With war breaking out against Iraq, Mohammed Ali-Reda isn't worried about the possibility Arab Americans might be harassed.

"I'm not worried about retaliation because for me to deal with a person who is ignorant is not worth my time," said the finance junior, who is from Kuwait. "Everyone who is here today is threatened by little things, so it's no different."

But Ali-Reda said he doesn't mind increased searches.

"It doesn't bother me to be searched because I don't have a bomb or anything," he said. "It's sad to see that the government has to lie to people to search them.

"When we come here we are actually coming to study, and not be violent."

Electrical engineering freshman Hmoud Alabhool, who is also from Kuwait, said airport searches and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and other security measures unfairly target Arab Americans.

"They say they search everyone but they only search the Arabs," he said. "Sometimes people believe others' opinions instead of the facts."

Hussein Ibish, communication director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee based in Washington, D.C., said the public's mood toward Arab Americans hasn't been as severe as it was after the Gulf War in 1991 or the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but discrimination is possible.

"I think all that can change quickly, if things don't go as smoothly as (Bush) thinks," Ibish said. "Americans should reflect on the fact that Arabs are as much a part of this country as anyone else, and hundreds served in the Armed Forces.

"There is not basis for Americans to turn on each other because of what happens overseas."

While the severity of the public sentiment toward Arab Americans has not been great, his organization has issued an advisory to people on their mailing list about what to do if they feel threatened.

Ibish also said there have been a few reports of people being told to "go back to Iraq."

Henry Silverman, president of the Lansing chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said past wars show discrimination against Arab Americans is likely.

"I think it's a very good possibility, because if you look back in our history in World War I we actually attacked Americans of German descent and people with German names," Silverman said. "We stopped eating sauerkraut and starting eating 'liberty sausage.'"

Groups in the Lansing community have expressed concern over the attitudes of some Americans as the country approached war, Silverman said.

"Some groups are concerned and have students involved in diverse groups, who are educating people on rights of others," he said. "They are concerned about what may happen on campus and in the community.

"I think it's a real concern and I wouldn't be at all surprised if it happens."

If it does, ACLU officials will be available to respond.

"We are putting out the word that people should call us if they are threatened, because some are afraid of law enforcement," he said. "We are aware and have opened up phone lines."

Richard Licht, the FBI's supervisory senior agent for Lansing, said the FBI has no special plans to curb anti-Arab hate crimes.

"We have a high priority for civil rights that includes hate crime investigation, and anytime we get a report we assess it or investigate it," he said. "Because we are at war we are receptive, but the fact that we are at war does not matter as far as our response, because it has always been very serious and a high priority."

According to FBI's Uniform Crime Report, there were 9,726 hate crime incidents reported nationally in 2001.

Licht said what separates a hate crime from a regular crime is the motivation behind it.

"It may be a hate crime based on religion and things, but first and foremost it's a violent crime," he said. "The thing that pushes it into a hate crime is its motivation."

In the event of a reported hate crime, Licht said the FBI would team with local authorities to find the motive behind the crime.

"We interface with whatever police department the report was filed in locally, and we get all the police reports and try to interview all victims," he said. "Once we determine the subject, we get with local authorities and try to find out the motivation."