i'd say do it.. you said you get four 2 week "vacations" so really your looking at about 11weeks, or 3months away at a time, which really isn't all that bad.
i think your best option as far as saftey and such.. would be talk to your friends who are already over there, and find out what they think, get some advice from people who are already experiencing it.
my older brother is due to be stationed over there for the next year as well, starting next month(US airforce). from what he's told me, from those he knows over there, the only signifigant threat is to those who are out and about in the streets. if your in a controlled area, your pretty safe.
this is really something you have to rationalise for yourself. if you can make yourself comfortable with this on a moral level, then i say do it. you have friends over there already, so its not like you'll be completely among strangers. you'll be building quite an influential resume for future employment.
seeing whats going on over there first hand, might just give you some new insight as to what happend, why, and weither or not it was a good thing.
not many people will get the chance to really see whats going on over there.. i think its a golden opportunity all around. hell i'd jump at the chance if it were offered to me
