A commission of technology experts will propose a new post at the White House, one which will use diplomatic, intelligence and military tools to confront threats in cyberspace. However, this post is likely to be the most controversial of the commission's recommendations, which will be released Monday. The commission compared the job to that of the director of national intelligence. According to them, the cyber chief would report to the president and have his own staff of 10 to 20 people who would work with a National Security Council cyber staff and federal agencies to implement the president's cyber policies.

Intelligence officials estimate U.S. losses from cyber breaches to be in the multiple billions of dollars. A few top U.S. agencies, like the Pentagon or the Department of Homeland Security have experienced major cyber break-ins. So, there they are, two excellent reasons for the commission say this job at the White House is a must. However, this will incite furious debates. Rewriting laws to enhance the government's investigative powers in cyberspace will raise many of the same privacy issues that the Congress faced in its debate over expanding surveillance powers.

This commission of technology experts was assembled by The Center for Strategic And International Studies in August 2007, after a spate of cyberattacks at several federal agencies. This cyber-security initiative launched by the Bush administration will cost $15 billion. The President-elect, Barack Obama, has promised to make cyber security a top priority and it's almost certain that he will accept the commission's proposal. The commissioners wrote in their report: "America's failure to protect cyberspace is one of the most urgent national security problems facing the new administration. The battle in cyberspace is a battle we are losing."