Mr. Maschke, please help me understand what possible value you saw in publishing pictures of the FBI polygraph location.  Were you trying to help some unnamed person (or group) know where it is located for some devious purpose?  Okay, the map is helpful to those coming there to seek a job, but the pictures????

Annoymous, 
Surely you jest!  Somehow you want anyone to believe that showing pictures of where a polygraph examination was taken is somehow therapeutic?  Sorry my friend, but if a person is one that tender a rail, perhaps they need to find other work rather than the law enforcement work they could expect in the FBI.  And just for your information, you make it sound as if the location has some special meaning.  You might be surprised to learn that the government leases many, many buildings (which actually helps the economy), but my guess would be that some folks would not want to go into the FBI Headquarters and this remote setting tends to offer some comfort to those poor tortured soluls you describe.

Dear Anonymous,

Mr. Torpedo does believe in the polygraph as do many in the law enforcement "club" that have "passed" the test.  He will defend it as any "cult" member as described in the NAS study will attest.  I was inconclusive, deceptive, and non-deceptive, as I passed the the "FBI Gauntlet" of truthfulness.  I am so sad that my eight years of very honorable military service, over ten years of federal law enforcement service, and lifetime of law abiding history would not be acceptable through multiple background checks.   I never tried anything but to be truthful and was accused of countermeasures and deception.    I will attest that the polygraph community does not know what deception  or countermeasures are because I never used or had knowledge of countermeasures.

A good organization like the FBI is losing the confidence of many applicants and the public as a whole by denying the shortcomings of the pre-screening  polygraphs.   The FBI is a wonderful story of many dedicated people trying to better this country and the polygraph does not belong in such an organization.

Regards.

APGodSpy,

You mention the Robert Hanssen matter and its bearing on polygraph exams used for national security purposes.  My views on such were expressed at the time the matter became public knowledge in the following document, http://www.antipolygraph.org/documents/richardson-memo-02-2001.shtml,  which was prepared for the consideration of senior executives and policy makers in the FBI.  My views on the subject remain the same some three years later.  Interestingly enough, at the time (a few weeks later) when the FBI was considering and beginning to increase such (employee polygraph exams), the Director's National Press Office was unofficially but decidedly directing me to give off-the-record interviews to the media expressing my viewpoint.  Clearly, as you indicated is true with your various and current points of contact, there is very serious doubt about such things in the midst of true believers.