Syrian family to settle in New Jersey

Did you notice what Gov. Chris Christie said about Donald Trump’s nutty claims that thousands in Jersey City were cheering the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11? “If you insist that we enforce the immigration laws, you’re accused of nativism”.

In particular, Christie accused Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and other officials of deluding themselves about the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), echoing repeated criticisms that the administration has underestimated the group.

Christie said, [relevant remarks begin around 3:30] “the president was a petulant child in Turkey”.

When Comey can offer such an assurance, “then I’ll reconsider”, Christie said. Despite what the president says, do we feel that way today?

“I’d like to know what Governor Christie says about this”. But “I see it in the eyes of people in my state every day”, he said.

Florida investor Nicholas Loeb, an early Christie donor, said he’s stuck with him because he’s a “real person”.

Christie was noncommittal on whether it happened, but said he didn’t recall anything of the sort. He cited support for more expansive antiterrorism “tools”, including the National Security Agency’s metadata program.

Christie is just one of a long list of governors across the U.S.to take the position in the aftermath of the attacks, which have stoked new fears about the potential risk caused by the flood of migrants trying to escape from Syria’s brutal civil war.

Since the attacks in Paris, Christie has called for regime change in Iran, greater use of force against Islamic State and creating a security zone for people driven from their homes in the conflict against the group. Christie, like Trump, is fanning the anti-Muslim flames to court xenophobic supporters. “They’re Muslim-Americans and they understand that the safety and security of their family is at risk just the way the safety and security of Catholics are at risk, Protestants are at risk, Buddhists are at risk, when the American homeland is not safe and not secure”. He said there are more databases to review and background checks to undergo up until the Syrian refugees arrive in the US, and even then they might be sent back if something is found amiss at the last minute.

While Christie, as governor, has said he will not accept Syrian refugees, legal experts say the issue is a federal matter.

The bad news is he is last on that list. During the Windham meeting, Christie contrasted himself with Obama, a former US senator who had no national security experience when he first occupied the Oval Office.