What he found was a nation still clearing rubble, still reeling from post-traumatic stress, still grieving its dead. Disease, hunger and crime are rampant. More than a million displaced people are living in tents. Some small-scale reconstruction has begun but the larger job of rebuilding roads, bridges, sewers, power grids, schools, government buildings, etc. is often stalled in bureaucracy.

Above all else, however, Haiti is starving for leadership. International goodwill can be the fuel for reconstruction but the engine that will drive rebirth must be Haitian. Strong, trustworthy, respected leadership is essential to give a vision for a new Haiti and to energize the Haitian people. And robust Haitian leadership is needed to soften growing tensions with the international community.

Haiti’s leaders have criticized international agencies for often bypassing them in planning the reconstruction of their country, and they lament that so far less than $1 billion of the pledged $5.7 billion in aid has been received. The international response has been an urgent plea that Haiti get its political house in order. U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton expressed the impatience of many when she said the Haitian government has failed to launch the “coordinated, coherent response” the world requires before the aid taps will fully open.

Haitians are scheduled to elect a new president on Jan. 16, but the first round of elections in November brought violence and charges of fraud. With those results in question, Haiti is shuffling along what outgoing president René Preval has called a “dangerous road.” There is concern that, rather than resolving the impasse, next week’s vote could spark a political crisis that would further retard reconstruction.

One year after the earthquake, Haiti is still suffering. Its needs are many but, foremost, Haiti needs to elect a strong leader to steer reconstruction and to give its beleaguered people hope.