Hillary takes over at State, Gates continues at Defence

02 December 2008

US president-elect Barack Obama on Monday officially introduced the members of his national security team, which includes recent primary rival Hillary Clinton as secretary of state and Bush cabinet member Robert Gates, who continues as defense secretary. The troika is completed by retired Marine Gen James L Jones, a former commander of NATO and US forces in Europe, who moves to the White House as national security adviser.

In his remarks, vice-president-elect Joe Biden referred to the selection as the most "talented" national security team ever assembled.

Obama said his team "must pursue a new strategy that skillfully uses, balances, and integrates all elements of American power: our military and diplomacy, our intelligence and law enforcement, our economy and the power of our moral example."

"The team that we have assembled here today is uniquely suited to do just that," he added.

"They share my pragmatism about the use of power, and my sense of purpose about America's role as a leader in the world," he said.

Also introduced were Eric Holder and Janet Napolitano as attorney general and homeland security chief respectively. Holder becomes the first African-American to hold the post.