The MUFF Report

THE MUFF REPORT

2008-05-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

Mystical Musings, Political Perspectives,
Irreverent Satire, & Multimedia Creative Expression
www.themuffreport.blogspot.com

Saturday May 03, 2008
Breaking News

What I've Been Doing...

Greetings MUFF Divers! This is Meshers, your humble guide through the multifarious layers of bullshit and propaganda the corporate media intends to confuse and control you with. During this highly charged primary, I have opted to not make political satire that is hurtful to either Senator Clinton or Obama. Pappy McCain is the best the Repugnicans can come up with, so why get too bent?

Also, I have just finished recovering from hernia surgery and am feelin' good again! So good in fact, I have began playing bass in a Reggae band named Ancient Mystic and the Real Far Band. I went on tour with them to Oregon (Eugene, Corvallis, and Yachats) and played 3 shows 2 weeks after I first meeting them. The next week we played 4 shows in a row here in Sonoma County (Last Day Saloon, Oddfellows Hall, and Everet Ridge Winery.) May 10 we are headlining the Whole Earth Festival in Sacramento. Check out the MySpace.

13:20 is playing Fiorino's on May 24. It's really gonna rock the house! We've added new songs and are ramping up for INFINEON AND BEYOND!!! A special shout out to Car-Hole for keepin' it together, and just being the man. Special thanks to Pickles for hangin' in there. Yo Lairdlick, wazzup! Midimaster of Disaster! last but not least, all hats off to the Brewman. Without his tireless devotion, who knows where we'd be? Lots of RAH-spect everyone! Meshers OUT!!!

The MUFF Report

2008-04-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

Mystical Musings, Political Perspectives,
Irreverent Satire, & Multimedia Creative Expression
www.themuffreport.blogspot.com

Thursday April 10, 2008
Breaking News

It's Been a Long Time... But I'm Back!!!

After a long sabbatical, I return again to stimulate your higher consciousness as well as your sense of humor. Being what it is, Life has a way of showing us patterns of things before they manifest into reality if we are receptive to What Is. In the days since I last blogged, much has transpired that I could lampoon, scoff at, or ridicule. But many things have occurred that I predicted not so long ago...

So in the spirit of the Bodhisattva of Irony, I leave you with this:

I TOLD YOU SO!

The MUFF Report

2007-12-28T01:33:00.000-08:00

Mystical Musings, Political Perspectives,
Irreverent Satire, & Multimedia Creative Expression
www.themuffreport.blogspot.com

Friday December 28, 2007
Breaking News

Bye Bye Bhutto

Remember the Martial Law lock down in Pakistan? isn't it strange that the Pakistani police abandoned their posts just before Prime Minister Bhutto was killed?

Stranger still that the "official" story has changed several times from shot twice through the neck and chest, to death by concussion. Not to mention the crime scene was hosed down and no autopsy allowed.

The Pakistani government is blaming Al Qa'ida, but Bhutto's lawyer and family say it was Musharraf. Also, why hasn't the MSM reported on an interview with Bhutto on Frost Over the World where she claims Omar Sheikh, the guy who killed Daniel Pearl also killed Osama?!?! I don't know about you, but something smells fishy to me!!!

Here is a link to the video on YouTube. PEACE, I'm OUT!!!

The MUFF Report

2007-12-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

Mystical Musings, Political Perspectives,
Irreverent Satire, & Multimedia Creative Expression
www.themuffreport.blogspot.com

Wednesday December 26, 2007
Breaking News

California, Go F#%& Yourself!!!

Undaunted by low poll numbers, Darth Cheney has used his powers to influence the EPA to deny California's bid to tighten it's pollution standards beyond what the new energy bill would mandate. The Governator has vowed to sue in federal court, along with 17 other states that were poised to enact the stricter regulations.

Inside sources have confirmed there was a meeting between auto industry exec's and the Dark Lord, apparently looking to get a return on their campaign contributions one more time before the crony capitalist Star Destroyer sets sail for Dubai.

The EPA Administrator/mindless stooge Stephen L. Johnson ruled to block California's waiver, the first such instance since 1975. In fact, under the Clean Air Act States are permitted to set their own air pollution standards provided they obtain a waiver from the EPA. After an unusually long two year wait, he denied California's request a mere 8 hours after President Bush signed a federal energy bill that sets somewhat less stringent standards for all 50 states.

