A SEAMLESS TEAM FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
“We want to make sure that there is as seamless a transition on national security as possible”. Obama on 60 Minutes 11/30. The reappointment of Robert Gates at Defense, perhaps only for the first year, along with Hilary Clinton at State, General James Jones as National Security Advisor has been called a “war cabinet” by some. Dreyfus – Democracy Now 12/1. Will Obama seamlessly continue the Bush Doctrine? He has called during the campaign for 20 to 30,000 more boots on the ground in Afghanistan, for an expansion of the Army and Marine Corps by 90,000, and suggested we could strike at Al Qaeda targets inside Pakistan at will.

Given the power of the military industrial complex, perhaps the Gates appointment is as far as Obama dares go in confronting the powers that be at the very start of his term. Obama may find he is pressured to slow down any change militarily. Nevertheless, by sending another 20,000 troops to Afghanistan he could inherit Bush's failed war and make it his own failure. General Jones has recently stated: “Make no mistake, NATO is not winning in Afghanistan”.

Despite their reputation as veteran cold warriors, Jones and Gates have shown some independence from Bush policies: A year ago, to studied silence from the Bush White House, Robert Gates began a series of speeches about the limits of military power in wars in which no military victory is possible. In a similar vein, General Jones has emphasized reconstruction projects and infrastructure projects in Afghanistan rather than merely a military strategy. NY Times12/1/08.

EXPERIENCING HILLARY CLINTON
During the campaign, Obama asked about Clinton's qualifications: “What exactly is this foreign experience? I know she talks about visiting 80 countries. It is not clear was she negotiating treaties or agreements, or was she handling crises during this period of time? My sense is the answer is no”. Obama speaking to reporters 3/5/08. The nomination of Clinton to the chief foreign policy position in the Obama cabinet contradicts this. In response to a reporter's question, Obama replied: “This is fun for the press to stir up whatever quotes were generated during the course of the campaign”. 12/1/08 NY Times. Does he think campaign quotes are not significant? People voted for him based upon what he said.

RECYCLE FOR CHANGE
Responding to criticism that “there's a recycling of people from the Clinton Administration”, Obama responded as he introduced his Economic Team that “they combine experience with fresh thinking”. Obama news conference 11/26 – Chicago. Nevertheless, “the vision for change comes first and foremost: it comes from me”.

In his introduction of 80-year old Paul Volker as a member of his Economic Recovery Advisory Board, he stated that: “Paul had served both Republicans and Democrats and is held in high esteem for his sound and independent judgment”.Paul Volker hasn't been in Washington for some time, and that's part of the reason he can provide a fresh perspective.” NY Times 11/27/08.