President-elect Barack Obama takes
questions from reporters during a news conference in Chicago, Monday, Dec.
1, 2008, with, from left to right: Attorney General-designate Eric Holder;
Homeland Security Secretary-designate Janet Napolitano; Defense Secretary
Robert Gates; Vice President-elect Joe Biden; Secretary of State-designate
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.; National Security Adviser-designate
Ret. Marine Gen. James Jones; and United Nations Ambassador-designate
Susan Rice. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect
Barack Obama announced on Monday his national security team, including former
first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state and incumbent Defense
Secretary Robert Gates, who would retain his post.
"America must be strong at home and abroad," Obama
told a news conference in his transition office headquarters in Chicago,
Illinois, drawing a full stop to a month-long speculations on his cabinet
members.
"To succeed, we must pursue a new strategy that
power: our military and diplomacy, our intelligence and law enforcement, our
economy and the power of our moral example," said the president-elect with all
national security team members announced standing beside him.
"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.
U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton speaks to
the media after being announced by President-elect Barack Obama as his
choice for Secretary of State along with General Jim Jones as his choice
for National Security Advisor during a news conference in Chicago,
December 1, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Obama referred his former presidential rival Clinton
as "a friend, a colleague, a source of counsel and as a campaign opponent" who
possesses "an extraordinary intelligence and toughness."
Clinton's appointment to the top diplomatic official,
as Obama said, is "a sign to friend and foe of the seriousness of my commitment
to renew American diplomacy and restore our alliance."
Echoing Obama's remarks, Clinton told the press
conference that she would make the United States a new force for positive change
and work with the global community to solve crises around the world.
"The American people have demanded not just a new
direction at home, but a new effort to renew America's standing in the world as
a force for positive change," she said after being nominated.
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama (L)
announces that U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) will be his choice for
U.S. Secretary of State during a news conference in Chicago December 1,
2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
Gates, the political independent who was nominated by
the Republican government led by President George W. Bush as the defense chief,
became the only current cabinet member who would retain his post.
"He earned the respect of members of Congress on both
sides of the aisle for his pragmatism and competence," Obama said of his choice
for the Pentagon chief. "He knows that we need a sustainable national security
strategy -- and that includes a bipartisan consensus at home."
In a brief presentation, Gates vowed to do his duties
as the country is engaging in two wars and said he is honored to "continue to
serve our country" and "will be honored to serve President-elect Obama."
Obama also named retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones as his
White House national security advisor and Susan Rice as the next U.S. Ambassador
to the United Nations.
Jones, the only Republican who has been officially
recruited to the next cabinet, was described by Obama as the one "uniquely
suited to be a strong and skilled national security advisor" due to his
understanding of "the connection between energy and national security" and
experience in working on the frontlines of global instability.
Obama settled his long-term closest advisor Rice in
the UN for her knowledge that the global challenges the U.S. face demand global
institutions.
The former assistant secretary of state for African
affairs noted that the United States "must invest in our common humanity" to
accomplish America's security with help of "capable partners and effective
international institutions."
The team, also including Arizona governor Janet
Napolitano as the homeland security secretary and Eric Holder as the next
attorney general.
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama (R)
stands with his national security team nominees Eric Holder (Attorney
General), Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (Head of Homeland Security),
Robert Gates (continuing as Secretary of Defense), Vice President-elect
Joe Biden, Senator Hillary Clinton (Secretary of State), retired Marine
General James Jones (National Security Advisor) and Susan Rice (U.S.
Ambassador to the United Nations) (L-R) during a news conference in
Chicago December 1, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Holder, as the first African-American head of Justice
Department, promised to revitalize the department that has been haunted by
scandals during Bush's administration, and make sure "American people remain
secure and that the great constitutional guarantees that define us as a nation
are truly valued."
To lead the second biggest department comprising
170,000 staff from 22 federal agencies, Napolitano focused her future job on
"protecting our homeland with constant vigilance and relentless work to prevent
terrorist attacks" and planning "carefully and thorough" on the country's
domestic response to all hazards.
It was the second batch of key cabinet members Obama
has released since his successful presidential election after he presented the
economic team last week.
The new administration will take office on Jan. 20 as
Obama is sworn in to the White House as the 44th U.S. president.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S.
President-elect Barack Obama reiterated on Monday his plan to withdraw U.S.
combat forces from Iraq in the first 16 month after he takes office.
Obama told a press conference in his transition office
headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, that he still believes 16 months is the
"right time frame" to redeploy U.S. combat troops from Iraq. Full story
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack
Obama pledged on Monday to make every effort to eliminate the threat of
terrorism after he is sworn in as president in January next year.
"We cannot tolerate a world where innocents are being
killed by extremists," Obama said at a news conference in Chicago. Full story
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. President Bill
Clinton was rejoiced at his wife's nomination as the next state secretary,
saying she is "the right person for the job" on Monday.
"She has already earned the respect of foreign
leaders and diplomats through her work to promote human rights and the
empowerment of women through access to education, health care and economic
opportunity," Clinton said in a Monday statement released shortly after Obama
announced his choice of Hillary Rodham Clinton as the top diplomat at a news
conference in Chicago. Full story
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama
will have nearly named his entire cabinet by Christmas, a top Obama aide said
Friday.
John Podesta, a co-chair of the
Obama transition team, told Bloomberg News that "virtually the whole cabinet"
would be in place by the end of the year.
Earlier this week, Obama announced his nomination of New York Fed chairman
Timothy Geithner to be treasury secretary. Full story
