Havana Syndrome: The CIA Ruled Out A Foreign Power – The HuffPost

POOL News via Reuters

UNITED STATES – Will the enigmatic “Havana syndrome” ever be overcome? The CIA has, for the moment, dismissed the trail of an attack by a foreign power in this mysterious evil which strikes American diplomats throughout the world, according to information published by the New York Times Wednesday January 19. Some had attributed these “acoustic attacks” to Russia.

the New York Times and NBC cite preliminary CIA findings on incidents that first occurred in 2016 in the Cuban capital. American and Canadian diplomats complained of severe headaches and nausea. In all, nearly 200 cases – confirmed or presumed – have been mentioned. Recently, cases of Havana syndrome have been detected in Paris and Geneva.

Twenty unexplained cases

“In hundreds of cases, the agency found plausible and alternative explanations” for a foreign operation, sources quoted by NBC. But the investigation of the CIA continues concerning about twenty cases which remain unexplained.

NBC clarifies that “the interim report was not a final conclusion of the Biden administration or the entire intelligence community,” citing US officials.

A group of victims quoted by the New York Times said the CIA’s findings “cannot and should not be the final word on the matter.”

“Although we have reached important intermediate conclusions, we are not finished”, tried to reassure William J. Burns, the director of the CIA, questioned by the New York Times. “We will continue to investigate these incidents,” he said.

Brain damage diagnosed

In November, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged to “shed light” on the “Havana Syndrome”, appointing two diplomats with experience in the matter. These “abnormal health incidents”, as they are called in the administrative jargon, are characterized by severe migraines, dizziness or nausea. Brain damage has even been diagnosed.

Since its appearance in Havana, cases have successively been reported in China, Germany, Australia, Russia, Austria and even in Washington. The State Department refuses to provide an estimate of the number of people affected, the figure of 200 is mentioned.

From the start, US authorities have wavered, with some officials downplaying symptoms sometimes attributed to stress, others privately discussing possible radio wave attacks and suspecting countries like Russia. But this thesis is also questioned by some scientists, who consider a common cause unlikely for all the reported cases.

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