The Coast Guard had proper authority to go aboard. The Navy, Army, and Air Force do not have this authority or history of protecting American rights. Second, the Coast Guard had the command and control structure to liason with other units who possess the capability to handle this problem. The 41 footer was in its over its head, but was able to an eventual multi-agency effort. We're talking local and federal agencies, commercial civilian and military, military and law enforcement.
Leadership is about bring complementary members to form a more powerful team.
Third, it was a small boat station with young American men and women peforming the work. They are no older than 25 and will eventually get out of the Coast Guard, but in the meantime they are learningthe value of service to t he nation through performing both civilian and military duty. There is a grave debate going on in American society about the growing rift between military and civilian lives. Coasties live in both those worlds. That's 21st century national security.