April 16,
2008: PCASS (Preliminary Credibility Assessment Screening System) is yet
another police type tool being issued to the troops in Iraq, to make it easier
to find the bad guys. PCASS is a hand held lie detector. The device has three
wires, with finger cups, that are attached to three of the subjects fingers.
You then ask twenty questions, and the subject answers yes or no. PCASS them
gives you a green (truthful), red (lying) or yellow (uncertain) indicator.
PCASS
users are cautioned that the device can be deceived by anyone taught some
simple techniques. But since most potential suspects the troops encountered are
not highly trained, PCASS will allow separating potential terrorists from large
groups of innocent people. PCASS is not the first bit of police technology the
troops have been using. There is a quick explosives exposure test, which can be
performed on the hands of people, to see if they have handled explosives or
fired guns recently. Very useful. Later came the ID kit, which allowed troops
to quickly take fingerprints (electronically), iris scans and photos of people.
Names, location and other information is entered with this. Over several years
of using the ID kit, a large database was built up, which led to catching
thousands of terrorists.
None of
these tools are, alone, spectacular. But taken together, over several years,
the impact has been enormous.
