The benevolent side of the US?

We all know about the disaster in Haiti. It's impossible not to hear about it. The pictures are horrifying.


The US has sent thousands of troops and civilian support personnel to Haiti (I've lost count of the actual number, but I think it's safe to say over 10,000 American personnel are in Haiti or going there). Of course it is an international effort, rescuers and aid from all over the globe has been pouring in.


At first glance this is an excellent example to the pacifists of what armed forces are good for other than fighting/preventing wars and providing security to ourselves. The US here is showing it's benevolent side, rightly assisting one of the poorest countries in the world that has been completely reduced to rubble following a natural disaster. These people desperately need all the help they can get for essential means to live. Only armed forces (and that of the US in terms of sheer scale) can provide materiel and personnel to disaster zones in need of assistance. Civil protection from any country could not provide such support in such a disaster, as well as food, water and healthcare the US armed forces can provide basic security duties. 


However there is a hard security concern in sending the troops there; Haiti is on America's doorstep, and the US should avoid tolerating a failed state within the boundaries of its Monroe Doctrine. Even worse, no Haitian government could take control of what's left and the country could descend into pure anarchy and destabilise the Dominican Republic. The inevitable rise in crime, people and drug smuggling would cause problems for the US homeland. 


It's nice to see Obama taking swift and decisive action for once. At least out in the open.


It seems the US is helping itself by helping others here. I'll drink to that.