President-elect Barack Obama has announced his national security team, including former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State. On the impressive line-up of this team, U.S. public in general has affirmed his nominations but also addressed some inquires in this regard.

    What deserves affirmation here is that the team has concentrated the cream of "best statesmen and good generals" from the U.S. political and military circles, who have much in common: First, these people are seasoned and long tested with a political career for decades; second, they are professionally competent and, third, they are capable, pragmatic and with mediocre abilities. However, some may still query about how difficult it would be to coordinate and guide these figures since they are too smart, efficient and with definite views.

    Obama, nevertheless, maintains that he most needs at hand those ace statesmen with strong characters and opposing views rather than blind followers to work with, and this could be conducive to policy debates. As the president, he noted, he will "retain the final say" on major policy decisions, whereas his team is to "execute his policies". Despite differences, he added, their views on key issues concerning the U.S. foreign policy goal are identical, for "great minds are thinking alike", as a popular Chinese saying goes.

    What are foreign policy objectives of the incoming Obama government? The main optional objectives, among others, are to safeguard the national security, and restore the global image of the United States, and resume its leading position in the world. To be specific, they are to improve ties with its allies, to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq at an early date, continue to battle against terrorism, guard against and prevent the nuclear proliferation, deal with "defeatist countries" and cope with climate change, etc.

    To compare with the foreign policies of his predecessor President George W. Bush, note some analysts, Obama's foreign policy goal is to de-color ideological hues and resort to substantial diplomacy with an aim to resolve problems. He should not link up terrorism with religions but break away with such phrases as the "Islamic fascism", and he should advocate neither for the"democracy promotion with the use of force" nor for "regime change"in other countries.

    According to some political analysts, Obama's foreign policy objectives are also aimed to fade unilateralism, pursue multilateralism and cooperation with the United Nations and other related international organizations; to lessen or weaken the use of military threats and attach greater importance to the settlement of issues by diplomatic means. As an obvious symbol, he plans to elevate the post of US ambassador to the U.N. to the cabinet rank. In spite of his pledge to ensure that the U.S. will have the world's strongest might, he has not committed himself to renouncing the use of force on the nuclear issues of Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), but instead repeatedly expressed his readiness to meet and talk with leaders of such antagonistic or hostile nations as Iran, DPRK and Cuba.

    In view of his latest remarks, Obama has underlined the use of "soft power" to replace Bush's emphasis on military strength, and he would exert the significant U.S. influences through an endeavor to integrate both soft power and hard power.

    Obama said he would devote new energy to diplomacy and other non-military aspects of U.S. global power. To restore the international image of the U.S. and safeguard its role in the world, he acknowledged, "we must pursue a new strategy that skillfully uses, balances, and integrates all elements of American power: Our military and diplomacy, our intelligence and law enforcement; our economy and the power of our moral example."

    The nomination of Hillary Clinton seems to have imbued his foreign policy with "hawkish" tints, and this could be something he has definitely hoped for. Indeed, he intentionally takes advantage of it to alter people's impression that Democratic administrations are not tough enough with their national security and foreign policies. But the fact that Robert Gates is retained as the secretary of defense and retired Marine General Jim Jones nominated has been nominated as his National Security Advisor may best indicate Obama's foreign policy intentions.

    Consequently, the integration of "pragmatism" and the "mid road" approach can possibly represent the most outstanding, salient features of President-elect Obama's foreign policy.