Meanwhile, his national security aides kept one eye on a drama playing out half a world away, in Indonesia.

"Yes, they are secure," he said, sounding more definitive than many of his national security aides.

"We've allocated money toward that same end," the President's security aide observed.

He would advise the President-elect on appointments of national security aides.

The announcement today had been previewed for weeks in comments by the President's national security aides.

At one point, a security aide had to shut a window in the stifling room to keep out the roar.

His national security aides say there is no other way.

The President and his national security aides seemed thunderstruck at first by the idea of using military power.

Officials confirmed that a former minister and a top security aide were also in detention.

This is a matter for my security aide, the warrant officer here.