Obama's National Security Policy Positions—PICTURES

GENERAL PHILOSOPHY: Obama believes that the United States erred by entering what he calls a costly war of choice in Iraq and by fighting largely without allies to share the human and financial costs. His planned budget cuts reflect a desire to shift more money to domestic priorities but also a broader push to put allies in charge of military missions whenever possible and to take part in ad hoc coalitions such as the one in Libya. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

DETAINEES AND COUNTERTERRORISM: The White House abandoned a campaign pledge to close Guantánamo Bay and instead approved new military trials there. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

AFGHANISTAN: Obama expanded the war in Afghanistan, but he now speaks of almost nothing except his plan to wind it down. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

PENTAGON SPENDING: The administration wants to cut $487 billion over the next 10 years from the Defense Department’s budget, which has more than doubled since 2001. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)