Obama, Bush and Clinton Pen Essays Calling for Help in Haiti

In the cover story of this week's issue of Newsweek, President Obama outlines the aid he is calling for in Haiti, writing that "in times of tragedy, the United States of America steps forward and helps." The issue hits newsstands today, one day after former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton wrote a similar piece in the New York Times saying they are "pleased" to answer Obama's request that they lead the aid effort.

"In the aftermath of disaster, we are reminded that life can be unimaginably cruel," Obama wrote in an essay that reads much like one of his speeches. "That pain and loss is so often meted out without any justice or mercy. That 'time and chance' happen to us all. But it is also in these moments, when we are brought face to face with our own fragility, that we rediscover our common humanity. We look into the eyes of another and see ourselves. And so the United States of America will lead the world in this humanitarian endeavor. That has been our history, and that is how we will answer the challenge before us."

Bush and Clinton were equally optimistic about the United States' generosity. "Throughout both our careers in public service, we have witnessed firsthand the amazing generosity of the American people in the face of calamity," they wrote. "From the Oklahoma City bombings to 9/11, from the tsunami in South Asia to Hurricane Katrina, Americans have rallied to confront disaster -- natural or man-made, domestic or abroad -- with the determination, compassion and unity that have defined our nation since its founding."

The Jan. 15 issue of Newsweek also features a separate column by Clinton that reviews his administration's foreign policy in Haiti. "As president, I worked to end a violent military dictatorship and to restore Haiti's elected president. After leaving the White House, I continued to work in Haiti through my foundation, partnering with the government to increase treatment for and reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other diseases."