The World depend on America - Sec. of State Kerry

John Kerry took the oath of office for Secretary of State on Thursday, February 7. Vice President Joe Biden administered Kerry’s official swearing-in ceremony at the State Department.

The former presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator is taking the reins from Hillary Clinton as America’s top diplomat. Kerry received nearly unanimous support from his Senate colleagues and the Foreign Relations Committee, which he chaired for the last four years.

Addressing the State Department employees and attendees such as Senators, House members, current and former, former secretaries of state and other dignitaries, the new Secretary of State John Kerry said "It’s well known that my experience in war shaped my understanding of the human costs of failed diplomacy and the cost of conflict itself".

Following are some of the remarks he made: "I am proud to take on this job because I want to work for peace – (applause) – and because the values and the ideals of our nation are really what represents the best of the possibilities of life here on earth. But I make clear today to those listening, while my preference is for a peaceful resolution to conflict, my journey has also taught me that when remedies are exhausted, we must be prepared to defend our cause and do what is necessary to stand up to extremism, terrorism, chaos and evil, and we will continue to do so.

"Today, we tread on very new terrain – the Vice President referred to it in his comments. We’re in a world of unparalleled technology, unprecedented growth in the number of young people, of unleashed sectarian strife and religious extremism. And I believe, and I know the President and Vice President share this deeply, unless we stay vigilant, these forces threaten to unravel whole nation-states and create greater pockets of instability than we have seen in recent times. This is our challenge. I believe the United States has to join with other nations to pool our resources, our talents, our thinking, and to create order where there is none, and to fix, or try to fix, what is broken. All of us need to do better at inviting people to embrace the values that have always inspired us.

"Now, some would rather say that America ought to turn inward because of budget choices that we have to say no to the world. Well, I think we recognize our responsibility and our role. We know that America is exceptional not because we say we are, not because it’s a birthright that will happen automatically, but because America does exceptional things and we must continue to do those things. The world depends on us".

- Asian Tribune -