And he looks forward to discussing with General Petraeus, with Secretary Gates, with his entire national security team his thinking about the variety of options that he will consider in terms of the pace and slope of the drawdown.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

This break with past thinking might have been enough to prompt some past national security advisers to proclaim (in charismatic Central European tones) a whole new conception of foreign policy.

ECONOMIST: Sandy Berger relives Vietnam

If you are elected president, what will you take to that office thinking is the single-most serious threat to the national security of the United States?

NPR: Transcript of Presidential Debate