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Posted by George W. Maschke
- Mar 05, 2007, 05:04 PMJohn Sullivan's new book, Gatekeeper: Memoirs of a CIA Polygraph Examiner was not released in January of this year as mentioned earlier. But Amazon.com now indicates a 15 March 2007 release date. Until then, additional information on the book is available on the website of the publisher, Potomac Books:
http://www.potomacbooksinc.com/Books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=139081
The introduction may be downloaded as a PDF file here:
http://www.potomacbooksinc.com/resrcs/frontm/159797045X_intro.pdf
While I would prefer to reserve comment until I've read the book, Sullivan makes some pointed barbs against unnamed polygraph critics in his introduction that merit an immediate response. At page 7, Sullivan writes:
I don't know of any serious polygraph critic who has made such a simplistic argument as that "anything" should be used as a substitute for the polygraph, regardless of its efficacy. AntiPolygraph.org's position is that we need not wait until a working lie detector is invented before terminating our misplaced reliance on a pseudoscientific one that doesn't work.
At p. 9 Sullivan muses:
I strongly object to Sullivan's attempt to paint polygraph victims and critics as somehow being beyond persuasion by facts and reason. The many critics of polygraphy are not irrational, and indeed, I don't know of any prominent polygraph critic who has suggested that polygraphy should be abolished even if it were 100% reliable and valid. In any event, the consensus among scientists is that polygraph screening is completely invalid.
Sullivan concludes his introduction with the following broadside:
For the record, AntiPolygraph.org is very much concerned with the truth. We have not knowingly published any false information or attempted to mislead readers. Indeed, since 2000, we've maintained this uncensored message board to give the public a forum where any inaccuracies may be publicly pointed out and corrected.
http://www.potomacbooksinc.com/Books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=139081
The introduction may be downloaded as a PDF file here:
http://www.potomacbooksinc.com/resrcs/frontm/159797045X_intro.pdf
While I would prefer to reserve comment until I've read the book, Sullivan makes some pointed barbs against unnamed polygraph critics in his introduction that merit an immediate response. At page 7, Sullivan writes:
QuoteMy perception is that the anti-polygraph faction is for "anything
but polygraph," regardless of how ineffective their "anything" is.
I don't know of any serious polygraph critic who has made such a simplistic argument as that "anything" should be used as a substitute for the polygraph, regardless of its efficacy. AntiPolygraph.org's position is that we need not wait until a working lie detector is invented before terminating our misplaced reliance on a pseudoscientific one that doesn't work.
At p. 9 Sullivan muses:
QuoteNothing I can say or write will assuage the victims of false positive polygraph examinations or change their minds about the polygraph. This also applies to those who, even if polygraph testing were 100 percent reliable and valid, would recommend its being abolished. However, I hope those who read this book with an open mind will pause before they jump on the anti-polygraph bandwagon.
I strongly object to Sullivan's attempt to paint polygraph victims and critics as somehow being beyond persuasion by facts and reason. The many critics of polygraphy are not irrational, and indeed, I don't know of any prominent polygraph critic who has suggested that polygraphy should be abolished even if it were 100% reliable and valid. In any event, the consensus among scientists is that polygraph screening is completely invalid.
Sullivan concludes his introduction with the following broadside:
QuoteIn their attacks on polygraph, anti-polygraph factions have used
distortions, misrepresentations, and lies to try and make their points and have callously disregarded the efforts and accomplishments of a highly dedicated group of professionals.
For the record, AntiPolygraph.org is very much concerned with the truth. We have not knowingly published any false information or attempted to mislead readers. Indeed, since 2000, we've maintained this uncensored message board to give the public a forum where any inaccuracies may be publicly pointed out and corrected.
Posted by George W. Maschke
- Dec 05, 2006, 01:03 PMGatekeeper: Memoirs of a CIA Polygraph Examiner, a new book by John F. Sullivan, is scheduled for release in January 2007. Having enjoyed Sullivan's earlier memoir, Of Spies and Lies: A CIA Lie Detector Remembers Vietnam, I suspect Sullivan's new book, too, will be an interesting read.