US President Barack Obama has signed a bill on Friday that authorized nearly $725 billion in defense spending, but he spoke out against certain restrictions within the legislation.The law, known as the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, increases defense spending by 7% from the previous fiscal year,and includes $158.7 billion for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.Obama objected to Sections 1032 and 1033 which relate to money tied to transferring detainees in United States custody. Section 1032 bans the use of defense funds from being spent on transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to the United States. The next section bars the use of certain funds to move detainees to other countries unless precise conditions are met.Obama said that the limitations, which were put into the bill by House Democrats, Interfere with the authority of the executive branch to make important and consequential foreign policy and national security determinations regarding whether and under what circumstances such transfers should occur in the context of an ongoing armed conflict.Despite Obama saying during his candidacy for President that he would not make remarks on legislation, known as signing statements, he continued saying he would sign the bill because, of the importance of authorizing appropriations for among other things, our military activities in 2011.
