Reply #61: Where to begin....

[Political Heretic]

First of all, National Guard is not the same as the United States Military. That takes care of Kartina aid, though I wouldn't be brazen enough to list response to Katrina by anyone under the category of a positive. In fact half the problem with Katrina rescue was that all of our military assets were tied up in an illegal aggression over seas when we needed them at home.

Second, what exactly did the military do in Tsunami disaster relief as part of its organizational mission?

Millions in charitable donations? Everything you have so far described are side-issues from the military's primary role and operation. This is like looking at a corporation that goes out and kills people in the streets, blows up other corporations, and acts in brazenly reckless ways and then say, "well hey, they give to charity!" It doesn't make what they are doing any better, does it?

I suggest that each of the things you mention could be better accomplished by individuals and other agencies - aid, charity, volunteering, you don't need military for that.