Even the EPA lawyers and policy experts suggested that granting the waiver would be the best course of action. They concluded the EPA would loose in federal court, citing previous instances in California and Vermont. The EPA decision seems so manipulated that US Rep. Henry Waxman, Chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has announced he will investigate the matter.

The MUFF Report

2007-12-19T21:58:00.000-08:00

Mystical Musings, Political Perspectives,
Irreverent Satire, & Multimedia Creative Expression
www.themuffreport.blogspot.com

Wednesday December 19, 2007
Breaking News

Greetings MUFF Divers! Here we go again with another installment of The MUFF Report. This year's end has been a harrowing time for the Inner Rhythm Studios crew. We are each struggling with trials and tribulations of the personal variety. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. It's hard to grasp one one thread and focus on it when so much crazy stuff happens on a daily basis, like this interesting, if slightly fishy story for instance...

NOW THAT'S A FIRE!!!

Today black smoke was seen billowing out of the offices of Vice President Cheney. The strange thing is, Cheney was in his real office..., er, um, I mean President Bush's office in the West Wing. Several people on the scene reported hearing a chorus of infernal voices chanting, followed by a blood-curdling scream and then silence...

The MUFF Report

2007-12-15T14:49:00.000-08:00

Mystical Musings, Political Perspectives,
Irreverent Satire, & Multimedia Creative Expression
www.themuffreport.blogspot.com

Saturday December 15, 2007
Breaking News

DE-NIE-AL

Howdy-doo MUFF Divers! Here is another installment of The MUFF Report, fresh off the press! Boy oh boy are there proverbial $h1# storms of insanity going on out there, or what? Tropical Storms, Ice Storms, Fire Storms.... First, let's see what's shaking in DC...

If you are tuned in to the cutting edge of progressive, political speech online, then you must have checked out ThinkProgress.org by now. If not, I highly recommend you do so, ASAP! Also, if you've been paying attention to the Iran NIE story, you know that the official White House position has repeatedly contradicted the facts, apparently intentionally obfuscating the issue. There is also proof the Powers That Be have been destroying evidence of institutionalized torture! What won't these power hungry bastards do to keep their leverage in effect against We The People? I only want peace and justice to reign over The Land of the Free, and only peaceful, gentle change will endure. It is my position that by making personal changes we change the world. Eat right, recycle, exercise, avoid drugs and alcohol in excess, vote.... Anyway, Think Progress had this to say ...

Since the Iran NIE was released, conservatives have desperately tried to discredit it. Former Vice President Cheney aide David Wurmser questioned “how much it can really be banked on.” John Bolton called for congressional investigations into the “politicized” intelligence community.

Some conservatives in Congress are following these calls, proposing a “second look” into the NIE in the form of a commission “based on similar review panels convened in the mid-1970s to reconsider the intelligence agencies’ analysis of the Soviet Union.” “We just see politics injected into this,” claimed Sen. John Ensign’s (R-NV) office.

These crazed chicken-hawks seem to distrust all sixteen US intelligence agencies' highly vetted report. Maybe there is some pressure from a certain bellicose regional player whose inability to peacefully coexist with their neighbors underlies an existential fear of annihilation. Playing on apocryphal mythologies of uneducated Americans, the truth is ignored in favor of illusions. Illusions of Armageddon, of a new heaven and earth unspoiled by our ignorance and waste, of noble ends served by horrific means. To illustrate this point, here is an article from AP courtesy Yahoo...

JERUSALEM - Israel's public security minister warned Saturday that a U.S. intelligence report that said Iran is no longer developing nuclear arms could lead to a regional war that would threaten the Jewish state.

In his remarks — Israel's harshest criticism yet of the U.S. report — Avi Dichter said the assessment also cast doubt on American intelligence in general, including information about Palestinian security forces' crackdown on militant groups. The Palestinian action is required as part of a U.S.-backed renewal of peace talks with Israel this month.

Dichter cautioned that a refusal to recognize Iran's intentions to build weapons of mass destruction could lead to armed conflict in the Middle East. Dichter didn't elaborate on the potential scenario but seemed to imply that a world that let its guard down regarding Iran would be more vulnerable to attack by the Islamic regime. Read more...

As always the message is so simple, a child could wet their pants. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Meshers OUT!!!!

