Fighting Ebola From the Western Hemisphere

For John, BLUF:  Fighting outbreaks like Ebola takes manpower.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Some times the doctrine gets in the way of the news.  My example this morning is this article from Nation of Change.  The writer is Mr Dave Llindorff and the headline is "Cuba Sees a Crisis, and Sends Docs; The US Sees an Opportunity and Sends Troops".

The assumption of the article is that what is needed in Western Africa to fight Ebola is medical personnel.  Good as far as it goes.  However, in fighting Ebola a couple of more things are needed.  One of them is isolation facilities (which have to be provided) and another is ways of disposing of those who die (and of medical waste) in ways that do not spread infection.  While I applaud Cuba's decision to send 135 medical personnel, that is a drop in the bucket and using them for these other activities is a waste of their talent and training.  Thus the 3,000 US Service members.

And, I wonder what Mr Llindorff thinks about the scourge of Boko Haram.  Just ignore it and it will heal itself?  That said, with the Administration trying to pivot to Asia and the problems with ISIL, the Western part of Africa appears to be small potatoes for the US.  And what about the previous Cuban intervention, the one in Angola?

Regards  —  Cliff