When U.S. President Donald Trump ordered cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base shortly after this month's chemical weapons attack, some Obama administration veterans were openly impressed. "Never would have gotten this done in 48 hours," one of them told Politico.

The strikes were the starkest demonstration so far of one of the paradoxes of the Trump White House, particularly on foreign policy. The administration has often projected a chaotic image and put out wildly mixed messages on topics such as U.S. support for NATO. Some of the president's preoccupations — such as the U.S.-Mexico wall — and his sometimes confused speaking style continue to unsettle enemies and allies alike.

But at the same time, particularly on national security, the administration appears to be building a system that has proved much more effective than many expected.