Drone strikes --- particularly how the U.S. uses them to attack targets abroad figured prominently into the first major foreign policy speech of President Barack Obama's second term. He began by unveiling new guidelines that would require greater scrutiny for their use, while acknowledging pitfalls. SOUNDBITE: U.S. Preisdent Barack Obama saying: "The very precision of drones strikes, and the necessary secrecy involved in such actions can end up shielding our government from the public scrutiny that a troop deployment invites." While the president also acknowledged civilian casualties and that four American had been killed in attacks since 2009, he defended the drone strike that klilled militant cleric Anwar Awlaki. SOUNDBITE: U.S. Preisdent Barack Obama saying: "Let us remember that the terrorists we are after target civilians, and the death toll from their acts of terrorism against Muslims dwarfs any estimate of civilian casualties from drone strikes... As President, I would have been derelict in my duty had I not authorized the strike that took out Awlaki." The president also addressed the far thornier issue of closing Guantanamo and the actions he plans to take to do. For some, however, it was too little too late. SOUNDBITE: U.S. Preisdent Barack Obama saying: "Today, I once again call on Congress to lift the restrictions on detainee transfers from GTMO. I have asked the Department of Defense to designate a site in the United States where we can hold military commissions. " For some, however, it was too little too late. (Women protester yelling at president) Even as the President attacked Guantanamo as a glaring example of the previous administration's disregard for the laws of war, Obama has been accused of subverting civili liberties --- criticisms his predecessor was also forced to answer to.