LBCB:

Regarding your assertion that all federal polygraph examiners are highly trained and follow strict standards, you should check out the following website, in which the inconsistency of the security screening polygraph is reported, in particular NSA and CIA.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/19/AR2006061901415_pf.html

Even an advocate of the polygraph should find this article disturbing.  I thought all federal polygraphers are trained at DACA (DODPI) and therefore, regardless of what federal organization they are employed, must produce identical results within minimal acceptable error.  For the process to be scientifically valid, the empirical results must be both repeatable and reproducible.  We expect blood/drug testing to satisfy these requirements, should we also expect the polygraph as well?

Could it be that federal polygraphers receive additional training at the organization they're assigned, possibly reflecting "institutionalized bias"?


Also check out this website.

http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/2007/04/sullivan.html

My John Sullivan has filed a lawsuit against the CIA, and in an interview has stated his CIA polygraph was "rigged."  He ran the CIA polygraph division during his tenure.  A "victim of his own medicine"?


My only experience with the polygraph is that my job (at a large aerospace facility in Southern California) requires that I take and pass CI-type polygraphs.  I took two in 1994 and four in 2000.  The polygraphs were a disgrace.  I wish to emphasize that national security is too important to be left to a polygraph.  Better background investigations and ongoing security education is the solution, and not polygraphs.

Regarding countermeasures, I knew that it was just a matter of time before I would pass, as long I was willing to take the polygraphs as many times as requested and answered all relevant questions in the negative.  Makes absolutely no difference if the examinee is the 1/10000 who is truly guilty of committing espionage/sabotage/terrorism or the 9999/10000 who is innocent.  Therefore I would probably not recommend mental or physical countermeasures, but maybe behavioral countermeasures.

A coin will eventually land on heads if tossed enough times.

Regards,
Evan S