I would say that the military is very good at logistics in difficult situations. And at rapid mobilization. A common critique of the American way of war at least back to the second world war is the relatively small number of people who actually specialize in breaking shit and killing people (though the combat troops are indeed exceedingly good at what they do). Indeed, during the first phases of the Iraq war there were many issues with logistical and other support personnel being forced into combat roles they were poorly trained for.
I agree that it is a knee-jerk response. But of the CYA sort. It was not a shortcoming in our laws that prevented the military from being of use, but a lack of orders from above. The unused hospital ship in the gulf, etc.