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Obama To Keep Defense Secretary

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The Associated Press

Published: November 26, 2008

CHICAGO - Seeking experience in a time of war, President-elect Barack Obama will keep Defense Secretary Robert Gates in that job - if only temporarily - and he has chosen a retired Marine general to be his national security adviser, officials said Tuesday.

Gates and retired Gen. James Jones bring years of experience to the Cabinet.

Gates, who has served as President George W. Bush's defense chief for two years, will remain in the Cabinet for some time, probably a year, according to an official familiar with discussions between the two men.

A Democratic official said Jones was Obama's pick to head the National Security Council, the part of the White House structure that deals with foreign policy.

Along with the expected selection of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to head the State Department, Obama's latest moves solidify a national security team with star power.

The intelligence side of Obama's team made shakier headway Tuesday as John Brennan, who had been considered Obama's pick for CIA director, withdrew his name from consideration.

Brennan cited a groundswell of criticism about his association with the Bush administration's sanctioning of harsh interrogations of terror suspects. Former Adm. Dennis Blair has emerged as a likely candidate for director of national intelligence.

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