Wow.

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown announced Monday that he will go to Afghanistan as part of his annual National Guard duties.

The Republican senator, who is a lieutenant colonel in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, will leave for Afghanistan before the end of the calendar year, according to his office.

"I have service obligations that I fulfill each year. Following in the tradition of other lawmakers who have completed their military service requirements overseas, this year I have requested to conduct my annual training in Afghanistan," Brown said in a statement.

Brown, who serves on the Senate Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs committees, said his training in Afghanistan "will help me to better understand our ongoing mission in that country, and provide me first-hand experience for my duties."

Unlike the rest of the draft-deferring GOP who feel qualified to opine on matters military, I have hopes that Brown will have enough independence to lead the push for us to leave Afghanistan having personally experienced the futility of our operations there.