Pro Star Fleet Or Anti Star Fleet

[Sector 7]

In response to the earthquakes in Haiti, President Obama has dispatched our military. There are ships en route to provide aid and assistance to the Haitian people and government with: Marines to provide security, safety and law enforcement; hospital facilities to provide medical aid; soldiers to distribute food and many other needed functions until such time as the Haitians can begin recovery.

This is an example of what a modern military actually does aside from wage war... just as in many episodes of Trek where StarFleet does the same.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Very good example, Sector 7. Starfleet really can't claim to be something more high and mighty than the militaries that actually exist in this world.

 

[T'Girl]

PICARD Starfleet is not a military organization. Our purpose is exploration.

KOLRAMI Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

PICARD: "In the face of invasion, I prefer diplomacy to combat."

KORAMI: "You're french right?"

Ultimately, it's a matter of perception.
Because in this day and age, the closest thing that resembles SF is the military, hence contemporary people perceive SF as a military organization, despite the fact it's more of a versatile organization and does far more in contrast to the military of today.

Looking at the duties of the various militarys through the centuries, name something Star Fleet does that isn't a action of the military?

The first man in space was a Captain in the Soviet Air Force.
The first man to step on to the moon was retired U.S. Navy.
The second man a was active duty U.S. Air Force colonel.

 

[Mirror_Barclay]

I think we're safe in ignoring what Star Trek characters say about whether it's military.

They claim that "escort" is a euphemism for a warship. That's like saying "orange" is a euphemism for fruit. It doesn't disguise in the slightest that you are talking about fruit. Even if the Defiant is just as much an apple as an orange.