"My thoughts are (and these are simply my thoughts and beliefs), there are many departments that are being pressured into hiring minorities, b/c they do not have they're quotas.  That being said, they are using the polygraph testing, to disqualify good candidates, so they can hire candidates that are less qualified (minorities)."

I had my suspicions. I'm a Chinese American and I was hired by the CIA. I was eventually denied a clearance because I failed my polygraph. I guess they hired me to prove that they "appreciate" ethnic diversity, but used the polygraph to rescind the offer. Racist bastards.