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Chris Christie on Homeland Security
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We must fight against the Chinese-Russia alliance
Q: Are China, Russia, and Iran closer together because we focused too much on Ukraine?CHRISTIE: No, they're all connected. The Chinese are paying for the Russian war in Ukraine. The Iranians are supplying more sophisticated weapons.
I understand
people want to go and talk to Putin. Guess what? So did George W. Bush. So did Barack Obama. So did Donald Trump. And so did Joe Biden. Every one of them has been wrong.
We need to say right now that the Chinese-Russian alliance is something we have
to fight against. And we are not going to solve it by cuddling up to Vladimir Putin. Putin is murdering people in his own country; he's now going to Ukraine to murder innocent civilians. And if you think that's where it's going to stop, if we give him
any of Ukraine, next will be Poland. Putin in 1991 said that the darkest moment in world history when the Soviet Union fell. Listen, everybody, he wants to put the old band back together. And only America can stop it. And when I'm president, we will.
Source: Fox Business 2023 Republican primary debate in Simi Valley
, Sep 27, 2023
Rebuild our military so tinpot dictators can't dictate to us
Military action would be used when it was necessary to protect American lives and protect American interests around the world. We are not the world's policeman, but we need to stand up and be ready.
We need to rebuild our military, and this president has let it diminish to a point where tinpot dictators like the mullahs in Iran are taking our Navy ships.
Source: Fox Business Republican 2-tier debate
, Jan 14, 2016
Give tools back to NSA to fight terrorism
The only way to figure that out is to go back to getting the intelligence community the funding and the tools that it needs to be able to keep America safe. And this summer, we didn't do that. We took it away from the NSA, it was a bad decision
by the president. Bad by those in the Senate who voted for it and if I'm president, we'll make our intelligence community strong, and won't have to keep everybody out, we're just going to keep the bad folk out and make sure they don't harm us.
Source: Fox Business Republican 2-tier debate
, Jan 14, 2016
Re-start metadata collection; boost morale of intel officers
Q: You're will be speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations about your approach to international relations. How are you going to be different from your party's front-runner? CHRISTIE: I will highlight that we were wrong to cut back on the
NSA's metadata collection and that its been destroying the morale of our intelligence officers. We need to rebuild that program. We need to support law enforcement, which this administration hasn't been doing.
We need to do all those things first and foremost to protect the homeland, because the number one job of the president of the United States is to protect the safety and security of the American people.
National security is not an option. It's a fundamental right. And that's what we will be focused on.
Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series: 2016 presidential hopefuls
, Nov 22, 2015
Obama created refugee crisis; now burdens Americans with it
Q: About 75 Syrian refugees have already settled in your home state of New Jersey since the start of the year, according to new data from the State Department. Should they be ousted from your state? CHRISTIE: This is part of the problem with this
administration. They're an imperial administration that just decides they're going to place people in individual states and not even inform the state of government of the fact that they have done it. And they're placing them through nongovernmental
organizations and not giving any information to the state governments. We should set up a safe haven in Syria, so these folks don't have to leave their country in the first place.
This is something that the president has created and now he wants the American people to absorb this crisis that he has created.
Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series: 2016 presidential hopefuls
, Nov 22, 2015
Syrian refugees cannot be vetted; don't allow any into US
Q: You recently stated that you don't want to accept any Syrian refugees, not even orphans under 5. Does a 5-year-old orphan need to be vetted? Senator Rubio said yesterday: "If it's a 5-year-old child, that's pretty easy to vet." Why are they dangerous
to the United States to take them in? Why should the United States not be helping these desperate people? CHRISTIE: First of all, the FBI director himself said they can't vet these folks.
Secondly, we had a woman who was wearing an explosive vest in Paris who blew herself up when approached by police this week.
Q: The police actually have said that, as they have studied that crime scene further, she was not wearing a
suicide vest, although her role with the terrorists is still unknown. CHRISTIE: [With vetting orphans], I don't understand the distinction, quite frankly. And what we need to do is to protect the homeland first.
Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series on Syrian Refugee crisis
, Nov 22, 2015
No Syrian refugees in US, not even infant orphans
Gov. Chris Christie says he's opposed to any Syrian refugees entering the country--even infant orphans. Christie's comments came during conservative host Hugh Hewitt's radio show. They were a complete reversal from September, when the
Republican presidential contender said U.S. should "play their role" in taking in refugees without committing to a specific number after a photograph of a dead migrant child humanized the migrant influx.
Source: ABC News on Syrian Refugee Crisis
, Nov 16, 2015
Yes, there is a crisis at the VA
The way to reconnect Americans to the men and women in uniform is to give them a Commander in Chief who respects the military and respects everyone who wears the uniform. Secretary Clinton says, there's no crisis at the V.A.. That send a hard message
to our veterans that she doesn't get it, and she doesn't respect their service. When the President of the United States doesn't back up law enforcement officers in uniform, he loses the moral authority to any man or woman who is uniform.
