Into the Fryer

Still looking for a place to go this summer? Tired of Rehoboth, Duck and the Cape? Then try calling Sens. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) or Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) to see if maybe there's room on their codel to China for the U.S.-China Interparliamentary Group.

One huge drawback is that the trip is in August -- one reason this is not officially a Loop-recommended jaunt. Beijing in August will make Hades feel like Vermont. A second reason is that it's only a week. Far too short.

But still, we couldn't dismiss out of hand their thoughtful invitation to colleagues. After all, it will be a cozy "bipartisan delegation of no more than 12 senators," the invite said, and "spouses are invited."

Also, travel will be by very comfortable military jet. Attentive embassy aides will be around to show the way to the jade market in Beijing and make sure you bargain correctly. (For example, if they say "500 yuan, special for you," that means they'll take 40 yuan -- $5. Worked for us.) There's no fussing with baggage -- it appears in your room, and then it disappears onto the plane.

Even more important, Stevens and Inouye say, the "interparliamentary sessions" on things such as nuclear proliferation, terrorism and intellectual-property rights "will take place in Guilin," a charming city surrounded by extraordinary limestone pinnacles. Good choice.

One would hope there'll be time to take the spectacular three-hour cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo. Stunning scenery. Like being inside a Chinese scroll painting as you cruise between the peaks and rice paddies and pass small villages. Watch the peasants working in the rice fields, wearing traditional conical hats, talking on their cellphones. (No kidding.)

But then it's on to Beijing "for courtesy calls with Chinese leadership," to talk about the 2008 Olympics there and "security initiatives." Hard to imagine doing the Forbidden City or even the Great Wall in the overpowering heat and pollution, but maybe you'll get a lucky break in the weather.

"This dialogue mechanism between the Senate and the National People's Congress has proven to be invaluable in communicating mutual concerns," the invite says. No doubt.

And maybe the delegation can find one, just one, person in all of China who believes the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade back in 1999, or that bizarre series of slights and insults during President Hu Jintao's recent visit, were accidental.

A Tip on a K-9 Operation

People see the strangest things in Washington. A Loop Fan reports a black sedan and a black SUV were idling Friday at 6:15 p.m. on a street in Chevy Chase, D.C. Next thing you know, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld alighted from the sedan and, accompanied by an agent, climbed up the steps to a house, rang the bell and went in.

A few minutes later Rumsfeld emerged, walking two dachshunds. (Ah, for a photo.) He stopped for one to relieve itself before putting them in the SUV. And off they went.

Turns out the home is owned by a woman who regularly cares for the pooches when the Rumsfelds are on the road. Apparently it was his turn to do pickup duty.

The dog-sitter, who insisted on anonymity, said the little dogs were "sweet and delightful," Joyce Rumsfeld "is an absolute delight," and Rumsfeld is "very nice, precious, despite what they say about him in the media."

Dachshunds, of course, are German dogs (the name means "badger dog") from Old Europe and not members of the Coalition of the Willing and are perhaps even freedom haters. Would have thought Rummy might have preferred, say, a Polish lowland sheepdog (Polski Owczarek Nizinny).

Adieu, DeLay (Ties Required)

The Texas House delegation took former representative Tom DeLay out for a farewell dinner last week at the very tony D.C. restaurant Le Paradou for some excellent French food and wine.

As it turns out, colleague Jeffrey Birnbaum recently reported that Le Paradou is owned by wealthy securities lawyer Michael R. Klein , who has funded a new group, the Sunlight Foundation, which aims to expose congressional "boondoggles" and "corruption" and look at ties between lobbyists and lawmakers.

Just the kind of group DeLay would support.

At the Top of the Corps

President Bush has nominated Lt. Gen. James T. Conway , who holds the key slot of operations director for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and who previously served in Iraq, to be commandant of the Marine Corps. Conway will be taking over from Gen. Michael W. Hagee at a time when the Marines have come under scrutiny over allegations of killing civilians in an operation in Haditha, Iraq.

Also, later this week, Maj. Gen. Walter E. Gaskin is scheduled to become the first African American commander of a Marine division.