The MUFF Report

2007-12-04T00:53:00.000-08:00

Mystical Musings, Political Perspectives,
Irreverent Satire, & Multimedia Creative Expression
www.themuffreport.blogspot.com

Tuesday December 04, 2007
The MUFF Archives

My Most Recent Posts

Howdy do MUFF Divers! This is site is a new, independent franchise of what I started on the Inner Rhythm Studios Daily Blog. As a not so subtle attempt to make my past musings available to the people of the world, I am embarking on posting a weekly archive for you to "dive into!"

There are many interesting and varied topics I have touched on, and want to share them with you as an "exclusive" feature of this blog. Of course I will still blog on both sites, but I just wanted to collate and archive the past MUFF Reports so they are easily viewed and enjoyed.

I will also be offering obscure music and thought provoking video picks that I think the world might want to see. I would like to also invite any thoughts, comments or arguments for or against my views and rantings, so to quote The Big Dub: "bring 'em on." So here is the first installment of The MUFF Archive, hope ya like it!

Wednesday October 17, 2007
Breaking News

Dali Lama Honored in DC to China's Chagrin

The 14th Dali Lama, a man of peace and great wisdom was given The Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor bestowed on civilians by the U.S. Govt. Sounds like Bush got some 'splainin' ta do cuz China ain't none too happy. Considering the extent they have a grip on our economy, this could have far-reaching implications. I do appreciate any support for Tibetan Autonomy and any attention to their plight at the cruel hands of intolerant on the world stage. Yet, considering the tensions that are threatening global stability, causing a stir is, perhaps, unwise at this juncture. Still, I support a free Tibet, or at least an autonomous one.

Tuesday October 16, 2007
Environmental News Alert

Change Comes to the Northlands

The direct impact of climate change is very real to the good People of the Snows. As their Homes, Towns and Way of Life melt into the past, the pain and anxiety they face is daunting. Check out this great story, courtesy Mother Jones.

Photo Essay: Sea Change
Julia Whitty and Robert Knoth Reportage by Getty Images September/October 2007 Issue

Get used to it: real estate falling into the sea. And not just beach houses and seaside time-shares. Think towns and cities. These images of Shishmaref village on Alaska's remote west coast reveal the tip of a terrain melting so fast it will carry whole cultures away with it—rich and poor, polluters and nonpolluters, all vulnerable to the great leveler, the ocean. You think South Pacific island nations and remote Arctic outposts will be the only victims? Wrong. Because no matter what we do on the carbon emissions front in the coming decades, the world ocean is forecast to warm and rise for the next millennium or more. Pictures like these will soon be commonplace

In Shishmaref, calamity has already arrived. The village of 600 Inupiaq lies on the fragile barrier island of Sarichef, where sea ice forms later each year, exposing the land to autumn storms that carve away 50 feet or more of shoreline a season. Two houses have slipped into the sea; 18 others have been moved back from the encroaching ocean; others buckle from the melting permafrost. Ten million dollars has been spent on seawalls, to no avail. Residents have concluded permanent resettlement is their only option. But considering America has yet to seriously tackle New Orleans' sea-level problems, no one on this distant edge of the Chukchi Sea imagines the $180 million needed to relocate Shishmaref will be easy to come by. And Shishmaref is not alone. A 2004 Government Accountability Office report found that of Alaska's 213 Native villages, 184 are battling floods and erosion, while another assessment foresees that in the coming decades, Alaska will require $6.1 billion to repair global warming's domino effect of fallen bridges, burst sewer pipes, and disintegrating roads. Worldwide, the situation is more dire, more expensive: Oxfam suggests the United States owes $22 billion, or 44 percent—our polluting share—of the $50 billion needed each year for poor nations to adapt to climate change.

Sunday October 14, 2007
Breaking News

Pelosi Draws a Line in the Sand(box)...

Speaker Pelosi has "come out swinging" against allegations that Congress is "kissing up" to GWB & Co. No one really thinks that, do they? I mean, what would give you that idea? Obviously the Madam Speaker is using this opportunity to spin, I, er, I mean clarify her position on the whole Iran thing. Courtesy Reuters via Raw Story.

Pelosi: Bush "must come to Congress" before attacking Iran
David Edwards and Greg Wasserstrom
Published: Sunday October 14, 2007
In an interview on ABC's This Week, Speaker Pelosi tells George Stephanopoulos that President Bush must get the approval of Congress before proceeding with an attack on Iran.

