Obama to pick a pragmatist . . "If secret diplomacy is required to achieve your objectives, he would certainly accept that"

Ignatius in the WaPo, here

"....For national security adviser, Obama is likely to pick a pragmatist. "He wants to find out what works -- what advances U.S. national interests. . . . If secret diplomacy is required to achieve your objectives, he would certainly accept that," says Gregory B. Craig, a Washington lawyer who's on the shortlist for a top position.

During the transition, Obama won't meddle in the Bush administration's decisions -- and he won't allow other governments to end-run Bush. "He's not going to do anything that gives the idea they don't have to negotiate with this administration," says the adviser. This insistence on "one president at a time" is especially important in the deadlocked negotiations with Iraq over a new status-of-forces agreement..."