No Big Changes To U.S. Diplomacy Or Defense Strategy Expected From President Obama's 2nd-Term National Security Team

"A view from behind the President's chair during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Analysts: New Policies Not Likely From Obama’s 2nd-Term National Security Team -- McClatchy News

WASHINGTON — The three men President Barack Obama has nominated to foreign and national security policy posts in his second term share a demonstrated independent streak – each has challenged his own institution or party in wartime – but analysts say that doesn’t necessarily portend any big changes to U.S. diplomacy or defense strategy.

Indeed, while Obama portrayed his nominees – Sen. John Kerry to head the State Department, former Sen. Chuck Hagel to lead the Department of Defense, and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to direct the Central Intelligence Agency – as patriotic trailblazers, some analysts doubt whether the trio will bring any real shakeups to U.S. policy.

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My Comment: I concur with this assessment .... nothing new will be coming out from this team. Secretary of Defense Hagels' priorities will be to get US troops out of Afghanistan as fast as possible, to focus on Asia, and to slash the U.S. defense budget to pre-9/11 levels. CIA Director John Brennan's priorities will be to continue America's war against Islamic radicals via through drones and CIA hit teams, and to be on guard to new threats. Secretary of State Kerry's responsibilities will be to avoid war with Iran, keep the Syrian civil war boxed in, and to focus on Asia.

Update: The Obama Nominations -- Victor Davis Hanson, NRO

The Pentagon Needs New Concepts For 2013

New Capabilities, New Constraints Call For New Concepts In 2013 -- Aol Defense

Whatever happens with sequestration, Pentagon planners are now struggling to fit the services' myriad programs under a reduced budget topline. Advocates point to their particular project or personnel as vital to US warfighting capacity. Technologists point to new capabilities that will allow us to do more with equal or even fewer resources. Traditionalists encourage maintaining or even increasing manpower to achieve security objectives the old fashioned way, boots on the ground, airmen in the air, sailors at sea.

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My Comment: The strategy is being determined by the budget .... not the budget being determined by the strategy. This shift represents a seismic change in U.S. foreign/military/national defense thinking, and one that should make all of us very concerned .... especially since there has been zero debate on the pros and cons in following such a direction.

President Obama's Nuclear Security Strategy -- A News Roundup

Ben Rhodes, right, in the Oval Office with Director of Speechwriting Jon Favreau and President Obama (White House photo)

National Security Strategy: Derailed By Debt? -- Christian Science Monitor

Hillary Clinton laid out the Obama administration's National Security Strategy Thursday. But she acknowledged that unless deficits can be reined in, the vision won’t be realized.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton laid out a new National Security Strategy Thursday based on what she described as increasing integration of the “critical” three D’s – defense, diplomacy, and development. But she acknowledged that unless a fourth D – deficits, or debt – can be reined in, the Obama administration’s vision of a “smarter” definition and deployment of American power won’t be realized.

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More News On President Obama's Nuclear Security Strategy

Obama doctrine hinges on economy -- Financial Times
Obama Security Strategy Defined by a "Prosperous Economy" -- CBS
New U.S. Strategy Focuses on Managing Threats -- New York Times
Obama redefines national security strategy, looks beyond military might -- Washington Post
Obama outlines security strategy in new report -- L.A. Times
Obama's new security strategy stresses diplomacy -- BBC
Obama redefines national security strategy, looks beyond military might -- Washington Post
Obama plan focused on homefront -- Politico
Obama security doctrine stresses diplomacy, economy -- Reuters
Obama National Security Strategy Breaks With Past, Takes On New Threats -- Radio Free Europe
Obama's New National Security Strategy Abandons Bush's Unilateralism -- FOX News
Barack Obama highlights threat posed by homegrown terrorism -- Times Online
America’s Global Outlook, at an ‘Inflection Point’: A Q&A With the Author of the National Security Strategy -- Washington Independent
Obama's National Security Strategy: Not So Different From Bush's -- Newsweek
Obama shakes pillars of US security -- Jim Lobe, Asia Times

Inside President Obama's First National Security Strategy (Full Report) -- NPR