Obama signs defense spending bill despite reservations

President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act which includes provisions that allow the detention of U.S. citizens suspected of terrorism or planning act of terror, puts restrictions on interactions with Iran’s central bank and authorizes military spending.

Obama’s reservations were mainly reported to be around the military detention provision and a section that forces the president to consult Congress before releasing information to Russia on missile defense plans.

In the last few weeks Obama had also expressed concerns over the banking sanctions against Iran. Although no other sanctions or diplomacy have proven effective against the militant nation, the president is unsure whether these actions will have any effect on Iran’s desire to possess nuclear weapons.

Obama signed the bill while vacationing in Hawaii and issued a signing statement saying, “The fact that I support this bill as a whole does not mean I agree with everything in it.”