New Jersey 2006 Senate Debate: on Homeland Security

Robert Menendez: Combat terrorism within court oversight to protect rights

Q: Do you support more government surveillance of bank accounts, telephone records, and other personal data to combat terrorism?

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.

Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate (X-ref Kean) Sep 24, 2006

Robert Menendez: Punish terrorists within Geneva Convention

Q: Do you believe the standards for treating prisoners of war as delineated in the Geneva Code should be changed to allow for stronger interrogation procedures?

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.

Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate (X-ref Kean) Sep 24, 2006

Thomas Kean Jr.: Surveillance of personal data ok to win War on Terror

Q: Do you support more government surveillance of bank accounts, telephone records, and other personal data to combat terrorism?

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.

Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate Sep 24, 2006

Thomas Kean Jr.: Respect Geneva Conv. but be flexible in prosecuting terror

Q: Do you believe the standards for treating prisoners of war as delineated in the Geneva Code should be changed to allow for stronger interrogation procedures?

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.

Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate Sep 24, 2006

Thomas Kean Jr.: Deploy missile defense system against North Korean threat

Q: How should the US respond to the potential threat from North Korea?

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.

Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate Sep 2, 2006

The above quotations are from New Jersey Senate Virtual Debate - moderated by the Hall Institute, August to September 2006. Click here for definitions & background information on Homeland Security. Click here for more quotes by Thomas Kean Jr. on Homeland Security. Click here for more quotes by Robert Menendez on Homeland Security.
*2008 Presidential contenders on Homeland Security:*
*Republicans:* Chmn.John Cox Mayor Rudy Giuliani Gov.Mike Huckabee Rep.Duncan Hunter Sen.John McCain Rep.Ron Paul Gov.Mitt Romney Sen.Fred Thompson	*Democrats:* Sen.Hillary Clinton Sen.John Edwards Sen.Mike Gravel Rep.Dennis Kucinich Sen.Barack Obama	*Third Parties:* Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney Socialist: Brian Moore Independent: Mayor Mike Bloomberg
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