Source: Fox Business/WSJ Second Tier debate
, Nov 10, 2015
On 9/11, I wondered whether I'd be a single parent
I was named U.S. attorney on September 10th, 2001. That next day my wife went to her office two blocks from the World Trade Center. After those planes hit, for five-and-a-half-hours, I didn't know whether she was dead or alive.
I had to confront the idea I might become a single parent. I support what President Bush did, going into Afghanistan, hunting al Qaeda and its leaders. Then he said don't prosecute these people after the crime is committed. Intervene before the crime.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
, Sep 16, 2015
Balance privacy rights but more NSA tools to fight terrorism
Q: You've said that Senator Paul's opposition to the NSA's bulk collection of phone records has made the US weaker and more vulnerable. Do you really believe you can assign blame to Senator Paul?CHRISTIE: Yes, I do. And I'll tell you why: because
I'm the only person on this stage who's actually filed applications under the Patriot Act, who has gone before the Foreign Intelligence Service court. This is not theoretical to me.
When you actually have to be responsible for doing this, you can do it, and we did it, for seven years in my office, respecting civil liberties and protecting the homeland. And I will make no apologies, ever, for protecting the lives and the safety of
the American people. We have to give more tools to our folks to be able to do that, not fewer, and then trust those people and oversee them to do it the right way. As president, that is exactly what I'll do.
Source: Fox News/Facebook Top Ten First Tier debate transcript
, Aug 6, 2015
I spent 7 years putting terrorists in jail
I was born into a middle class family in New Jersey. My dad came home from serving in the Army after having lost his father, worked in the Breyers ice cream plant in Newark, New Jersey. Was the first person to graduate from college.
He put himself through college at night. My mom was a secretary.I was appointed United States attorney on September 10, 2001. And I spent the next seven years of my career fighting terrorism and putting terrorists in jail.
Source: Fox News/Facebook Top Ten First Tier debate transcript
, Aug 6, 2015
Modernize to have 350 ships and 2,600 aircraft
The first thing we need to do to make America stronger is to strengthen our military, and I put out a really specific plan: no less than 500,000 active duty soldiers in the Army. No less than 185,000 active duty marines in the Marine Corps. Bring us to a
350-ship Navy again, and modernize the Ohio class of submarines, and bring our Air Force back to 2,600 aircraft that are ready to go. Those are the kind of things that are going to send a clear message around the world.
Source: Fox News/Facebook Top Ten First Tier debate transcript
, Aug 6, 2015
Gathering metadata is necessary for homeland security
Q: You've said the PATRIOT Act, in your experience as US Attorney, had very important tools, despite 4th Amendment concerns?CHRISTIE: I've had to review applications under the PATRIOT Act. I know what it's like to interact with the FISA court.
We can do this and protect civil liberties. And, of course, we want to track terrorists' phone numbers. We're not listening to anybody's conversations. We're not looking at their emails without the type of search warrants that the court is talking about.
What we're saying, though, is, if you're a known terrorist outside this country, and you're calling numbers inside this country, we'd like to know who those people are.
Q: What do you say to those that feel that their government may have them
under attack?
CHRISTIE: We should engage in vigorous congressional oversight over our intelligence community, and our Justice Department should prosecute any intelligence officer who violates the law. We have those safeguards available to us.
Source: Fox News Sunday 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
, Jul 5, 2015
Libertarian anti-NSA secrecy stance is an esoteric debate
Sen. Rand Paul (R, KY) has clashed repeatedly with other Republicans on security issues, including the recent revelations regarding the National Security Agency's sweeping collection of phone and internet data.Paul's comments on the NSA's programs
prompted Governor Chris Christie (R, NJ) to call out the senator at a forum last Thursday. Speaking in Colorado, Christie warned of a "strain of libertarianism" in both parties seeking to challenge the post-9/11 security environment, pointing to Paul as
a prime example. "These esoteric, intellectual debates--I want them to come to New Jersey and sit across from the widows and the orphans and have that conversation," Christie said. "And they won't, because that's a much tougher conversation to have."
Paul fired back on Sunday, defending his position as being more geared towards the youth vote that the GOP desperately needs to attract. "If you talk about some privacy issues like that, I think you will find youth coming to you," said Paul.
Source: Hayes Brown on ThinkProgress.org, "2016 GOP"
, Jul 29, 2013
Want to reduce anti-terrorism? Come talk to 9/11 victims
[When Christie called Paul's calls for reducing anti-terrorism "dangerous"], Paul fired back at Christie saying he's against terror but only wants to preserve the Constitution. But he's made it clear that what he wants is a massive pullback of efforts to
seek out and fight Islamist terrorists as well as a general retreat from America's position as a global power with commensurate responsibilities. Paul has tried to call this stance "realism," but [some critics say] it is merely warmed-over isolationism.
