Well, lets hope it happens more quickly than FEMA does things.

Let's be careful what we wish for. Frankly I cringe every time active-duty military forces are deployed within our borders. Every time this happens we slide down that slippery slope toward commonplace military deployments in CONUS. Next thing you know we'll have to clean up the spare bedroom for permanently stationing Cpl. Smith.

I like this idea as long as "overwhelming natural disaster" is clearly defined and that each state retains the power to invite such a force.

I have an additional proposal, if such a force is under serious consideration, I recommend that the Coast Guard be put in charge of such a force even if this force is drawn from various military services. As we saw in Katrina, The Coast Guard is fantastic at search and rescue missions but is still part of the Armed Forces and therefore reports directly to the President of the United States. Putting command of this proposed force under the Coast Gaurd instead of the Army, Navy, or Marines will, I think, ease fears of the military expanding too much of a role within our domestic borders.

Matthew, please don't say "wait until they are invited". Look at Katrina! Otherwise, I like your suggestions.

I agree with Matthew- wait until they are invited. If the Governor knows that it is up to them to ensure the safety of their citizens then they are forced to be the one to pull the trigger and ask for troops. To do otherwise is to ask for trouble as getting used to the military rushing into states is not what we want. Once the federal government has an easy excuse to "send in the military" we are not far from made up reasons to use the military to "quash rebellions" or "provide security" or other innocuous-sounding reasons.

Careful.....