Initially, the Israeli government denied knowing of or employing
Jonathan Pollard. Subsequently, the Israelis apologized for the affair
and asserted that the operation was unauthorized. Repeated appeals
to the president of the United States by some Jewish groups for a par-
don or clemency have consistently been turned down.POLYGRAPH.Commonly known as the lie detector, polygraph testing
is widely used in the intelligence community (IC) to screen employ-
ees, to establish eligibility for access to classified intelligence infor-
mation, and for general counterintelligencepurposes. The Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA) in particular uses the polygraph to test any
candidate for employment and retest personnel as a condition for con-
tinued employment. The polygraph is also used as a tool in the inves-
tigation of unauthorized disclosures of classified information and
other offenses as well as in law enforcement for specific purposes.
The polygraph machine is designed to record physiological
changes resulting from telling a lie. However, because physical
changes caused by emotional factors, such as feelings of guilt, are
similar to those caused by lies, American courts have ruled that the
results of a polygraph are unacceptable in legal cases. In addition, the
National Research Council has found that lie detectors are too unre-
liable to be used in screening for national security purposes. For in-
stance, some Americans who have spied for foreign nations—such as
the CIA’s Aldrich Amesand the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s
(FBI’s) Robert Hanssen—did so with relative impunity after pass-
ing repeated polygraph examinations focusing on counterintelligence
issues designed to ferret them out. However, the polygraph machine
continues to be useful as a deterrent and a method of intimidation.
The Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 prohibits much,
but not all, preemployment private sector polygraph testing. Testing
of employees is permitted to solve an employer’s “economic loss.”
There are exceptions for guards, armored car personnel, and those
who handle drugs and narcotics. The EPPAdoes not affect testing for
attorneys or local, state, or federal agencies.POPOV, DUSKO (1912–1981).Dusko Popov was a World War II
German spy who also worked for British intelligence. See alsoTRI-
CYCLE AFFAIR.POPOV, DUSKO• 15705-398 (2) Dictionary.qxd 10/20/05 6:27 AM Page 157