Florida ? In congressional testimony and speeches around the country, NASA Administrator Mike Griffin has presented the Bush Administration’s space policy as under pressure but on track to returning humans to the moon by 2020.

But in a remarkably candid internal e-mail to top advisers obtained by the Orlando Sentinel, Griffin lashed out last month at the White House for what he called a “jihad” to shut down the space shuttle, expressed frustration at the lack of funding for a new moon rocket – and despaired about the future of America’s human space flight program.

NASA on Friday confirmed the authenticity of the e-mail. The White House declined to comment when asked about the e-mail. But a few hours later, Griffin penned a retraction.