The FBI knows best

Dallas Morning News: The FBI has a tough charge. It must ferret out domestic terrorists while respecting Americans' right to free speech, privacy and other principles our country holds dear. It's not an easy balance to strike -- particularly in the aftermath of the most grievous terrorist attack ever on U.S. soil.
Still, we are troubled by reports recently in The New York Times that the FBI has collected "extensive information" on the tactics, organization and training of activists who have gathered in recent months to protest the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
The FBI doesn't deny that it conducted surveillance on anti-war demonstrators. It claims it did so for the protesters' own good, that it wanted to prevent disruption of some of the larger gatherings and prevent terrorists from infiltrating the protests. That line is hard to swallow.
Just because the FBI can spy on those who dissent from administration policy doesn't mean it should. The idea that the feds are staking out protests, taking pictures and scribbling notes could have a chilling effect on the willingness of individuals to participate. And make no mistake. When people protest, they are participating in democracy. In that respect, what the FBI is up to soils the very principles that the war on terrorism is meant to protect.