Topline
Some of the mysterious set of symptoms known as “Havana syndrome” that has plagued hundreds of American diplomats stationed overseas may be caused by directed energy, according to the findings of a panel of U.S. intelligence experts.
A general view of Embassy of the United State of America in Cuba, Havana on September 18, 2017.
Key Facts
Pulsed electromagnetic energy – especially in the radiofrequency range – and ultrasound in close-access scenarios could “plausibly” cause symptoms seen in a subset of cases, though there were “information gaps” for both theories, according to an executive summary of the panel’s findings declassified Wednesday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
The panel focused on an undisclosed number of cases in which there were health complaints it believed were hard to explain through normal means, including stress or mass hysteria, that had four core characteristics:
A sudden onset of hearing or balance-related issues, sometimes including sound or pressure in one ear or on one side of the head; vertigo and losing the sense of balance or direction and ear pain; a sense that there was a direction from which the pain came; and no known medical or environmental conditions that could have caused the symptoms.
The signs and symptoms of Havana Syndrome are “genuine and compelling,” according to the panel, which was made up of experts from inside and outside the U.S. government.
They ruled out several potential causes as “implausible” to explain Havana Syndrome, including ionizing radiation, chemical and biological agents, infrasound, audible sound, long-distance ultrasound and bulk heating from electromagnetic energy.
The panel recommended that the government conduct more research and gather more data about Havana Syndrome, come up with biomarkers that will help diagnose people and increase communication with government employees about the symptoms.
Crucial Quote
The panel’s findings “will help sharpen the work of the [intelligence community] and broader U.S. Government as we focus on possible causes. We will stay at it, with continued rigor, for however long it takes,” said Director of National Intelligence Avril D. Haines and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency William J. Burns in a joint statement.
Contra
Not all experts agree with the panel’s findings. Critics argue that a direct-energy weapon like microwaves are too impractical to be plausible and that there’s not enough evidence to back up their existence or their role in causing Havana Syndrome.
Key Background
The panel was made up of experts in science, medicine, and engineering, according to the DNI. They were not tasked with figuring out where Havana Syndrome comes from, and whether foreign governments may be involved. Russian government agents are considered by some in the intelligence community to be a leading suspect, an allegation the Kremlin denies. The panel will continue to research the syndrome. Two weeks ago, the CIA found that the vast majority of Havana Syndrome cases were not caused by a hostile foreign power, based on interim findings. On Monday, the Biden administration announced Maher Bitar, a senior official on the National Security Council, would act as a coordinator across agencies regarding Havana Syndrome. The first cases were reported among staff in the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, in 2016. Since then, around 200 cases have been detected among U.S. diplomats, military and intelligence personnel, and other government officials working abroad in around a dozen countries and on every continent except Antarctica.
Further Reading
Majority Of Mysterious ‘Havana Syndrome’ Cases Not Linked To Hostile Foreign Power, CIA Finds (Forbes)
Blinken: U.S. Still Unsure What—Or Who—Is Responsible For Havana Syndrome Amid Reports Of New Cases In Paris And Geneva (Forbes)
CIA Director Reportedly Warned Russian Intelligence Over Havana Syndrome (Forbes)
Berlin Investigates Possible ‘Havana Syndrome’ Attack On U.S. Embassy. Here’s Everywhere Else It Allegedly Happened. (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2022/02/02/havana-syndrome-may-be-caused-by-directed-energy-intelligence-panel-finds/