by paid consultants who did not disclose their connection to the Administration." A senior U.S. official described its activities as "a huge psychological operation of the kind the military conducts in denied or enemy territory." The Comptroller General also determined that the OPD violated rules placed on the State Department's use of funds. The OPD was shut down in 1987 after the investigation. Reich himself, described as the "chief spinner" of the Iran-Contra effort by journalist Ann Bardach, was not accused of illegal activity. Reich said that the Comptroller General report was flawed and called the investigation into Iran-Contra an "inquisition." The operation involving op-eds, described in a declassified memorandum from one of Reich's subordinates to Patrick Buchanan, then the communications director for the Reagan White House, was also denied by a spokesperson for Reich. Ambassadorship and lobbying career Reich served as the US Ambassador to Venezuela between 1986 and 1989. In that position he lobbied the US government to press for the release of Orlando Bosch, a Cuban exile militant then being held in Venezuela under suspicion of organizing the bombing of Cubana de Aviación Flight 455. Reich argued both that Bosch was innocent, and that his safety was threatened. After Bosch's acquittal and release in 1986, Reich asked his superiors on multiple occasions for permission to grant Bosch a visa, but was denied. Reich subsequently denied taking a special interest in Bosch's situation. In 1989, Reich received the State Department's "Exemplary Service Award". Reich maintained good relations with the government of Jaime Lusinchi, and received the Order of the Liberator, Venezuela's highest honor, from him. From 1989 to 2001, Reich worked as a corporate lobbyist. In 2001, he was President of RMA International, a lobbying and consulting company. In this role, he helped the rum company Bacardi, which wanted to revoke Cuba's trademark protection, so that it could use a familiar Cuban rum brand name, "Havana Club". Bacardi's efforts met success with the passage of the Helms–Burton Act in 1996, which tightened the US embargo against Cuba, and stripped trademark protection from the brand name. Reich helped author the act. Reich was also involved with an effort by Lockheed-Martin to sell F-16 jet fighters to Chile, which would have been the first time in twenty years that advanced weapons had been sold by the US to Latin American countries. In 1991 and 1992, at the request of President