Paul has sought to play upon the war-weariness of Americans after Iraq and Afghanistan to bring this isolationist trend into the mainstream from the margins, where it has dwelt since before WWII.But as Christie pointed out, anyone who wants to cut
back on the Bush/Obama anti-terror measures should come to New York or New Jersey and meet the families of 9/11 victims. Programs such as the NSA metadata mining have helped stop numerous attempts to repeat that atrocity.
Source: Jonathan S. Tobin in Commentary Magazine
, Jul 26, 2013
Second American Century: strong military & sure values
I don't want my children and grandchildren to have to read in a history book what it was like to live in an American Century. I don't want their only inheritance to be an enormous government that has overtaxed, overspent and over-borrowed a great
people into second-class citizenship. I want them to live in a second American Century. A second American Century of strong economic growth where those who are willing to work hard will have good paying jobs to support their families and reach
their dreams.
A second American Century where real American exceptionalism is not a political punch line, but is evident to everyone in the world just by watching the way our government conducts its business and everyday Americans live their lives.
A second American Century where our military is strong, our values are sure, our work ethic is unmatched and our Constitution remains a model for anyone in the world struggling for liberty. This is the American way.
Source: 2012 Republican National Convention speech
, Aug 28, 2012
Patriot Act OK to monitor library book selections
Patriot Act OK to monitor library book selections
Christie has defended the Patriot Act, including one highly controversial portion of the law that allowed the government to investigate what materials people had taken out of public libraries. "The USA Patriot Act is, I believe, the single biggest reason
Patriot Act OK to monitor library book selections
When the Justice Department in 2007 recommended that prosecutors seek warrants to secure the most precise
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 82
, Jun 5, 2012
FBI inappropriately detained many people after 9/11
FBI inappropriately detained many people after 9/11
In July 2011, Christie said the FBI inappropriately detained many people after 9/11. He did so as part of a forceful defense of appointing Sohail Mohammed as the state's first Indian American and second Muslim judge. Conservative bloggers and some
FBI inappropriately detained many people after 9/11
I'm tired of dealing with the crazies," Christie said. "It's just unnecessary to be accusing this guy of things just because of his religious background.""Ignorance is behind the criticism of
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 83
, Jun 5, 2012
Strengthen support network for military families
Gov. Christie issued the following statement on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, to remember and honor Americans taken as Prisoners of War or Missing in Action: "Today we pay tribute to the sacrifice of our brave servicemembers who not only served
our country with honor, but were also taken as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action.
"Honoring our commitment to those brave men and women is one of our solemn duties and a special responsibility for me as Governor. I am proud that we have
strengthened our commitment to our veterans, their families, and those currently serving in active duty. Since taking office, I have signed legislation that strengthened our support network for military families after the death of a service member,
honored those World War II, Korea and Vietnam veterans who were required to drop out of high school to serve, and created the Gold Star Families license plate to honor the families of members of the military killed in action for their sacrifice."
Source: Press release, "National POW/MIA Recognition Day"
, Sep 16, 2011
Fund Veteran to Veteran Peer Support Program
Reinforcing his commitment to New Jersey's veterans, National Guard members and their families, Governor Chris Christie today signed legislation that creates and enhances assistance tools that provide financial support and peer counseling services throug
the NJ National Guard State Family Readiness Council Fund and the Veteran to Veteran Peer Support Program telephone helpline."I'm pleased to sign S-1731, establishing the telephone helpline," said Governor Christie. "Serving in a combat zone puts
overwhelming stress on the mind and body that the average New Jerseyan will never know. So, this program is a critical component of the healing process in the long-term mental health of our service members."
Funds donated by the public will be collecte
through the state Division of Taxation and then distributed to the New Jersey National Guard Family Readiness Council, a non-profit organization. Through S-1731, an annual appropriation will be designated for the Veteran to Veteran telephone helpline.
Source: Press release, "Assist N.J.'s Military Veterans"
, Aug 19, 2011
We ARE the leader in Libya; we MUST be the world's police
Q: Does American have to be the world's policemen? Would you like to see a spreading of that load going forward where America's not the go-to country? For military support, for helping out with despotic regimes and so on?Q: Well, America's always got
to be the leader in that regard.
Q: Does it have to be?
A: I think it does.
A: I mean, look at Libya and the way Pres. Obama dealt with that. You know, he quite deliberately decided America wasn't going to be the leader.
A: But we really are.
Let's face it, we are. He's calling the shots. and we all know that. And so let's not be kidding because they call it something different. America's taken the responsibility. Now, do I think there has to be shared sacrifice among other nations in the
world who want a stable and secure world? Absolutely, there has to be. But I don't think that America can ever abdicate its leadership role in the world because of who we are & where we've come from. We are the symbol for the world for freedom & liberty.
Source: Interview on CNN "Piers Morgan Tonight"
, Jun 15, 2011
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