Obama sign defense bill freezing $150 million aid to Pakistan

Obama sign defense bill freezing $150 million aid to Pakistan

The United States President, Barack Hussain Obama on Saturday signed a huge US defense bill which
freezes 60 per cent of the $850 million aid until the US defense secretary provides lawmakers with assurances that Pakistan is working to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs)

The sweeping bill signed by Obama – despite having "serious reservations" over sections that expand US military’s authority over terrorism suspects and limit his powers in foreign affairs – also includes new sanctions on financial institutions dealing with
Iran’s central bank.

"I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation, and prosecution of suspected terrorists," said Obama in a statement from Hawaii.

He argued that recent US successes against Al-Qaeda had been possible because counterterrorism authorities had benefited from flexibility on dealing with suspects, which the bill called into question.

"Against that record of success, some in Congress continue to insist upon restricting the options available to our counterterrorism professionals and interfering with the very operations that have kept us safe," the US President wrote.

Obama was particularly troubled by a section of the bill which appears to leave open the option that a US citizen who is considered a terror suspect could be detained indefinitely in military custody.

"I want to clarify that my Administration will not authorize the indefinite military detention without trial of American citizens," said Obama.

"Indeed, I believe that doing so would break with our most important traditions and values as a nation. I reject any approach that would mandate military custody where law enforcement provides the best method of incapacitating a terrorist threat," he added
further.

He said he signed the measure because it was needed to fund military operations abroad vital to national security and to support US armed services.

Obama warned that he would implement the bill in a way that would preserve the "flexibility on which our safety depends and upholds the values on which this country was founded."

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=7938

Posted by Asma Rafique on Jan 1 2012. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry