Too (Much) to Tango?

Arecent invitation on the Social Security Administration's Region 9 Web site asked officials to attend a management training forum "to be held at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix on July 7-9, 2009." "We're looking forward to having 700 management staff from all parts of the region," which includes California, Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Pago Pago and the Mariana Islands.

"Our theme of 'Management Tango' centers on our managers who face challenges of every kind as they work to do SSA's business," the invite said. "They exercise their creativity, their strength of character and their grace under fire as they overcome these challenges. They tango. With passion for the job and learned techniques, they move from one challenge to the next. Tango is a way of life."

Well, maybe not for everyone. The American Federation of Government Employees, not familiar with the Argentine pastime, estimated the gathering -- which it said included receptions, door prizes, skits, a dance troupe, a lunchtime comedian and a trip to a casino -- cost $750,000, not including salaries. That, said Witold Skwierczynski, president of the union's field office local, was a "callous waste of money when video conferencing is available."

He said SSA had recently installed a "state-of-the-art" interactive video system for training new and newly promoted employees. "These employees sit in an office and watch on IVT while trainers instruct them from remote locations," Skwierczynski said. "Apparently the folks who run SSA feel" that's fine for lower-level employees but "managers deserve the amenities of the Arizona Biltmore when they get instruction."

Off the mark, said SSA spokesman Mark Lassiter. "It was not feasible to use" the video training for the management conference, he wrote in an e-mail, and the event cost an estimated $671,000 for 675 attendees. Despite "sensationalized" accounts, Lassiter said, there was much substantive training provided and the Biltmore, though an exceptionally tony hotel, came in with a best nightly rate of only $85.51 per room.

So Much for Neutrality

World Radio Switzerland (that's WRS 88.4 on your FM dial for folks in Geneva) reported this week that Libya's leader and our new ally, Moammar Gaddafi, has accused Switzerland of funding international terrorism. A serious charge indeed, especially from someone who's an expert on the subject.

WRS noted that Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the arrest of Gaddafi's son and daughter-in-law in Geneva on charges of assaulting two servants. Naturally, "relations between the two countries have been strained since."

Gaddafi made the statements during the recent Group of Eight summit in Italy, but they went largely unnoticed, WRS reported. Now, media in Arab countries are picking up on the comments. Gaddafi said that Switzerland is giving bank accounts to "sponsors of terrorism."

Another Swiss radio station is reporting that Gaddafi had contemplated proposing to the U.N. General Assembly in New York that Switzerland be dismantled, with the French-speaking part going to France, the German-speaking part to Germany and the Italian-speaking part to Italy.

A great idea, but Washington would never go for it. The breakup would mean more skiing medals for the French and Germans at the Winter Olympics, which could hurt the United States in the overall medal standings.

When to 'Hold' 'Em

Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio) has placed a "hold" on Robert Perciasepe's nomination to be deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, demanding that the EPA re-analyze a controversial climate bill.

Voinovich announced the hold -- a common practice for minority-party senators seeking leverage over a Cabinet department -- in a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.