Security panel says U.S. lacks unified strategy

The nation’s anti-terrorism efforts have lost momentum, and the United States lacks a long-term homeland defense strategy more than two years after the Sept. 11 attacks, a government advisory panel concluded Monday. In its final report, the commission assigned to evaluate domestic anti-terrorism capabilities said the Department of Homeland Security has provided a foundation for the government’s domestic security needs, but it urged the agency to take a ”stronger role.” The report also called on the Bush administration to establish an ”oversight board” to guard against breaches of civil liberties. Congress approved increased surveillance authority after the 2001 attacks. ”As a nation, our most significant concerns with broadening law-enforcement powers should be the potential chilling effect of allowing the monitoring of First Amendment activities,” the panel said. Full Story