December 1, 2008 Obama announces his national security team Play video

(Alison King, NECN) - President-elect Barack Obama introduced his national security team today. It’s a mix of familiar names and newcomers - facing the first wartime transfer of power since Vietnam. The team includes a former rival, and a holdover from the Bush administration.

Obama: I assembled this team because I am a strong believer in strong personalities and strong opinions. I think that's how the best decisions are made.

A strong personality is exactly what Barack Obama gets in his choice of senator Hillary Clinton, his one time primary opponent, to serve as his Secretary of State.

Clinton: 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.

Clinton is considered a controversial choice by some -- smart by others who say the former first lady brings immediate political heft to the crucial cabinet position.

OWEN COTE: People from outside this country will look at her when she comes to talk to them and they will know that they are dealing with someone who has to be listened to. Hillary Clinton is not going away. 31:16

MIT national security expert Owen Cote calls Obama’s decision to keep current secretary of defense Robert Gates in place a no brainer -- despite the concerns of some democrats that he is a republican from the bush administration.

Obama: I didn't go around checking political registrations...

Cote: These appointments mean that Obama wants a certain kind of decision process and it also means that he's confident about having these kind of strong people around him.

Obama: One of the dangers in a White House, based on my reading of history, is that you get wrapped up in group-think and everybody agrees with everything and there's no discussion and there are no dissenting views. So I am going to be welcoming vigorous debate inside the White House.

Obama has been getting fairly high marks for his cabinet choices, but not everyone is thrilled with this national security team -- particularly the anti war crowd who say they helped to get Obama elected.

JOE GERSON/AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE: He's changed his line on Iraq. On Iraq he had called for the withdrawal of all forces. Then it changed to a withdrawal of all combat forces

Joe Gerson is with the American Friends Service Committee. He says Obama will be a huge improvement over President Bush -- but he's concerned that Obama is choosing too many people from the center-right of their parties.

Gerson: This is a man who campaigned on the slogan of change. And I think we're going to need to be asking: Where is the change?

Obama campaigned on a call to pull out most combat troops within 16 months of taking office. He says he still believes that is the right time frame, and that he intends to listen closely to secretary Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on how to proceed.