Missouri’s top Congressman on military affairs thinks President-elect Obama has picked a strong team with his choices for defense and homeland security positions. Congressman Ike Skelton says the decision to keep President Bush’s Secretary of Defense around is a sound decision. He calls Robert Gates a "straight shooter" who understands the serious situations in which this country is involved throughout the world.

He thinks Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton is impressive, a person who will hit the ground running. "She’s good…warm, thoughtful, an excellent choice," he says.

And retired Marine General James Jones as the White House National Security adviser is fine with Skelton. Jones, who will advise the President within the White House has been advising the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee for some time. Skelton calls Jones "a good friend of several years" and says he has shown excellent judgment.

Skelton says he doesn’t know Susan Rice, the person Obama has appointed as ambassador to the United Nations or Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, who is to be the new Secretary of Homeland Security. But he says those he does know are impressive.

 

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