The truth behind the mysterious illnesses known as Havana syndrome is still unknown, White House officials said Friday, contradicting a new intelligence assessment of what happened to spies and diplomats over the past nine years.
Office of the Directorate of National Intelligence on Friday released an updated assessment of the diseasesone that substantially reinforced his earlier conclusion that no foreign government was responsible for them. But the document, moment 2023 update of the results of the intelligence communitynoted that the two spy agencies had shifted positions, at least subtly.
While the White House noted the change in a briefing with reporters, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a separate briefing that differed sharply in emphasis and tone.
It was a rather odd note for President Biden to end his term in office. While President-elect Donald J. Trump regularly questioned the spy agency's findings during his first term, Mr. Biden's White House has embraced the analytical work of its own intelligence community. But on Friday, administration officials took a very different tack than intelligence agencies.
The cases and symptoms were first reported in Cuba in 2016 and were collectively called Havana Syndrome. What the government calls Anomalous Health Events, or AHI, has continued throughout the Trump administration and peaked in the first year of the Biden administration.
Spies and diplomats around the world have reported hearing noises or feeling changes in pressure before suffering a range of symptoms, including migraines, dizziness and nausea. Some symptoms persist for years and are similar to those associated with traumatic brain injuries.
A senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive material, said the outcome remains a secret and noted that the government must be open to the fact that “we don't have all the answers.”
Administration officials have emphasized that some agencies now differ from the overall findings of the intelligence community. Sean Savett, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said the new assessment “involves a change in fundamental judgment by some intelligence components” and reinforces the importance of continuing and investigating the issues.
But an official at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive material, said the general view of most agencies remained unchanged. They believe it is “highly unlikely” that a foreign enemy was responsible for the diseases.
An intelligence official said it was sensitive intelligence, not lack of evidence, that led several agencies to this conclusion.
Officials have previously said that no communications or other information indicates that Russia, China, Cuba or any other adversary orchestrated the attacks. Some intelligence suggests that foreign operatives were confused about the Havana syndrome allegations.
The two agencies, which have reversed their positions, still believe that a foreign government is unlikely to be responsible. But they left open the possibility that a foreign government could develop a new weapon or prototype to harm US government employees, although one of the agencies determined that such a device was unlikely to be used.
Some people suffering from Havana Syndrome and their legal representatives criticized the findings of the new intelligence report and praised the White House for pressing for a renewed investigation.
Mark Zaid, a lawyer representing several people suffering from Havana syndrome, said the intelligence agencies were continuing to “hide the truth”.
“The fact that the White House's statement differs from that of the intelligence community, an agency said to be under the president's control, speaks volumes about the lack of integrity of the evidence on which to base any conclusion that a foreign government was not involved in AHI attacks against Americans.” Mr. Zaid said.
State Department official Mark Lenzi, who developed symptoms while serving in China and continues to be treated for Havana Syndrome, said he believes pulsed microwave radiation, a type of directed energy device or weapon that can cause brain damage, is responsible. diseases.
“The White House is absolutely right to be skeptical and dismissive of this biased and innocuous fake assessment,” Mr. Lenzi said.