-Aldrich Ames was quoted as saying, “There's no special magic in passing lie detector tests, he shrugged. Confidence is what does it. Confidence and a friendly relationship with the examiner... rapport, where you smile and you make him think that you like him.'' ("Ames: Separated Spy, Agent Lives," 1994) This was Aldrich Ames quote when asked about taking polygraphs as a CIA employee after he was arrested for being a spy for Russia in 1994. The following information will discuss a case study that was done on the polygraph testing of Aldrich Ames during the investigation to find a spy within the Central Intelligence Agency. Also, I will discuss my own experience taking two counterintelligence polygraph exams while I was working as a Department …show more content…
The CIA launched an internal investigation and determined there was a spy within the agency. The list of potential spies was narrowed down to 28 likely people based on the access they had to certain sensitive information. ("Aldrich Hazen Ames," 2010) Aldrich Ames was polygraph tested in 1986 and again in 1991 passing both times on a second attempt 4 days later. ("The People of the CIA ... Ames Mole Hunt Team," 2013) The thing that jumps out to me most is the fact that the examiner was friendly and very accommodating. Based on my own experience and the severity of what they were investigating I would prefer that the examiner would have been cold and business like. The examiner asked a question using the word deliberately which to me left Aldrich a way out of the question. …show more content…
I prefer the positive polygraph versus the criminal investigation version. In January 2008, I was hired as a Senior Electronic Warfare Technician with CACI inc. which is a big defense contractor based in Virginia. The contract I was supporting fell under Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM). The position I was hired for was based out of Baghdad, Iraq and required a Top Secret clearance with SCI access and a counterintelligence (CI) polygraph. There was a two week onboarding process that took place in Springfield, VA and part of that process involved going to Fort Meade, MD home of the National Security Agency (NSA) to take a CI polygraph. Unlike Aldrich Ames, I was very nervous as soon as I found out I would be taking a polygraph. I was nervous because of the unknown not nervous because I had anything to hide. The actual polygraph itself I won’t go into any specific questions that were asked or any explicit details but a general overview of the
The spies also had another job trying to get a scientist to join the United States Army.
In the data-collection phase, the examiner will complete polygraph charts, the charts and questions will vary depending on different cases. The examiner then analyzes the collected data in the data analysis phase. The examinee then has the opportunity to explain or rationalize answers to different questions asked during the exam. Although some may criticize the polygraph tests, advances in technology, and science improves the polygraph exams. Multiple factors play a key role in the accuracy of a polygraph, including the experience of the examiner, the obediance of the examinee, and the way the exam is constructed. It is important to consider body language when interviewing examinees as well. This includes things that examinees may be saying, how they say it, and when they say it. One’s body does things that it cannot control, both inside and out, which plays an essential role in exams. When a polygraph test is administered perfectly, and appropriately the accuracy rate is above ninety percent. On the other hand, false positives on the polygraph exams may happen. A good examiner will try to identify, and get away from false positives. When Ruby has a false
Congress expects the CIA to take steps to address the Aldrich Ames’ treason fallout or risk budget cuts or agency closure. Ames’ exposed a multitude of secret operations and intelligence officers to the Soviet Union over a period of nine years which caused at least ten deaths and led to his arrest in February 1994. CIA Chief Woolsey commissioned internal review processes to assess the damage, review security procedures, and inquire if Ames’ chain of command failed to follow agency expectations and regulations.
The fear of questioning grew as laws were passed against Communists. Even those innocent of being Communist faced the dilemma of possibly implicating those that they knew. Two ways of facing this could be easily seen. The first was a turn to Constitutional rights as Lillian Herman chose to do. In her 1952 letter to the HUAC, Herman wrote, “I am willing to answer all questions about myself… But there is one principle that I do understand: I am not willing, now or in the future, to bring bad trouble to people who, in my past association with them, were completely innocent” (93). Herman chose to plead the fifth amendment at her hearing, refusing to answer any questions. The other method of avoiding questions was demonstrated by Ring Lardner Jr.
Aldrich “Rick” Ames was born in River Falls, Wisconsin on June 26th, 1941. Like most children, his childhood did not reveal a disposition for betrayal and apathy, but rather held promise. I chose to learn about Ames and his crimes against the CIA because of the relationship he had with both them and the KGB. The CIA is frequently described as becoming another family for the men and women operating within its power. Ames however, not only forsaked the agency’s secrets to the KGB, but continued to work for both agencies without hesitation. None of his colleagues, nor the the CIA’s effort to protect the nation as a whole held value for him. What’s more startling than the fact that Rick doesn’t regret what he’s done, is the that the close-knit
In recent years, there have been multiple high-profile cases of people being exonerated, often by DNA testing, after giving a false confession to a crime they did not commit. People who often fall into this trap are juveniles or those with a diminished mental capacity (Redlich, 2009). DNA testing has helped many innocent people that gave false confessions be free again. This trend brings up the question of how were they able to give a false confession.
