Bush Signs Authorization Bill:

President Bush signed the 2007 defense authorization bill on Oct. 17, some 11 days after receiving it from Congress. Addressing the numerous provisions for DOD to submit reports on various subjects, Bush made clear that he would uphold his constitutional authorities to withhold information from the Congress if “the disclosure of which could impair foreign relations, the national security, the deliberative processes of the executive, or the performance of the executive’s constitutional duties,” according to a White House press release. He also took exception to a provision that “purports to prohibit the Secretary of the Navy from retiring a specified warship,” saying it would “impermissibly interfere” with his role as Commander in Chief. Would that the President had made the same argument for aircraft the Air Force wants to retire.