Is it wise to deploy troops to fight Ebola?

I will fight Ebola as long as Chuck Norris is coming along!!!!

I'm in 1SG (Join to see) !

I might be in the minority here, but I feel like sending the military to fight Ebola isn't the military's role.

Every branch in government has a specific function, and this I believe operates outside of the military's scope. Not to mention, my personal opinion is that I don't think the president has the authority to mobilize the military to combat this without congressional approval.

1LT (Join to see), I disagree.

a) Humanitarian relief is a component of Wide Area Security (WAS) operations (formerly known as SASO). WAS is a doctrinally accepted military function. Just because what you are doing in such an op does not include shooting badguys doesn't mean it doesn't contribute to national defense.

b) Humanitarian relief operations are not combat ops and therefore do not need congressional approval.

Thermite plasma COL Vincent Stoneking, SFC (Join to see) - remember "The Rock"? :-)

Airstrike approved! MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca

Next problem!

COL Vincent Stoneking

Sir, per the movie Outbreak, fuel air explosive. Directly to your question, HEAT...better if you can get everyone infected in to a single tank.

The primary issue is one of social /culture in the affected nations, they lack the governmental assets and societal responsibility to practice proper sanitation and public health standards. Our Soldiers CANNOT change these nation's behavior or attitudes. The required infrastructure isn't there to properly contain these diseases. We as the American Army can take on the mission and in the short term address immediate needs, but we will never change attitude of corrupt inept leaders and ignorant superstitious populations. Yes I also feel that our poll driven media savvy POTUS is trying to take the eyes off of his abject failure in Southwest Asia. Three thousand to fight a disease one thousand to fight a war (oops, Counter Terrorism Operation), you make the call.

i feel they could do some good but they arent being issued the proper equipment for the job the arent being given hazmat protection. are they being issued chem gear instead and is it capable of handling it has it been tested. could any one verify? and on top of that i thnk it should be a joint task force mission with millitary doctors not grunts im just not seeing alot of logic in this and our millitary is known for planning and preperation suddenly thats just thrown out the window in my opinion its more an ill concieved pr stunt by the obama administration and possibly used as a training mission weve done it before send in troops for a type of task bring them back split them up and let them train others for any similar situation down the road think of the civ and non combatant containment knowledge that could be learned for such a mission just my thoughts

A1C Kenneth Crocker, from my understanding of the mission, US troops are not going to be doing direct contact with infected patients. they do not need full hazmat gear.

LTC Labrador, I pose this food for thought: I have heard that there is a heavy equipment CE type unit being deployed to set up mobile isolation hospitals. By your theory, no direct contact with infected patients, they do not require full hazmat gear. I grant that point. However: deceased continue to be infected, in a 3rd world country without the same standards as the USA. Do we know that deceased locals have not been buried in the same area as the CE guys with heavy equipment are going to be digging and/or otherwise establishing a site for an isolation facility? If they unearth an Ebola victim, they will be exposed. THEY are not trained medical assests ..... I agree with much else that you have said, but this is my one big concern.