Your name is not who you, are a wise man once sang “The paparazzi flashes, and that they think that it's you, But they don't know that who you are is not what you do” in this case i agree. Another stated “It's not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you.”. I disagree, motive is everything. Is it wrong for a spy to lie to his authorities to save millions of lives? No. however, if he lied to save himself over the other hundreds or millions of people that is not a worthy motive. Many people lied to save the jews hiding in their basements during WWII, was it wrong for them to lie to their authorities and the military? Should they have saved themselves and allowed thousands to be
Ranking first in my class, publishing a note on law review, and the numerous other academic accolades in my resume demonstrate my intellectual, analytical, and functional capacity and qualifications for a position with the CIA. My respect and appreciation for what it means to be a public servant as well as my integrity, however, are what distinguishes me from the plethora of qualified candidates that are undoubtedly applying for this position. The gravity of my experiences ranging from the consideration of compassionate release motions with the Bureau of Prisons to intimate discussions with litigants at the military commissions in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, amongst many other experiences, have sculpted the ethical standards I bind myself
Since 1947, when the Central Intelligence Agency was created, the United States has had an organization that has the sole purpose of conducting covert operations, collecting information, and providing that same information to the respective personnel. Although, this, by some, has been considered conflictual as the CIA is handling those three actions. It is considered that this may be a conflict of interest in a means of, the same people that are collecting information, creating a bias opinion, are conducting the covert action being carried out. This could create a bias work environment. Due to the professionalism and 60 years of success to show for it, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and National Clandestine Service (NCS) conducting
More shockingly the justice department and FBI have formally acknowledged that virtually every examiner in an elite FBI forensic unit gave flawed testimony in almost all trials in which evidence was supplied against criminal defendants in the period of 20 years prior to 2000. In a group of 28 examiners with the FBI Laboratory 26 have been confirmed to overstating matches in microscopic hair comparison in favor of prosecutors. This was seen in 95 percent of the 268 trials that have been reviewed so far in accordance to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the Innocence Project. The errors in the FBI’s conduct does not mean that there was no other evidence of the convict’s guilt, however federal and state prosecutors
The term “Covert Action” brings with it a connotation of shadowy figures wrapped in secrecy and intrigue. It also brings with it a substantial amount of moral questions as to “what is right.” The use of covert action has been widely publicized since the early seventies, but trying to find out the truth to these events has been difficult to say the least. What is even more difficult, is historically recording these events into categories of successes or failures. These operations are difficult to dissect because of their secrecy and although events have been recorded, some facts simply aren’t apparent. This paper will seek to identify the complex issues associated with covert operations.
As a way of being polite, it is unwise to confront someone publicly when you detect a lie in their statement. However, is very important for people to know when someone is lying to avoid eventually getting hurt, or for public safety and security. Detecting lies from a terrorist who is being interrogated has become of essence following the increase in fatal cases due to terrorist attacks such as that of September 11, 2001. Movies production studios and television stations started making films about the use of lie catchers to sense when a person being interrogated is lying. However, some individuals have been witnessed to be having the ability to control their bodies to avoid detection use lie detecting gadgets. The ability to fake emotions and control them to make people believe when someone is lying is called behavioural countermeasures (Carolyn & Mark, 2011).
This paper contains expert information snitching, evidence on eye witness testimony, and proven study on false confessions. Appendix 1 shows the leading causes of wrongful convictions in United States. The first credited study and research analysis on wrongful convictions will demonstrate the seriousness of this problem and the need for a resolution. Various other authors and reports have been reviewed for the purpose of this research paper.
Credibility- Now, I would like to consider myself an expert lie detector, but apparently binge-watching 12 seasons of Criminal Minds in 3 months does not give me those qualifications. So to better inform and assist you, my lovely audience, I did some research, mostly utilizing online materials.
The polygraph test is one of the most controversial criminal investigative techniques of all-time. From the initial years of the invention to today, there is not a consensus about the investigative tool. That is why there are many people for and against the administration of polygraph tests. Therefore, in order to develop a clear picture of the polygraph test the history of the test must be established. Although, there are many sources that have well documented concerns about the invention, the polygraph test is still around after almost 80 years.