As expected, Sen. Hilary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) will serve as the new U.S. Secretary of State under president-elect Barack Obama, her formal rival for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

Monday's announcement came after weeks of speculation surrounding the possibility of Obama's transition team offering the former first lady the top foreign affairs post in his new administration.

All the while, pundits and politicians debated her fitness for the job and the conflict of interest the philanthropic endeavors of her husband, former president Bill Clinton, might pose.

But Obama set things straight this week, sending a clear message to America and the rest of the world: Clinton is ready for the job.

Many are now commending the president-elect for letting bygones be bygones and extending to Clinton, who many expected would beat Obama out in the Democratic primaries, an offer to serve beside him in the White House.

There's also been a lot of talk about Obama forming a "team of rivals," a move that many hope will strengthen his administration and might help him avoid scuffles with former foes around reelection time. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, the saying goes. While this all may be true, we think that Clinton is simply one of the best candidates for the job. And we hope that is why Obama chose her.

Americans made it clear by electing Obama that they are ready to transform our country's image abroad. Clinton, who traveled extensively as first lady, already has a running start with eight years of ambassadorial experience under her belt.

Yes, from a political strategy standpoint, it now seems unlikely that Clinton will run for president in 2012. But this "rivalry" that Obama and Clinton are said to have had was likely a resume booster for the New York senator when the transition team started poring over applications.

Obama campaigned on a promise to unite America across ideological lines. What better way to work toward that goal than selecting a secretary of state who disagrees with him on several foreign policy issues?

The invasion of Iraq has proven that when a leader consults with a bunch of yes-men, pressing issues do not get thought out thoroughly enough before a decision is made. It's wise for Obama to surround himself with competent foreign policy advisers who are willing to challenge him.

During the primaries, Clinton said she would to "clean up" the foreign policy mess President George W. Bush left behind if she were elected president, just as her husband cleaned up after Bush's father.

Now is her chance. We hope she lives up to her word.