Daily Briefing: 'Gosh, I Hope There's War'

* Dubai firm delays port deal afterKarl Rovefloats the idea.Bush: "This wouldn't be going forward if we were not certain that our ports would be secure." [ WP , NYT , W$J , LAT , WT ]

*Chertoffonly became aware of port deal after it was approved. [ WT ]

*Rovedismisses objections, saying lawmakers "are just picking up and reading something in the newspaper, hearing something on talk radio." [ WP ]

* White House report on Katrina response avoids finger-pointing but recommends 11 key changes before the next hurricane season. [ WP , NYT , USAT ]

* Attorneys forLewis Libbyargue Special CounselPatrick Fitzgeraldlacks the legal authority to press charges. [ WP , WT ]

*Bushraises $1.6m for congressional candidates during visits to Indiana and Ohio.Bush: "I wish I wasn't talking about war. No president ever says, 'Gosh, I hope there's war.' For those of you who are young here, I want you to know what I'm leading to is how to keep the peace and do my job that you expect me to do, which is to prevent the enemy from attacking again." [ NYT , WT ]

*Bob Dole's involvement in port deal creates conflict for Sen.Elizabeth Dole(R-N.C.). [ WP ]

* Vice president of the Service Employees International Union supportsBush's guest worker plan. [ NYT ]