Just this week, the Senate passed a non-binding resolution designating Iran's Republican Guard as a terrorist organization in a move many observers fear will give President Bush the authority he needs to attack Iran. Pelosi disagrees, and doesn't plan on bringing up such a measure in the house.

"We don't believe that any of the authority the President has would allow him to go in without an act of Congress," she said, adding that the War Powers Act of the 1970s gives any president the power to retaliate against a country that has attacked the US. "But short of that," Pelosi said, "he must come to the Congress."

When asked about the Senate vote, Pelosi noted that it is unprecendented to declare a piece of another country's military a terrorist organization. She said, "Whatever Iran's impact is on our troops in Iraq should be dealt with in Iraq."
Reuters has the full story

Saturday October 13, 2007
Breaking News

The Day of the Living Nightmare

Yet another Retired General has a bad report on Iraq. This time it was Gen. Sanchez, former commander of all forces in theater. The man is a decorated hero and career soldier, even if he was tainted by the Abu Ghraib prison scandal earning him the nickname "Dirty" Sanchez. More, courtesy of AP via (yuck) The Drudge Report.

Oct 13, 7:48 AM (ET)
By STEVEN KOMAROW ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) -

The U.S. mission in Iraq is a "nightmare with no end in sight" because of political misjudgments after the fall of Saddam Hussein that continue today, a former chief of U.S.-led forces said Friday. Retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, who commanded coalition troops for a year beginning June 2003, cast a wide net of blame for both political and military shortcomings in Iraq that helped open the way for the insurgency - such as disbanding the Saddam-era military and failing to cement ties with tribal leaders and quickly establish civilian government after Saddam was toppled.

He called current strategies - including the deployment of 30,000 additional forces earlier this year - a "desperate attempt" to make up for years of misguided policies in Iraq.
"There is no question that America is living a nightmare with no end in sight," Sanchez told a group of journalists covering military affairs.

Link here for the full story. I wouldn't want to take all the blame for a disaster of this proportion, either. MESHERS OUT!!!!

Wednesday October 10, 2007
Breaking News

The Right Reverend Rubberized Homo-Hypocrite

Folks, I'd like to take a little time to relate a very sad, sad story. If you are a regular reader of The MUFF Report, you know that I am both a deeply spiritual person, yet sharply critical of all organized religions. Christianity is as valid a path to enlightenment and salvation as any other at it's core. Jesus' teachings, stripped of Pauline smegma and myopic, intolerant, apocalyptic dogma, point the way to a spiritual life where the needs of the poor and underprivileged are more important than what people do in the bedroom or who they do it with. Forgiveness and "judging not" are keystones in the foundation of His Gospel. Love, long suffering and nonviolent, is His Law. Jesus spoke against hypocrites, not homosexuals, which leads us to the sad, sad story of one of Reverend Jerry Falwell's top pastors in the Moral Majority that I am obliged to share, courtesy of The Smoking Gun.

OCTOBER 8--An Alabama minister who died in June of "accidental mechanical asphyxia" was found hogtied and wearing two complete wet suits, including a face mask, diving gloves and slippers, rubberized underwear, and a head mask, according to an autopsy report. Investigators determined that Rev. Gary Aldridge's death was not caused by foul play and that the 51-year-old pastor of Montgomery's Thorington Road Baptist Church was alone in his home at the time he died (while apparently in the midst of some autoerotic undertaking). Aldridge served as the church's pastor for 16 years. Immediately following his death, church officials issued a press release asking community members to "please refrain from speculation" about what led to Aldridge's demise, adding that, "we will begin the healing process under the strong arm of our Savior, Jesus Christ. "While the Montgomery Advertiser, which first obtained the autopsy records, reported on Aldridge's two wet suits, the family newspaper chose not to mention what police discovered inside the minister's rubber briefs.

Well, if you have the stomach, link here for the rest of the story. The thing that I don't get is, how did he hogtie himself? Plus his rubberized homoerotic fetish gear (which would seem difficult to suit up alone) and ass-packer are illegal (to buy) in Alabama! Someone should check on Rev. Haggard to make sure he wasn't down in Bama...

Thanks for reading The MUFF Report Archives. See ya next week!

The MUFF Report

2007-11-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

Mystical Musings, Political Perspectives,
Irreverent Satire, & Multimedia Creative Expression
www.themuffreport.blogspot.com

Friday November 30, 2007
Breaking News

What's Up World?

