By asserting broad claims of secrecy in his domestic spying operations, George W. Bush has prevented a meaningful public debate over the proper balance between security and liberty.

He's even made it impossible to evaluate whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales willfully misled Congress. Yet the argument that the al-Qaeda threat justifies this secrecy doesn't hold water.

The real targets of the secrecy - and much of the spying - appear to be the American people.

For the full story of Bush's secret data-mining plans, go to the independent ConsortiumNews.Com.