[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sKkwjBU0O8[/embedyt]

(Eagle News) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken got to work Wednesday with a warning that the world’s eyes were on the United States to see if it can heal deep divisions.

Blinken, a veteran diplomat and confidant of President Joe Biden, promised to rebuild morale and respect in a welcome ceremony at the State Department front entrance that was extraordinary for what was lacking — crowds.

With Covid-19 raging, Blinken asked that only a bare minimum of employees, all masked, come to see him — and noted that just days earlier, barricades had been protecting the usually staid building near the National Mall in the wake of a failed insurrection at the Capitol.

“The world is watching us intently right now,” Blinken said. “They want to know if we can heal our nation.”

He said, “They want to see whether we will lead with the power of our example if we’ll put a premium on diplomacy with our allies and partners to meet the great challenges of our time.”

(Eagle News Service)