[Intelforum] Accused FBI/White House Spy Passed FBI Polygraph

[George W. Maschke]

Bill,

In order for the polygraph screening to deter espionage, people must 
believe that it has some validity. But by doing a simple Google search, 
anyone can learn not only that polygraphy is invalid:

http://antipolygraph.org/articles/article-018.shtml

but also how to pass the polygraph using simple countermeasures that 
polygraphers cannot reliably detect:

http://antipolygraph.org/lie-behind-the-lie-detector.pdf

In addition, any putative deterrent value of polygraph screening must be 
weighed against the counterutility associated with relying on an invalid 
test, including the false sense of security that is created with regard 
to those who "pass" and the costs incurred and opportunities missed when 
a person wrongly "fails." Examples of the harm that reliance on the 
polygraph has caused both to national security and to individuals is 
documented in Chapter 2 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector (linked to 
above).

And in the case of Edward Lee Howard, the CIA's misplaced reliance on 
polygraph screening set in motion a chain of events that ultimately led 
to his decision to provide classified information to the Soviet Union, 
with severely negative consequences for CIA operations:

http://antipolygraph.org/articles/article-049.shtml

George W. Maschke