As the FBI attempts to be more pro-active in protecting the United States from terrorist attacks, careful attention should be paid so personal liberties are not attacked by the FBI itself.

Currently, the U.S. Department of Justice is in the process of changing the policies that govern how the FBI conducts investigations. Perhaps as early as this summer, the bureau could begin investigating legal citizens on the basis of travel destinations, military training and access to weapons -- as well the person's race or ethnicity.

In this post-9/11 world, Muslims and Arab-Americans should brace themselves for yet another assault on their tenuously held freedoms. Given the makeup of those who carried out the attacks on that day, proponents might find justification of such profiling tactics. At least until they're reminded that Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski and Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh both were white American males.

We find ourselves in agreement with President George Bush, who has said racial profiling is "wrong in America."

If the FBI is under pressure to change its mission -- fine. But it needs to continue allowing the Constitution to protect all Americans equally. If there is evidence or reasonable suspicion that some law has been broken, current law enforcement regulations allow suspects to be questioned or even detained.

But if the Justice Department is allowed to pursue this new course, the FBI could be on its way to profiling Americans as persons of interest by virtue of their Muslim or Arab ancestry. While this might only affect a few million Americans initially, all Americans should be concerned. After all, your racial or ethnic background could be next.

Editorial by Patrick Lowry

plowry@dailynews.net