Having everyone in "alignment" on an issue is critical in my opinion if you are going to achieve organizational success. There should be opportunity for debating courses of action, but once the decider in chief makes a decision, everyone needs to get on board. If dissenting views still exist and become public, I think it is a significant drag on the ability to achieve results.
Certainly the confirmation hearings for a number of senior positions have had the soon-to-be-appointed secretaries expressing opinions that were the opposite of what now President Trump said on the campaign trail. Will that continue? Will there be clarity on what President Trump's opinions and decisions on a range of topics are? I don't know.
There might be a period of rosier relationships with Russia, however, I see China as simmering pot of hot liquid that could boil over at any minute. They are not going to stand for being a whipping boy and at some point they will send a strong and demonstrable message to make their point. It will not be just words, but actions of one sort or another. Then it will be game on and a test of the new administration.
Remember, we are also personal pawns on the international chess board. And, you know what happens sometimes to pawns.
