Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer's new policy that permits illegal immigrants to obtain New York State driver's licenses is "an absurd" decision that will provide a new gateway for terrorists, a member of the federal commission that investigated the 2001 World Trade Center attacks warns.

"It's a perfect formula for al-Qaida. They won't be able to resist it. They will be able to come to New York," said John Lehman, a former secretary of the Navy who served on the 9/11 Commission that warned of the nation's vulnerabilities to terrorist strikes...

"It is not logical," he said of the Spitzer policy, adding: "As we know, New York is target number one."

Spitzer's plan "is going to make life easier for illegals," especially terrorists, counterfeiters and others who will have easy access to a valuable piece of identification, Lehman said...