Obama’s Promise: We Are With You

NEW YORK – President Barack Obama says “The scale of the devastation is extraordinary … and the losses are heartbreaking.” He solemnly promised: “I pledged [to President Préval] America’s continued commitment to the government and the people of Haiti — in the immediate effort to save lives and deliver relief, and in the long-term effort to rebuild.” Following this tragedy, the destroyed island has become, for humanitarian reasons, the 51st State of the Union; with an exceptional military mobilization, Washington guarantees that 10,000 U.S. soldiers will garrison the streets of Port-au-Prince by Monday. And Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will arrive on the island today.

When Obama started to speak live on television from Washington, he gave a dramatic picture of the situation: The delay setting up for aid is already intolerable. He made his choice; he has to take care of the entire zone. He decided that Haiti will be proof that the United States has returned to a foreign policy with an ethical dimension, and is taking advantage of the occasion to show Latin Americans the friendly face of his military power. He understands that this tragedy can become a symbolic redemption for the black population after the shame of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Obama received the desperate request of the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, who, a few hours before, called him begging for more police to control the situation. The humanitarian emergency is exacerbated by the absence of a government, with the old one hiding from the justice of the security forces. And there is risk of violent chaos, which only American armed forces can try to prevent. Obama has taken on an immense task. He says his nation has a historical responsibility and a unique capacity to provide immediate assistance. For their proximity, the people of Haiti are part of America’s family and the U.S. will do all it takes to help them recover.

The president listed the resources already set up and those to come. The USS Carl Vinson has dropped anchor off the coast of Haiti, and helicopters have unceasingly begun bringing food, water and medicine onshore. Troops from the 82nd Airborne Division occupy the airport of Port-au-Prince, where the traffic, with permission of the Haiti government, is under American control. Other U.S. soldiers are arriving from Fort Bragg by an airlift of C-130 and C-17 cargo planes. The amphibious assault ship, USS Bataan, will arrive with 2,200 marines. The hospital ship, USNS Comfort will arrive from Baltimore with 12 operating rooms and 250 doctors on board.

It’s a double fight against time: to rebuild the minimal infrastructure necessary for the access and distribution of aid, and also to build what Haiti never had — a guarantee of order and rule of law for an embryonic state that faces robberies and looting — an operation that at this point can happen only under the Stars and Stripes.

It’s a bipartisan challenge for which Obama is assured the help of two predecessors. Today, he will receive former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, ambassadors for the coordination of aid. Obama’s momentum allows, at least during the emergency, a temporary thaw with Cuba. The government in Havana yesterday gave the green light to the U.S. Air Force to fly through Cuban air space — a gesture that allows for a valuable shortcut to evacuate some of the injured and some refugees to the base in Guantanamo and hospitals in Florida.