Counterintelligence

Paper Summary:

This paper examines ways of weeding out and preventing moles from infiltrating intelligence organizations, as well as determining the legitimacy of information received from foreign moles. The author discusses the CIA's technique of periodic investigation, blanket searches, character and behavior analysis, and the use of the polygraph. The author assesses the polygraph as being not infallible but nevertheless an excellent first-wave method of minimizing risk in recruitment and in intelligence breaches.

From the Paper:

"Perhaps the most commonly used method of weeding out any potential security threats is to periodically investigate employees of intelligence agencies every few years, and to also conduct investigations at any time when their reliability comes into question. The expressed technique of the CIA is "to reinvestigate CIA employees every five years, whether they need it or not, as well as when questions arise about the individual's behavior." This, of course, relies upon both the use of the polygraph and general collection of information on the individual."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Codevilla, Angelo. 1992. Informing Statecraft. New York: the Free Press.
• Godson, Roy. 1995. Dirty Tricks or Trump Cards. Washington: Brassey's.
• Richelson, Jeffrey T. 1999. The U.S. Intelligence Community: Fourth Edition. Boulder: Westview Press.

More papers on Counterintelligence:

• Analytical Essay # 148477 : "The CIA and Counterintelligence"
• Research Paper # 101794 : "Standards of Ethics for Counterintelligence"
• Term Paper # 13504 : "CIA Reforms"

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