It is not relevant. And somehow I don't think this country can really afford to deploy soldiers to play PC doctor.

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

Our military should be training our hospital personnel and NGOs in how to handle serious biological hazards. Our military is well-equipped and trained to handle NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) threats under combat conditions, so that valuable knowledge can be passed along, and is more applicable that the failed protocols developed by the incompetent CDC.

actually, that isn't true. All of the services have specially trained units that are well equipped to work in these kinds of conditions. You can argue that those aren't the troops we sent over there or that it is not how we should be using those units, but this isn't a new function for the military.

I agree, and how is it not belittling to the African people to assume that they are not capable of building a decent hospital or taking care of their own? They have the same physical and mental capacity as the West, so there is no reason to not do it themselves. It's too bad it takes a natural disaster to realize what you need to work on, but that is historically what incites large groups of people to action.

Our military exists for defense of this nation again foreign aggression.
The National Guard exists for the same mission at the state level. Their additional m/o is to help in time of natural emergencies and crisis.
How is an outbreak of a deadly disease on Africa relevant to this definition?

Well, once the decision is made to help, the military becomes the obvious means to provide aid due to its ability to rapidly deploy, its logistical, engineering, and medical capabilities, and its ability to better secure its own units in countries where security could become an issue.

Whether or not we should send aid at all is a different question. We are though. In fact, the first units are crossing the Atlantic even as I type this. I know one of the senior officers who will be there.

It also further erodes the drive and initiative of the respective West Africa Gov't to step up and take care of their own peoples. If someone else is doing the dirty work why should they................Hmmmmm sounds familiar!!!

#4. THIS ISN'T WHAT WE TRAIN THE MILITARY TO DO.

Specialization in jobs is there for an important reason: efficiency.

Also, not sure if you're aware, but the unit that Obama sent over are crack troops - not just run-of-the-mill soldiers. These guys are the ones who should be held in reserve or deployed to fight ISIS.

"What private sector entity would you designate that is not corrupt?"

I'm not sure I understand your question. There are plenty of bio-tech firms that are not crony who want to be at the forefront of this. They could figure it out, but are they allowed in? I defer to experts. Let's find some private sector ones to balance the govt nonsense we're getting

1. If the hot zones were quarantined as they should have been, there would be no national security issue for us from Ebola.

2. It is not OUR responsibility to provide any or all resources to deal with this in Africa or anywhere else outside our own borders. We have no obligation at all on that front. We provide more than enough of the UN budget to be on the hook for this too. Heck considering the actions of the UN we should be giving them exactly $0 and serving them a vacate order for their complex.

What private sector entity would you designate that is not corrupt?

hi tech. It could be argued that this is national security issue. I see the temptation. soldiers follow orders. They are trained to work well and quickly in teams. We have systems in place to deploy them quickly. We also have highly trained medical units. But I agree with Reason, they gobble up lots of resources. If those resources were available in the private sector, you'd have greater efficiency. and frankly, I'm not trusting the CDC right now. they're being bunglers. and a political hack as czar of ebola? pahleez

How about the best reason of all.

They are our servicemen/servicewomen and deserve better treatment than being guinea pigs for political agendas.

This is the type of thing the WHO is supposed to deal with.