Are Intelligence Agencies' Hiring Procedures Too Strict?

[tequila]

Of possible related interest, this post on Afghanistanica about foreign area students (not necessarily born in foreign countries, but rather grad student specialists in foreign areas) and the various reasons they failed the security clearance process.

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The students applied to the CIA, NSA, State Department and the US military. The rejections came for a variety of reasons:

1. Participation in a study abroad program in Turkey.

2. Dated a Chinese girl for a few months.

3. Friends with a non-Persian Iranian who has been an American for quite some time.

4. Currently dating a girl from an extremely moderate “Muslim” country.

5. Taught English in Turkey.

6. Studied in Kazakhstan.

7. Dual citizenship with NATO country.

8. Married to a foreigner.

9. Polygraph examiners rejected guy who was too calm.

10. Dated someone from Latin America.

11. Traveled in the Middle East.

12. Etc….

I know these people and I can assure you that if Al Qaeda approached them with a bag full of coke and a roll of cash, they would not be persuaded to betray their country. If you say that “too bad, the requirements are rightfully strict.” I would point out that the US government is in no position to have such standards. This is not like applying to be a Navy flier along with many other extremely qualified candidates. I have met people in our intelligence community and they are good people, but they do not compare to someone who speaks Farsi-Dari and Uzbek and has studied the region in-depth for the last five years ...