Yeah, please don't throw up.

Here is the difference:

As was mentioned, this was pre-scheduled and is a duty associated with her role as the Gov. of Alaska. By the luck of the draw, he ended up in a brigade that is based in Alaska - and that, too, happened long before she was in the VP candidate slot. As that Alaska-based unit is deployed, the Alaska governor speaks, wishes them well, and sends them off.

It wasn't going to be a 'special family day' before, and nothing has changed.

I see no reason to say, "McCain didn't make a photo op out of his son going!" If this was a campaign-driven opportunity, you better believe they'd have made sure McCain was doing it, too. The pictures of McCain saluting his son would've been in all sorts of tv ads.

If that was the agenda, that is.

No doubt, the campaign is probably relishing the fact that she will have the opportunity to speak there.... but there is no evidence that they set it up.

FWIW - *where* they will be in Iraq, specifically, is not being disclosed.