=~ does not match

[Terry Raitt]

Configuration Information [Automatically generated, do not change]:
Machine: i386
OS: freebsd5.3
Compiler: cc
Compilation CFLAGS:  -DPROGRAM='bash' -DCONF_HOSTTYPE='i386' 
-DCONF_OSTYPE='freebsd5.3' -DCONF_MACHTYPE='i386-portbld-freebsd5.3' 
-DCONF_VENDOR='portbld' -DLOCALEDIR='/usr/local/share/locale' -DPACKAGE='bash' 
-DSHELL  -DHAVE_CONFIG_H   -I.  -I. -I./include -I./lib  -I/usr/local/include 
-O -pipe
uname output: FreeBSD zeus.layeredtech.com 5.3-RELEASE FreeBSD 5.3-RELEASE #0: 
Fri Nov  5 04:19:18 UTC 2004     
root@harlow.cse.buffalo.edu:/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/GENERIC  i386
Machine Type: i386-portbld-freebsd5.3

Bash Version: 3.2
Patch Level: 25
Release Status: release

Description:
        The =~ operator does not appear to function.

Repeat-By:
        [Describe the sequence of events that causes the problem
        to occur.]

Fix:
        [Description of how to fix the problem.  If you don't know a
        fix for the problem, don't include this section.]