U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, praised president-elect Barack Obama’s decision today to retain Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense.

Though a statement his office sent over today offered nothing about Obama’s other major pick, that of Sen. Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

Said Bond:

President-elect Obama’s choice in keeping on Secretary of Defense Gates is a good one and sends a message to the world that a change in President does not mean a change to our policy of fighting terrorists.

As Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee I understand the importance of playing offense in the War on Terror and I am hopeful that President-elect Obama’s National Security Team will continue to fight to give our military, law enforcement and intelligence community the tools needed to keep our families safe.