WASHINGTON, March 1: The senior Bush administration official who briefed anonymously on Vice-President Dick Cheney's visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan sounded suspiciously like, well, Cheney himself.

The White House transcript of the Tuesday briefing left little room for doubt as to the official's identity, including this opening sentence:

The reason the president wanted me to come, obviously, is because of the continuing threat that exists in this part of the world on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistan border, the official said.

Mr Cheney had just left Afghanistan, where a suicide bomb attack against Bagram airbase killed up to 14 people. Cheney used the visit to the two countries to press for stronger action against the Taliban and al Qaeda.

Let me just make one editorial comment here. I've seen some press reporting (that) says, 'Cheney went in to beat up on them, threaten them.' That's not the way I work, the official said.

The official was speaking on background, a common practice in Washington that means he could only be identified by the euphemism, senior administration official. Media critics have long complained about the practice, saying public officials should be identified.

The senior administration officials often make sure they leave no clues to their identity in these sessions.

But in this case, the official blew his own cover.

I would describe my sessions both in Pakistan and Afghanistan as very productive, the official aboard Cheney's plane said.

Cheney arrived back in Washington early on Wednesday and briefed President George W. Bush on his trip.--Reuters