As Obama weighs putting more troops in Afghanistan, he's turning out to be a more deliberate, inquisitive, and careful decision-maker than Bush was when it comes to deploying U.S. troops. A key graf from the Politico piece:

As a result, officials said, though the troop decision was once seen as an almost routine matter, Obama's discussions with Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has evolved into a broader discussion about goals and methods in Afghanistan, even before the conclusion of the review. The delay in deciding reflects at least in part Obama's determination not to be rushed by the Pentagon brass into a decision before he fully understands the implications, several officials said.

In other words, Obama is considering not just tactics -- how best to adapt to day-to-day circumstances -- but also strategy: the implications for U.S. foreign policy as a whole.

Obama's strength in this regard was evident during the campaign, as he repeatedly argued that Iraq was distracting us from pursuing al Qaeda in Afghanistan and was weakening our global reputation. John McCain, on the other hand, kept focusing on how he knew "how to win a war," as if our Iraq invasion happened in a vacuum.

Of course, it's not clear what Obama will actually do on foreign policy, but his decision-making style is promising -- certainly in comparison to the last guy.

This post first appeared at jesselava.com.