Scott McClellan: “I asked them point-blank, 'Were you involved in this in any way?' Both assured me in unequivocal terms, no.”

This is a White House that doesn't like to look back. The president doesn't like to spend time reflecting.

If anything, the national press corps was probably too deferential to the White House and to the administration in regard to the most important decision facing the nation during my years in Washington, the choice over whether to go to war…

You have a lot of good people that come there for the right reasons, to make a difference, but they get caught up in this permanent campaign culture, where it's all about manipulating the narrative to their advantage.

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, reflecting on it now, I…