"According to their reports, the number of illegals arrested on the Mexico-U.S. border has decreased almost 25 percent," notes Rep. Ted Poe of Texas, a former judge. "Now [Mr. Chertoff] claims illegal crossings are down because apprehensions on the border are down. That is like saying there are fewer carson the road because the police are issuing fewer traffic tickets."

Urgent matters

Now that some in Congress have heaped praise on this past weekend's Live Earth global warming concerts, a Republican congresswoman from Tennessee says it's time to get back to work.

"The last time I checked, global warming didn't have one single thing to do with putting a bomb in Piccadilly Circus or trying to blow up the JFKairport," says Rep. Marsha Blackburn. "Global warming didn't bomb the USS Cole or take down the Twin Towers. Climate change can be studied, but it need not be done at the expense of human intelligence needed to help eliminate international terrorism. We need to adjust our priorities."

Balancing act

No, those won't be protesters closing down Pennsylvania Avenue between 12th and 13th streets Northwest, rather waiters and waitresses.

This year marks the 33rd anniversary of Washington's original Bastille Day Waiter and Waitress Race - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - part of the Brasserie LesHalles 2007 Bastille Day Races & Celebration.

Washington, organizers will have you know, was the first U.S. city ever to host a Bastille Day race, and tomorrow restaurant wait staff from all acrossthe region will speed-walk the Pennsylvania Avenue course while balancing atray and its ingredients on one hand.

Our taste buds, meanwhile, can't help but observe that this week's Brasserie menu is drawn from the historical 1824 return to Washington (after a 39-year absence) of French Gen. Marquis de Lafayette. The Frenchman played an essential role in the American Revolution and was much revered and feted by the young nation.