Why?
Because the relief effort will take at least that long, & the majority of those providing that relief are Americans, who deserve the protection & assistance of our military in a very DANGEROUS place.
The relief workers - doctors, nurses, EMTs, Firefighters, searchers, ..... - are the “Finest Kind”, people willing to sacrifice to help others, in the most horrendous of situations. Literally risking their lives to help. I imagine our military is proud to assist this effort, & I am damn proud of them for doing it.
I would NEVER cede this HUGE responsibility to the corrupt & inept UN. If your son, daughter, doctor, friend, or pastor was a relief worker in Haiti, who would you want watching their back?
So, nobama, what is your exit strategy? Maybe this is your way of getting to the magic number of 57 states.
The Christian school where my son has done mission work in Haiti has it’s own armed security force.
First time my son was there, he and his fellow missionaries want to go out in the neighborhood right behind the school compound to try to get people to come to a worship service, but the group they were staying with told them that if they went out, the group could not be responsible for their safety.
In fact, my son was suppose to go on his first trip there in 2007, but there were so many kidnappings going on at that time, that the pastor of the church in Haiti told his group not to come, it was just too dangerous.
Now, add to the mix a horrible natural disaster. Yes, if my son goes back, I would want our military protecting him!
(I have to say, of all the things I was worried about while my son was there, an earthquake NEVER entered my mind.)