France has been pushing hard for the deployment of West African troops and the arrival of the first Nigerian troops should bring some relief to French soldiers who are only getting limited support from the fairly weak Malian army, analysts say.

BBC: Mali conflict: France boosts troop numbers

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said troops might provide short-term relief but he did not believe border protection was an appropriate role for the National Guard.

NPR: Bush Calls for Troops, Funds to Secure Border

She saluted law enforcement officers, military troops and volunteers who helped in the rescue and relief efforts, a number of whom were guests in the House chamber for the speech.

CNN: Louisiana's Blanco vows to rebuild

U.S. government analysts believe Bin Laden was a sponsor of attacks against U.S. troops in Somalia during the 1993 United Nations humanitarian relief effort there, including the clash that killed 18 U.S. Army Rangers.

CNN: Bin Laden

His troops, mostly Macedonians by then, went crazy with joy and relief.

FORBES: How Great a General was Alexander?

For our troops and military families who've sacrificed so much, this means relief from an unrelenting decade of operations.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama at the American Legion Conference

Others promised relief: our division is being withdrawn from combat and returned to the States to train new troops.

CNN: Private Ryan was a hero, but there were bums, too

Washington has played this role in every major disaster dating back to the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, when over 4, 000 troops from the U.S. Army's Pacific Division were mobilized to provide emergency relief, including constructing temporary housing for 20, 000 survivors.

CNN: America isn't ready for superstorms