"The aim will be to try to solve problems before they reach the stage when military action is considered.
The military and diplomatic punch will still be ready but it will be in a softer glove.
President-elect Obama is preparing for a difficult balancing act.
He has chosen people prepared to use American power but who are not intent, as the neo-conservatives were under President Bush, on trying to change the world.
We will not hear talk from this team about a "new American century" as we did under Mr Bush. But nor should anyone expect Washington to be a pushover now."