James Jones

James Steinberg is slated to become the next Deputy Secretary of State. Andrea Mitchell said Steinberg will serve in the position on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."  Steinberg had been mentioned as a possible candidate for National Security Advisor, however it looks increasingly likely that retired Gen. James Jones will be tapped for NSA instead.

The State Department, like the White House, will have ample leadership from President Bill Clinton's administration if Steinberg does get the Foggy Bottom post.  He served as Clinton's deputy National Security Advisor.  This time, however, Steinberg may be reporting to a different Clinton.

There is a tug of war going on inside President-elect Obama's transition team over who will become the next National Security Advisor. Obama apparently has his own preferred candidate, and his advisors have theirs.

Gen. James Jones, a retired Marine, is the "leading candidate" to serve in the national security post, ABC News reports. Jones led NATO and U.S. forces in Europe. James Steinberg, who served as deputy National Security Advisor under President Clinton, has also been considered. Steinberg is the dean of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas Austin. He previously served as a vice-president of the Brookings Institution where he was director of Foreign Policy Studies. He has a "great deal of support in the foreign policy community," the network says.