By T Chris

A report to be released Monday recommends that President Bush appoint an advisory board "to assess how new anti-terrorism measures such as the Patriot Act have affected Americans' civil liberties." The report, prepared by a federal terrorism commission chaired by James Gilmore, the former Republican Governor of Virginia, also criticizes the Homeland Security Department for focusing on the "crisis of the moment" without developing "a comprehensive, forward-looking strategy to combat terrorism."

Among other recommendations, the report will urge greater oversight of the use of spy satellites on targets in the United States.

An advisory board that is nonpartisan and well-informed might give good advice, but would that advice cause Homeland Security or John Ashcroft's Justice Department to develop a forward-looking vision that is respectful of civil liberties? Probably not, but the report to be released Monday will nonetheless make interesting reading.