WASHINGTON INSIGHT

SHEEP’S CLOTHING?: Just when House Republicans and Democrats were sounding so accommodating, along comes a 66-page memo from GOP leaders setting forth “operating principles” for the new Congress. Sprinkled throughout are military terms like “war game” and “engaging the opposition,” not exactly the language you might expect as lawmakers try to close the partisan divide. So what’s up? The answer lies in the model Republicans used in preparing the memo--U.S. military doctrine documents--and the involvement of an active-duty Marine officer under a special fellowship program arranged at the behest of House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.). The officer was consulted for the memo, says Gingrich spokeswoman Lauren Sims. He had no hand in the actual writing, Sims says, but those who did drew heavily from military manuals. Branches of the military “have similar doctrine documents,” Sims explained, “so they were able to consult on that in this process.”

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SPRY AND DRY: Nobody asked, but Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) wants everyone to know he’s healthy and sane as he celebrates his 94th birthday today. At a news conference earlier this week, where he appeared as a member of the 105th Congress’ Senate GOP leadership team, the man who began his career in public service before the Great Depression, announced: “I’m very glad to be here.” As the laughter died down, Thurmond deadpanned: “I have complete possession of my faculties, physical and mental,” as if it was a qualification for a seat in Congress.

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GOOD VS. EVIL: With U.S. military and United Nations officials sounding alarms about the spreading menace of land mines throughout the world, the makers of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman comic books swooped in to the rescue. New York-based DC Comics produced and distributed for free a half-million copies of a special 12-page issue telling children in Bosnia-Herzegovina about the dangers of the estimated 3 million land mines buried in their country. By default, Superman is the star of “Deadly Legacy.” Batman was unsuitable because he wears a mask, which would frighten children who had seen masked men kidnap family members, says Martha Thomases, spokeswoman for DC Comics. As for Wonder Woman, she “is not dressed appropriately for a Muslim country.” So it’s left to Superman to warn children to avoid unmarked fields, walk in the footprints of others and stay away from abandoned buildings and trenches.

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CHELSEA’S CHOICE: Like high school seniors everywhere, Chelsea Clinton is spending her fall trying to decide where to attend college. She reportedly is considering Brown University, but probably only if she can room with a close friend who is now a freshman at the Rhode Island school. Another on the list is Northwestern University, just north of Chicago. And what do the first parents think? Word is that Chelsea is getting pressure to attend her father’s alma mater, Georgetown University. Among the reasons: Security would be easier. The Jesuit school is a 25-minute walk from the White House, which means Chelsea could fulfill every high school senior’s dream of living at home for four more years.