Poor NASA. Even since a Democrat took over as president the world is convinced Americans are imperialists bent on flexing their muscles in areas like...disaster relief.

Disaster relief and humanitarian assistance are just two of the 'sinister' things critics in Thailand contend NASA may secretly be involved in under the guise of monitoring the atmosphere as part of the "Southeast Asia Composition, Cloud, Climate Coupling Regional Study". The project will use satellites, aircraft and ground missions to study how air circulation during the monsoon affected the climate and air quality in South and Southeast Asia.

The U-Tapao naval air base was used for bombing missions during the Vietnam War and the U.S. military has continued to use the base for refueling and as a staging area for humanitarian relief operations, including those conducted after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and Myanmar's 2008 Cyclone Nargis. The base is located in Chonburi province, 118 miles southeast of Bangkok.

Thailand is holding a debate on the matter because opponents contend the project would be a cover for U.S. military and intelligence activities.  Hal Maring, a coordinator of the NASA project, told the English-language Bangkok Post, "NASA is a civilian agency and has no connection with the United States military."

But he would say that, wouldn't he?

Maybe America needs a Republican president, so foreign governments will stop worrying we are so militaristic.