Merry Christmas from Kirkuk - WTF?

Here's an ironic news flash: I just received word that my 42-yr old brother has arrived safely in Kirkuk, Iraq. That's good news, because I think I just read in the special winter edition of Middle Eastern Travel & Leisure that Kirkuk made their coveted "Top 10 Safest Cities for 2005".

My brother is in the reserves, in the JAG unit for a division. He will have an office job, providing legal assistance to his unit during their tour. If there's any silver shards in this cloud's lining, they would be:

• he is not on foot patrol, so presumably he's a bit safer than he might be in some other role
• they deployed some of the support unit personnel after the main unit, so his tour will likely be around 10 months as opposed to the normal 12

Ok - I'm being facitious. I don't support the war. But I do believe in my brother being safe and coming home soon to us. It was his choice to go, and I don't understand it, but I don't have to. I only have to respect it as he's my brother and I love him. He's also an adult and makes his own decisions.

(all this spoken over a choir humming the holiday classic I'm Dreaming of a Tan Christmas)

Freaked Out, Party of 1? Your holiday table is ready.

Merry Frappin' Christmas!!