[Intelforum] Is Truth-Telling About Lie Detectors Treason?

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Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:02:43 -0700
From: "Brad Howard" <howard.brad at gmail.com>
To: intelforum at lists101.his.com
Subject: Re: Is Truth-Telling About Lie Detectors Treason?


The "debate" between the "two sides" of this issue is an example of 
how we Americans allow ideology to impede accurate data perception 
and analysis, i.e. Intelligence.

Ideology-- or pre-judgement-- is an impediment to accurate data 
perception, and accurate data perception is necessary in order to 
make sound judgements.

Whether polygraphs provide accurate and useful data is an empirical 
question to be measured, not a normative issue to be debated.

The fact that we are so quick to put total faith in technology ought 
to give us pause.

Best regards,

Brad Howard

On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 7:06 AM, IntelForum Mailing List 
<<mailto:intelforum at lists101.his.com>intelforum at lists101.his.com> 
wrote:

Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:44:00 -0700
From: Charles Prael <<mailto:cprael at lts.com>cprael at lts.com>
To: <mailto:intelforum at lists101.his.com>intelforum at lists101.his.com
Subject: Re: Is Truth-Telling About Lie Detectors Treason?

A few comments, interspersed...

>>You might note, neither critic (a) is willing to acknowledge that 
>>the proposed system does, in point of fact, provide a tool that 
>>generates above average results, nor (b) have any better ideas, 
>>either conceptually or in prototype.
>>

If marginally better than flipping a coin is the benchmark criterion 
for intelligence information as the basis for tactical 
decisionmaking, then we are in sad shape.  And we are even in worse 
shape when people are criticized for noting it.


You've overgeneralized the situation. Bad cop, no donut. See analysis below.

>>In short, they're saying "it's bad, I don't like it". When asked 
>>"so, what's better?" it gets eerily quiet.  When asked "is it 
>>better than guesswork?" one could hear a pin drop.
>>

What's better? Lots of things.  Astrology.  Entrail-reading.

....

>As they say in polygraphy -- it's all in the skill of the operator.
>
But you don't *have* to rely on polygraphy *or* Tarot cards. One 
might, for instance, rely on interrogation by someone who knows how 
to interrogate and knows people.  There are lots of excellent 
interrogators all over the country who do not have to rely on 
witchraft to get better than guesswork results. There's always the 
option, of course, of trying to get circumstantial evidence on top of 
interrogation results.  I hear there's a lot of that going on in the 
law-enforcement arena. You might look into that.
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