wrote on Sep 1^st, 2001 at 8:44pm:

The problem that existed for both of the individuals being discussed here, is the case facts showed their involvement.  When the commander has no information as to the circumstances which lead these individuals to commit criminal acts, the only option is to err on the conservative side and assume they acted deliberately.

Question: Why would the commander who "has no information as to the circumstances" not have the information he needs to make a judgement call on how to proceed? Did the Criminal Investigation Division do an investigation or not? If they did a "thorough" investigation the questions the commander has should have already been answered. If not, why not? If the investigation has not supplied the answers to the commanders questions, why the big rush to the polygraph? Is time so critical that the military doesn't complete the investigation and instead rushes to the polygraph? Seems to me, as an examiner, you are obligated to not conduct a test unless the investigation has been completed properly. Apparently you run everything they shove at you so no waves will rock your boat.  Either the commander has already made up his mind, or he's impatient and wants the situation resolved quickly at the expense of a proper investigation so he goes with whatever the examiner comes up with. I'll bet the commander know little about how the polygraph "works" and goes with whatever the examiner says. And this is "uniform" justice?  We either need new commanders or new criminal investigators... what we don't need is some bozo with a bunch of rubber tubes playing the big brother when he knows he doesn't have a clue as to the guilt or innocense of the people sitting in his "chair". Gut feelings? "Awwww heck, you're a nice kid and seem sorry for what you've been accused of. If you promise not to do it again, I'll tell the commander you learned your lesson, okay? Now give me a big hug". Your gonna make me barf. Be a man, and tell the commander the truth, the polygraph doesn't work! You'll feel much better about yourself, as you deserve.