It's starting to feel like the Apocalypse.

Day after day we hear about disaster after disaster. An earthquake hit parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan on Saturday, which might have killed 20,000 people and injured even more.

It's yet another tragedy with a rough clean-up plan, one that the United States should have a big hand in.

How much more can the world take? The United States' resources certainly can't take too much more. Money problems abound in the country, and don't forget troops are stretched already to the brink.

The United States has its share of problems these days, no question. Counting a war, a natural disaster, domestic issues, terrorism and the daily expenditures, it all adds up to one fact: The United States is barely able to help itself, let alone another country.

But the country has an obligation which forgoes that. The earthquake-ravaged region is certainly not in any shape to help itself. The people affected by this need all the aid they can get. In fact, they deserve it.

The United States is known for helping out in times of crisis, and this should be no different. We have a moral obligation to help our fellow humans and live up to it in the aftermath of the tsunami in Southeast Asia.

If we stretch another financial inch to help them out, so be it.

Beyond our humanitarian obligations, Pakistan is our ally in the war on terrorism, one that we cannot afford to lose. Other countries in the afflicted areas are likely waiting on our response, if only to see the United States screw up.

This country needs to prove its critics wrong. Not for the sake of simply proving them wrong, but to show Americans care. This country's integrity is something called into question in recent years when it changed from the helpful superpower to one that seems to thrive on war and violence in the world.

Perhaps the U.S. shouldn't be preoccupied with the dozens of activities and programs it wastes its money on. Perhaps then it wouldn't have been as worried about the financial backlash when Hurricane Katrina hit, or when a less-fortunate part of the world looks to the U.S. for help in their time of need.

It used to be a non-issue. When the world had a problem, the U.S. was always there with aid and military assistance. It's a shame that's harder to do now. That doesn't change the status from that of a superpower, however.

When the world needs help, the U.S. should be there with aid.

It's part of our burden as a superpower. A few months ago, when we needed help in New Orleans, the world came to us. It's time to repay the favor.

Those who helped us in our time of need deserve it.