Thomas Kean Jr. on Homeland Security Republican challenger

CIA destroyed videotape interrogations of Qaeda operatives

The 9/11 Commission's Chairman Thomas Kean, and Vice-Chair Lee Hamilton, have since come out and said: "...the recent revelations that the CIA destroyed videotape interrogations of Qaeda operatives leads us to conclude that the agency failed to respond to our lawful requests for information about the 9/11 plot. Those who knew about those videotapes--and did not tell us about them--obstructed our investigation."

CIA destroyed videotapes of al Qaeda operatives after 9/11

The 9/11 Commission's Chairman Thomas Kean, and Vice-Chair Lee Hamilton, have since come out and said: "the recent revelations that the CIA destroyed videotape interrogations of Qaeda operatives leads us to conclude that the agency failed to respond to our lawful requests for information about the 9/11 plot. Those who knew about those videotapes--and did not tell us about them--obstructed our investigation."

After Sept. 11th, do whatever it takes to protect America

Surveillance of personal data ok to win War on Terror

KEAN: Yes, I support the use of surveillance techniques to win the war on terror while protecting civil liberties and staying within the law.

MENENDEZ: We must do all we can to combat terrorism, but we must also enforce the current system of court oversight to protect individuals’ privacy rights.

Respect Geneva Conv. but be flexible in prosecuting terror

KEAN: I supported the Senate compromise legislation. It was tailored to respect the Geneva Convention, while providing the flexibility to prosecute the war against terrorism.

MENENDEZ: We must protect innocent people from terrorists, punish those who attack Americans, and do both in a humane manner consistent with the Geneva Convention.

Deploy missile defense system against North Korean threat

KEAN: While the best means of engaging Kim Jung Il is an aggressive diplomatic effort with international partners, the reality of North Korea acquiring the capability to launch a nuclear missile strike against the United States justifies the deployment of a high-tech missile defense system. North Korea can never be permitted to threaten the United States the way it threatens other nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Grants for port security and counterterrorism

• Homeland security grants: Tom will fight to ensure that high risk areas like New Jersey have the resources they need to keep their citizens safe.
• Information sharing: Tom will work to ensure that the National Counterterrorism Center shares timely, authentic terrorist threat information with the states
• Port security: Tom will work to ensure that maritime security grants go to the ports at greatest risk
• First responder communications: Tom will work to solve communications problems before terrorists strike again.
• Nuclear, Biological &Chemical Attacks: Tom will work to accelerate the pace of security efforts for weapons of mass destruction.

Co-sponsored bill establishing Office of Counter-Terrorism

This bill would establish the Office of Counter-Terrorism in but not of the Department of Law and Public Safety. The office already exists, however this legislation would permanently codify the office in statute, and would also enhance the existing mission and authority of the office.

The office would be supervised by a director, who would be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Director of the Office of Counter-Terrorism would report to the Attorney General on matters relating to the enforcement and prosecution of criminal business in the State and to the Governor on all matters relating to homeland security. The bill would create a dedicated, non-lapsing fund to be known as the “Counter-Terrorism Fund.” The director would administer any money appropriated by the Legislature to the fund.