text: FM 2-22.3 _________________________________________________________________________________
  helpless situation. For example “it is hopeless for your forces to continue
  fighting because they can no longer get supplies, but you can help end the
  war and their suffering.” When employing this technique, the HUMINT
  collector must have factual information. The HUMINT collector presents
  these facts in a persuasive, logical manner. He should be aware of and able to
  exploit the source's psychological and moral weaknesses, as well as
  weaknesses inherent in his society.
  8-50. The futility approach is effective when the HUMINT collector can play
  on doubts that already exist in the source's mind. Factual or seemingly
  factual information must be presented in a persuasive, logical manner, and
  in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. Making the situation appear hopeless allows
  the source to rationalize his actions, especially if that action is cooperating
  with the HUMINT collector. When employing this technique, the HUMINT
  collector must not only have factual information but also be aware of and
  exploit the source's psychological, moral, and sociological weaknesses.
  Another way of using the futility approach is to blow things out of proportion.
  If the source's unit was low on, or had exhausted, all food supplies, he can be
  easily led to believe all of his forces had run out of food. If the source is
  verging on cooperating, it may aid the collection effort if he is told all the
  other sources have cooperated.
  8-51. The futility approach must be orchestrated with other approach
  techniques (for example, love of comrades). A source who may want to help
  save his comrades' lives may be convinced the battlefield situation is hopeless
  and they will die without his assistance. The futility approach is used to
  paint a bleak picture for the prisoner, but it is not normally effective in and
  of itself in gaining the source's cooperation.
  Other Approaches
  8-52. There are numerous other approaches but most require considerable
  time and resources. Most are more appropriate for use with sources who are
  detainees, but some, such as change of scenery, may have application for
  elicitation or MSO.
  8-53. We Know All. (Interrogation) In the “we know all” approach
  technique, the HUMINT collector subtly convinces the source that his
  questioning of the source is perfunctory because any information that the
  source has is already known. This approach may be employed in conjunction
  with the "file and dossier" technique or by itself. If used alone, the HUMINT
  collector must first become thoroughly familiar with available data
  concerning the source and the current situation. To begin the collection
  effort, the HUMINT collector asks questions based on this known data.
  8-54. When the source hesitates, refuses to answer, or provides an incorrect
  or incomplete reply, the HUMINT collector provides the detailed answer
  himself. The HUMINT collector may even complete a source's answer, as if
  he is bored and just “going through the motions.” When the source begins to
  give accurate and complete information, the HUMINT collector interjects
  pertinent questions. Questions to which answers are already known are also
  asked periodically to test the source's truthfulness and to maintain the
  deception that the information is already known. There are some inherent