, defending his book critical of President George W. Bush and the Iraq war, said on Thursday he may have made a mistake by not speaking out sooner.

Under fire for what former White House colleagues see as a betrayal of the Bush administration, McClellan said on NBC's "Today" show that, at the time, he had misgivings about the war and felt the administration was rushing into it. In the end, however, he said he trusted Bush and his advisers.

The "Today" show interview was the first for the former White House spokesman since news of his book, "What Happened -- Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," hit the capital.

As Bush's press secretary from 2003 to 2006, McClellan defended the war to the media. But in his book he accused the White House of shading the truth and conducting a political propaganda campaign in making the case to go to war in Iraq and topple Saddam Hussein.

"I gave them the benefit of the doubt just like a lot of Americans," McClellan said. "Looking back and reflecting on it now, I don't think I should have."

McClellan said he was unsure if Bush would ever speak to him again.

"I don't know," he said. "I certainly don't expect it any time soon. I know this is a tough book for many people to accept."

In explaining his reasons for writing the book, McClellan said he came to Washington with the Bush administration with hopes of changing the political culture.

"The larger message has been sort of lost in the mix ...," he said. "The White House would prefer I not speak out openly and honestly about my experiences, but I believe there is a larger purpose.