The Holiday Season is in full swing now, so don't forget to go to innerrhythmstudios.com and check out our Solstice Sale. Just email me at meshers23@yahoo.com with your contact info and get 25% off your order through December 31, 2007.

As for me, I have been reevaluating my life and reordering my affairs to allow greater personal freedom and simplicity. I have been dealing with health issues which are responsible, at least in part, for changes in my employment and long-term direction in life. Instead of resisting the changes thrust upon me, I am restructuring my life to adapt.

Dark Side Strategy

If you are a regular reader of my little blog here, you know I am "tuned in" to the Political Pulse, and often opine and speculate thereon. This is a scary scenario, and I hope it can be averted before it occurs. OK, here goes...

As a Jedi Knight myself, sometimes The Force shows me shadows of things to come, like the mortgage meltdown, the dollar dive-bomb and now, this new disturbance.

Remember Darth Cheney's irregular heartbeat the other day? (Actually, it is irregular that he has a heartbeat...) Also, have you noticed the repugnance of the Repugnacants running for President?

Gee, I wonder how they can beat a Hillary or Obama with any of those flawed vessels? Who in their party retains a shred of popularity and respect?

Ah So, Grasshopper, the answer is frighteningly clear and simple. Enter Darth Condoleezus. Her training now complete, Darth Cheney can pass on the "vice presidential" mantle due to "health concerns", and escape to an undisclosed location, most likely in Dubai.

Although up to her ears in complicity, she maintains a level of popularity not enjoyed by many in her party this side of The Gipper. She is intelligent, mercurial, and smooth (not to mention better looking) in comparison to the idiots running on the Right.

If she were to ascend to "vice president" before the primaries were over, she would be in a position as the incumbent to easily undo her rivals, win the nomination, and present a real threat to any Democratic challenger.

If Cheney steps down and Dubya appoints Condi, the Senate would confirm her handily, without much ado, I assure you.

I know she has said she wouldn't run, but she has also told a few other whoppers, like "There is no way anyone could have foreseen someone flying planes into those buildings." or "America can't allow the smoking gun to become a mushroom cloud."

Heed this warning Democrats. Don't count Darth Condoleezus out. She could be the Neocon's Secret Weapon.

The MUFF Report

2007-11-09T16:00:00.000-08:00

Mystical Musings, Political Perspectives,
Irreverent Satire, & Multimedia Creative Expression
www.themuffreport.blogspot.com

Friday November 09, 2007
Breaking News

I'm Back

Well, it's been a while since I last posted. So much has happened since October that I am not even going to attempt to recap it all. Let's just say, I've been "on assignment", working on some important projects and doing in-depth research. There are also new developments in the live music project that I will report on soon, after the dust has settled. So let's look at some recent stories that warrant further examination...

Mukasey Passes Go, Collects $200

Despite the bipartisan protests of Mukasey's ambivalence and seeming ignorance of a 12th century torture technique called waterboarding in the Senate Judiciary, Senators Schumer and Feinstein have caved in and voted to support him. Oddly, the top tier Democratic presidential candidates missed the vote after claiming to oppose Mukasey's appointment. He is now the new AG of the USA. There they go again, afraid of the Big, Bad Bushy-man! Time.com has more on this story, here are some excerpts...

(WASHINGTON) — The Senate confirmed retired judge Michael Mukasey as attorney general Thursday night to replace Alberto Gonzales, who was forced from office in a scandal over his handling of the Justice Department.
Republicans were solidly behind Bush' nominee. Democrats said their votes were not so much for Mukasey as they were for restoring a leader to a Justice Department left adrift after Gonzales' resignation in September.

In the end, Mukasey was confirmed as the nation's 81st attorney general by a 53-40 vote. Six Democrats and one independent joined Republicans in sealing his confirmation.
The confirmation vote capped 10 months of scandal and resignations at the Justice Department. Mukasey's chief Democratic patron, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., drove the probe into the purge of nine federal prosecutors that helped push Gonzales out.

The debate came after a tense day of negotiations that at one point featured Majority Leader Harry Reid threatening to postpone Mukasey's confirmation until December. His confirmation had long been certainty despite the debate over waterboarding.
Waterboarding, used by interrogators to make someone feel as if he is going to drown, is banned by domestic law and international treaties. But U.S. law applies to Pentagon personnel and not the CIA. The administration won't say whether it has allowed the agency's employees to use it against terror detainees.
Besides Schumer and Feinstein, Democrats voting to confirm Mukasey were: Sens. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Tom Carper of Delaware, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Of the Senate's two independents, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut voted for confirmation and Bernie Sanders of Vermont voted against.

