Why People Spy
!CAUTION! YOU ARE IN A “VERBAL SHRAPNEL” RICH DOMAIN
Dr. Hibler started the meeting off with a pre-lunch presentation entitled, “Why People Spy: Understanding Espionage to Develop Ever More Effective Deterrents” which defines the threat and describes measures to manage its risks. He observed that physical security specialists have been able to keep those “bad guys” on the outside from gaining direct access to classified information. In fact, the 100+ Americans prosecuted since WWII for espionage came from the inside: “Everyone in the history of our nation who has stolen information had a clearance.” However, the thought of espionage developed only AFTER they were indoctrinated, given access to sensitive data and on the job.
Why did they do it?
This is analogous to wedding couples: “How many couples walk down the aisle with the thought that they are doing this in order to get divorced?” Yet, over 50% of marriages end in divorce. In those newly cleared for access to our country’s secrets, as in newlyweds, something changes down the road. Hibler calls them, “unhappy campers” with underlying personality faults:
1) They felt a loss of control; wanted more power;
2) They felt unrecognized and/or unappreciated;
3) They believed they were special, deserved better and espionage seemed easy.
So easy that Dr. Hibler quotes one as saying, “My 8-year old kid could do it.” And, because they could get away with that which is so closely held, they felt potent.
How are these risks managed? Step one is the selection of those who are least likely to spy during the entry-screening process—those who can successfully manage their lives. Those who are emotionally stable, self-satisfying, and stress resistant. Ideally, these traits are illuminated during the background investigation. However, it is, perhaps, the update or 3-5 year reinvestigation when changes in those personality traits appear: “Every spy changed his behavior from what he did p