From Cannon AFB, here in our state, two huge cargo planes are headed to Haiti, just one of many deployments from our country to the earthquake-shattered nation sharing a Caribbean island with the Dominican Republic. Soon at least 2,000 Marines will be on the scene. From many other countries, aid is also on the way.

Planes yesterday were in holding patterns over Port au Prince, the capital, and those landing had to have enough fuel to leave and reload; next to none is available there. As for the country's main seaport, it's inoperable. Another, at Cap Haitien, is the default docking place, five hours by road from the capital — but many roads remain blocked. Our Navy has an aircraft carrier on the way, and it might prove to be the only stable base for days to come.

But on the ground is where tragedy lies: tens of thousands dead, many more injured, who knows how many trapped in rubble and maybe millions homeless. Hardly anything in the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation was built to withstand quakes — and at 7.0 on the Richter scale, the one that struck Tuesday brought massive death and destruction.

Natural disaster is no stranger to Haiti, where hurricanes so often sow destruction. And, for most of its history since freedom from France two centuries ago, politics, too, has been disastrous — a long-running tragedy of dictators and those who would be, abetted by nearly 20 years of U.S. occupation in the early 20th century.

President Bill Clinton, in the 1990s, responded to Haiti's hordes of Florida-bound boat people by making Haiti a focus of his Latin America diplomacy. He sent in Marines once again — to restore security — while shaming a military junta out of its refusal to allow an elected president to take office.

Recall, for example, the Clinton administration's determination in 1994 to turn Haiti around and end its perennial status as the sick man of the Americas.

Now Clinton is back on the scene — as United Nations special envoy. This could be the greatest opportunity since the Balkan resolutions to rebuild his credentials as statesman and humanitarian. He is taking a lead in the rescue effort, along with former President George W. Bush — but that, crucial as it is at the moment, is only a small part of what Haiti needs. Rebuilding will be a stark challenge, but it must be done — and after that, the country must have long-term investment in job-creating industries.

Santa Feans and all Americans wishing to help might contribute to the Red Cross, or go to the Web for a look at what charities have proven reliable there.

As was the case with the boat-people crisis, when it faded from media attention, so did much of our private and public aid.

Will the same happen this time? It shouldn't. Haiti has hardly known a moment when it wasn't in crisis. Our aid agencies and volunteers shouldn't lose track of it this time. And Haiti's emerging democracy must demonstrate a high degree of credibility in working with international relief and rebuilding teams.