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Meet Obama's national security team

'In this uncertain world, the time has come for a new beginning -- a new dawn of American leadership to overcome the challenges of the 21st century, and to seize the opportunities embedded in those challenges,' Obama said in a statement after naming former Democrat rival Senator Hillary Clinton as the Secretary of State in his incoming administration and retaining Robert Gates as the Defence Secretary.

'To succeed, a new strategy should be pursued that skilfully uses, balances, and integrates all elements of American power -- military and diplomacy, intelligence and law enforcement, economy and the power of our moral example,' the country's first African-American President said.

'The team that we have assembled here today is uniquely suited to do just that. They share my pragmatism about the use of power, and my sense of purpose about America's role as a leader in the world,' Obama, who will be taking office as the 44th US President on January 20 next year, said.

Click here to take a look at who's made it to Obama's national security team...

Image: US President-elect Barack Obama flanked by Vice-President-elect Joseph Biden and Senator Hillary Clinton at a press conference in Chicago, Illinios, on December 1.
Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

Also see: Obamamania

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