For all that I've been ranting about the Bush Administration's childish lack of diplomacy in attempting to foster support for the Iraq military campaign, it turns out our family indirectly benefits from it.

See, the last I'd heard from my mother-in-law was in January: that Brian's tanks were being shipped out and the troops would follow in 4-6 weeks. Since we're now half-way into March, I assumed that his battalion was overseas.

Nope.

They were supposed to have been deployed to Turkey.

As of yesterday, his wife said that he could be shipped out on as little as two hours notice, or he might never go, and the news seemed to know more than they do.

So we have a reprieve. Give thanks for small blessings, eh?