-Caveat Lector- PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kevin Christopher Phone: (716) 636-1425 ext. 224 Fax: (716) 636-1733 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Polygraph: Does It Detect Lies or Rely on Lies? Amherst, N.Y. (June 28, 2001)-When the FBI announced that it had uncovered Robert Philip Hanssen's 15 years of alleged espionage activities, the immediate question was how an organization like the FBI, equipped with the best investigative tools, could overlook so serious a security breach for so long. An article by the Center for National Security and Arms Control's senior scientist, published in the new July/August 2001 issue of Skeptical Inquirer, suggests that such blunders might be explained by American law enforcement's love affair with the arcane contraption known as the polygraph a.k.a lie detector). Alan P. Zelicoff is the Senior Scientist in the Center for National Security and Arms Control at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico. He offers a scathing indictment in his article for Skeptical Inquirer, titled "Polygraphs and the National Labs: Dangerous Ruse Undermines National Security." Zelicoff compares the polygraph to the ancient Roman practice of divining the future from animal entrails: "Perhaps polygraphers would do better with Wonder Woman's lasso than they have been doing with their box. The secret of the polygraph-the polygrapher's own shameless deception-is that their machine is no more capable of telling the truth than were the priests of ancient Rome standing knee-deep in chicken parts." According to Zelicoff, the four parameters measured by the polygraph-blood pressure, pulse, perspiration, and breathing rate-are all affected by a broad range of emotions, and offer no reliable measurement of deception. Zelicoff says that there are dozens of studies in the past two decades showing that the lie detector cannot distinguish between truth telling and lying. As examples of the polygrapher's dangerous inaccuracy, he points to the cases of spies like Aldrich Ames and the Walker brothers, who passed their polygraph tests repeatedly every five years. He also cites examples of those wrongly accused based on shoddy polygraph evidence, such as FBI agent Mark Mullah whose career was ruined by suspicion, despite the fact that all "evidence" against him was dismissed and his badge was restored. "It is time to relegate the polygraph... to the ash heap of bad ideas and misplaced beliefs," Zelicoff says. The scientist urges that "we should not make the spy's task easier with self-defeating measures like the polygraph." ### Skeptical Inquirer is the official publication of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), a non-profit organization dedicated to science literacy and the examination of paranormal and junk science claims. Published six times a year, the magazine features informed articles and commentary from a critical, scientific perspective. For more information about the magazine or CSICOP, contact Kevin Christopher at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or (716) 636-1425 ext. 224. ======================================================= Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: *Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends ======================================================= <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om