When Special (Photo) Ops Turn Oops

Vast numbers of lawmakers have signed on to the congressional delegation shuttle to Baghdad. And nary a one has failed to ensure that troops from the home district -- who, of course, have nothing better to do -- are rounded up to have lunch and talk to their representative.

These chats -- and the fine photos they produce -- pay handsome dividends. Obviously there are the bragging rights: "Well, I've been over there talking with our troops, with Jimmy Jones and Sally Smith -- whose parents are here today -- and with others, and let me tell you . . ."

More ominously, the lawmaker might even return from these forays thinking he or she actually knows what's going on over there. A truly frightening thought.

But it's the photos with the brass, Iraqi leaders and especially the troops -- suitable for signing, for newsletters and for campaign literature -- that are the key benefit, though some photos don't quite work out.

For example, here's a very nice shot of Rep. John Carter (R-Tex.), whose district includes Fort Hood and its 4th Infantry Division. As always, some troops from home were selected to meet with the congressman.

Apparently somebody had a sense of humor. Carter found out afterward that this warm "grip 'n' grin" shot was with Sgt. 1st Class Rob Harrell, whose mother, Mary Beth Harrell, a lawyer in Killeen, Tex., will be Carter's Democratic opponent in November. The challenger's husband, we're told, is retired military. Another son, also on active duty, is to be deployed in Iraq this summer.

Mini-Drama

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association have been battling over a new contract. The FAA declared an impasse on the dispute two weeks ago, starting the 60-day review by Congress.

The FAA has been briefing the Hill on its case. NATCA is there this week. Whole forests are being leveled as both sides push their arguments.

And amid of all this, the FAA's chief negotiator, Joseph Miniace, who handled the brutal West Coast longshoremen's labor battles when he was head of the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), has a civil trial starting May 22.

It's an exceptionally nasty fight that began two years ago, after the PMA board of directors voted unanimously to fire Miniace from his $350,000-a-year job, saying he had received benefits that were not formally disclosed or approved by the board.

Members of the board were miffed to find that Miniace, who they say was supposed to receive a company car along the lines of a Buick LeSabre, picked out a $60,000 Jaguar and had a PMA subsidiary lease a Porsche for him.

Then there were other expenditures he authorized, including some pricey insurance policies he approved for himself and a couple of other PMA officers and memberships to fine country clubs, one reportedly costing $45,000 to join.