Obama Unveils Security Team Starring Clinton, Gates

Barack Obama officially announced his national-security team today, a group including primary rival Hillary Clinton as secretary of state and Bush holdover Robert Gates as defense secretary, the AP reports. “One of the dangers in a White House, is that you get wrapped up in group-think,” Obama said, explaining his potentially clashing picks. “So I am going to be welcoming a vigorous debate.”

Rounding out the team are Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, expected to bring immigration expertise as homeland security secretary; ex-diplomat and general Jim Jones as national security adviser; Eric Holder as Attorney General; and Susan Rice as UN ambassador, which Obama is elevating to a cabinet-level position. “This team is what we need to make a new beginning for American national security,” Obama said. (More President Obama stories.)