Not voting were Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden of Delaware, Hillary Clinton of New York, Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Barack Obama of Illinois. All four had said they opposed Mukasey's nomination.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain of Arizona also was absent, as were GOP Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and John Cornyn of Texas.

The MUFF Report

2007-10-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

Mystical Musings, Political Perspectives,
Irreverent Satire, & Multimedia Creative Expression
www.themuffreport.blogspot.com

Wednesday October 22, 2007
Breaking News

Out On Assignment

I will be in the field for a few weeks. Check me out in November!

The MUFF Report

2007-10-19T19:41:00.000-07:00

Friday October 19, 2007
Breaking News

Disinfo Dick

Welcome to the maiden voyage of www.themuffreport.blogspot.com, now the home of my strange little corner of the universe. I will still be posting at the #1 source for Garageband and Acid Pro Audio Loops, and Royalty-Free Music...Inner Rhythm Studios! If you are a regular reader of my posts, you know I get a lot of Breaking News from The Raw Story. In particular, Larisa Alexandrovna's work always interests me. She has excellent sources, prescient commentary and a tenacious grasp of the issues. Her most recent article shows a connection between the Israeli-Syrian conflagration a couple of weeks ago and our resident Dark Lord of the Shith, Darth Cheney. Here's an excerpt for your perusal...

Cheney hand seen behind leaks of 'misleading' stories

Allegations that a Syrian envoy admitted during a United Nations meeting Oct. 17 that an Israeli air strike hit a nuclear facility in September are inaccurate and have raised the ire of some in the US intelligence community, who see the Vice President’s hand as allegedly being behind the disinformation.

A United Nations press release discussing the General Assembly’s Disarmament Committee meeting mistranslated comments ascribed to an unnamed Syrian diplomat as saying that Israel had on various occasions “taken action against nuclear facilities, including the 6 July attack in Syria.”

Recent news articles, however, continue to make allegations and suggest that a nuclear weapons facility was hit -- something that the Syrian government has denied, the Israeli government has not officially confirmed and US intelligence does not show.
US intelligence “found no radiation signatures after the bombing, so there was no uranium or plutonium present,” said one official, wishing to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the subject.

“We don't have any independent intelligence that it was a nuclear facility -- only the assertions by the Israelis and some ambiguous satellite photography from them that shows a building, which the Syrians admitted was a military facility.”
An earlier report by Raw Story cited Vincent Cannistraro, Director of Intelligence Programs for the National Security Council under President Ronald Reagan and Chief of Operations at the Central Intelligence Agency's Counterterrorism Center under President George H. W. Bush, as saying that what the Israelis hit was "absolutely not a nuclear weapons facility."

The Central Intelligence Agency, through a spokesman, declined to comment
Administration said to leak stories to press

One US intelligence source familiar with the events expressed concern about recent news reports describing Syria as having a functioning nuclear weapons program and cautioned against attributing those reports to the US intelligence community.

“The allegations that North Korea was helping to build a nuclear reactor have not been substantiated by US intelligence,” said this intelligence official, adding, “ but that hasn't stopped Dick Cheney and his minions at the NSC, Elliot Abrams and Steve Hadley, from leaking the information [to the press], which appears to be misleading in the extreme.”

Requests for comment to the National Security Council went unanswered.
Elliot Abrams, who currently serves as the Deputy National Security Adviser for Global Democracy Strategy, was convicted during the Iran-Contra scandal for withholding information from Congress. He was pardoned by President George H. W. Bush along with other Iran-Contra players, some of whom have reappeared in the current Bush administration.

Iran Contra was a criminal scandal in which the Reagan-Bush White House sold weapons to Iran – an avowed enemy of the United States – then funneled the money to extremist anti-Communist group of guerrilla fighters called the Contras, who were fighting the democratically elected government of Nicaragua.

A failed coup in 2002 against Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, is also attributed to the approval of Abrams, according to an investigation by the UK Guardian.
What concerns intelligence officials is what appears to be manipulation of the press and strategic leaks to the public of false information, undercutting professional intelligence analysis, similar to what occurred before the Iraq war in an apparent effort to bolster support for engaging Iran.
.