Whenever anyone in the world is suffering from a massive natural disaster, Americans are among the first to send aid. That is as it should be.

But people with stronger links than most to us are in agony now, because of what may have been the strongest typhoon on record.

For more than a century, Filipinos and Americans have had bonds of friendship. During World War II, many Filipinos who could have bowed to the Japanese died because they stuck by Americans. Even now, Filipinos are among our staunchest allies in the war against Islamic terrorists.

Typhoon Haiyan ravaged large areas of the Philippines, leaving thousands dead and hundreds of thousands in desperate need. Aid from throughout the world, including the United States, is being rushed to the country. An American aircraft carrier is expected to arrive there Thursday.

Reports from the hardest-hit areas seem to indicate transportation to get relief supplies in and refugees out is among the most pressing needs. No country on earth has the ability ours possesses to move goods and people by air.

President Barack Obama should order every agency of government, with special emphasis on the Pentagon, to pull out all the stops to help the Filipinos.