Obama Dream Team Has Something To Prove

CBS Evening News: New National-Security Team Share Strong Background, But Have Major Differences

(CBS)  "Soft" is not a word you would use to describe the people who stood behind President-elect Barack Obama Monday when he announced them as his national-security team, but "soft power" is, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

His choice for secretary of state summed up what that phrase means.

"Our security, our values and our interests cannot be protected and advanced by force alone," said Sen. Hillary Clinton.

In other words, the American military is an awesome hammer - but not every problem is a nail.

You might expect that from Clinton, the person slated to be America's top diplomat. But you also hear it from the current and future secretary of defense.

"We must focus our energies beyond the guns and steel of the military," said Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

But agreeing on soft power doesn't mean there won't be hard problems.

"There could be some tactical differences involving Clinton or Gates involving the fact that they have taken positions publically that are at odds with the presidents," said former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski

Brzezinski cites Obama's pledge as a candidate to negotiate directly with Iran's leaders, which candidate Clinton dismissed as naïve.

And there is, as always, Iraq. The president-elect wants all combat troops out in 16 months. Secretary Gates is opposed to deadlines.

"These are all fairly significant differences, but they're not the kind of differences that need to impede genuine accommodation once it is clear what the president wants, and once the national security advisor is prepared to act as the enforcer," Brzezinski said.

That would be retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones, who, while he was still wearing stars, was one of the first to blow the whistle on the backward slide in Afghanistan.

"We're not making progress; we're losing ground," he said.

They are strong people with strong views. Remember Defense Sec. Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell? A dream team on paper, but rivals in practice.

Now, a new dream team has to prove they really are a team.

[dburfears]

Every day, Obama shows us exactly how bad George Bush was. Every day we see that George Bush was a truly "Bush League" amateur. No more. Welcome to the majors and President Obama.


Thank God we finally have someone as President who is smart enough to know what is actually going on in the world and smart enough to hire incredibly smart and solid people to do the serious jobs. Thank God we have a President who can actually LEAD, and can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best and brightest in the country without being outclassed or out-thought.

[dburfears]

The difference between Obama leading a team of solid intelligent people and George Bush doing so:

George Bush proved he had no desire to really manage the Presidency or lead the country. He basically said to his Cabinet, "Go off and do your stuff. Whatever you think is OK with me. You guys are the experts." He lacked depth and curiosity. He lacked any ability to lead and manage.

Every reference by comparison to Rumsfeld and Powell fails to see the difference. A REAL leader would have grabbed those two and told them what to do and to get it done. Old Bushie just sat back and had a beer on his ranch as the COUNTRY BURNED. The fact that Bush took by far more vacations than any other President shows just how detached from leading or managing his team he really was.

[onarollagain]

dburfears...keep to the facts...he hasn''t lead any team yet...he has nominated them to be on his team...time will tell how well he is able to control the Clinton''s...remember the Clinton''s are still strategizing on how she can still get the top position. Keep your eyes wide open

[inverse137]

***? Can''''t we rid ourselves of the Clinton''''s once and for all?

Posted by altetz
------------------
Yeah, alterz, I know what you mean. What with that whole balanced budget and surplus cash mess her husband created when he was president...what were they thinking? It is so much better now with this economic collapse and $10Trillion debt.

We really need to get rid of the Clintons...they do nothing but accomplish things!

[ezmechanix]

you say things isn''t changing?look at your gas bill,
and ask bush what he changed latey

[jsilver2th]

Mr Gates looking like a happy camper the cat that ate the canary at the press conference- Don''t you think that it will be wonderful for him to have a President to interact with that can be intellectually engaged in what he is involved with. I can imagine half of his task to date has been to dumb it down to White House level.

I saw Karen Hughes on CNN and I think she''s been drinking the Kool-Aid even-

Obama is smarter than all of the rest of them and he''s smart enough to know that after he picks their collective brains a good job will be done by all and the personalities all seem that they are basically straight shooters. He''s got team Clinton right where he needs them by the way right under his thumb where he can make them do only good things and where they can use their skills in a meaningful way and now there is no titual anti-Obama head in the party.

These are a team of people that can usher in an era of peace and tranqility- not that it will be easy-

Go ahead and drink the Kool Aid - Can Karen Hughes and Secretary Gates be all wrong?

[emman3]

Mr Obama I think your doing a great job in picking your national security team, they are just what you need to help sort out America''s problems a lot of experience, aswell as yourself (smile)

[TheDiplomat78]

"I think there''s a number of things for people who didn''t vote for him to be relieved about," GOP consultant Cheri Jacobus told FOXNews.com, citing Obama''s decision to keep Gates on as defense secretary.

Jacobus said Obama so far has resembled Sen. John McCain or President Bush. She said Obama has been able to move as fast as he has because he doesn''t feel obligated to repay any of the special interest groups that helped him get eleted.

[liberalme]

The only thing that Obama and his team will prove is what idiots they are.



Posted by mr22587

Awwww no one can do that as well as you do. (mr 1 liner)

[liberalme]

you say things isn''''t changing?look at your gas bill,
and ask bush what he changed latey


Posted by ezmechanix

His GI Joe undies?

[pr_boxer]

It won''t take much to do better than Bush and his band of dumbas.ses!

Hard to say who''s dumber, Bush, Alfonso Gonzalez, Palin or Rumsfeld!

[xmissile]

Obama graduated from Harvard magna *** laude; McCain, five from the bottom of his. To the self-proclaimed pundits out there, look in the mirror and tell us with a straight face that you possess the intellectual capacity, credentials, and/or charisma to waltz into this presidency and do better.

I am not an Obama groupie, but I am willing to give the man a chance. He''s got a tough slog ahead. If McCain had won, he''d have my support, too.