WASHINGTON (PTI): US President Barack Obama has signed into law a whopping USD 633 billion defence bill that authorises spending on the war in Afghanistan and enhanced security for American missions worldwide.
Obama in a signing statement said that he was doing so to ensure that the US will continue to have the "strongest military in the world".
The President, who is holidaying in Hawaii, said he was clearing the bill even as he has strong reservations on several provisions of National Defence Authorisation Act 2013.
The White House had earlier threatened to veto the bill.
The bill provides Department of Defence with a spending threshold of USD 633 billion for 2013, including USD 527.4 billion for the Pentagon budget and a USD 88.5 billion for overseas contingency operations including funding the war in Afghanistan.
The bill also authorises USD 9.8 billion for missile defence.
Read the full story at Brahmand