CHR - Trust In Government

TOP LINE:

On the way out the door, the Biden White House has taken a position in conflict with the intelligence community over the mysterious illness known as Havana Syndrome and the potential role of directed energy weapons.

This leaves the incoming Trump administration with a hot mess that may implicate China, Russia, or other foreign adversaries.  The Biden Administration’s timing is suspect.

DEEP DIVE:

On Friday, January 10th, the same day the intelligence community sought to undercut the credibility of directed energy attacks on US government personnel, a senior Defense Department official circulated a letter aimed at reassuring injured military and intelligence operatives. 

The DoD letter, obtained by our investigative team, told injured service members “your experiences are real.”

“As many of you know from your own professional experiences, intelligence assessments are important tools that often help decision-makers understand the threat environment and consider options.  They are not a statement of policy, but instead represent intelligence agencies’ judgements at a point in time…..”

“I hope you can be reassured that the DoD team believes your experiences are real, is listening to your concerns, and remains committed to ensuring that you receive the best care and services..”

(Over the weekend, we contacted the Office of the Secretary of Defense seeking comment about the letter. There was no response.  We will, of course, update if we hear back.)

This week’s new Intelligence Community Assessment seemed designed to undercut two recent and scathing congressional reports as well as credible claims from US government personnel that their debilitating symptoms are the result of a directed energy attack.

Anomalous Health Incidents, or “AHIs” are a constellation of cognitive and neurological symptoms ranging from ringing in the ears, eye tracking dysfunction, balance issues and brain damage. The mysterious illness takes its name “Havana Syndrome” from a cluster of cases reported in Cuba nearly a decade ago.

The updated Intelligence Community Assessment or ICA concluded, “In judging that it is ‘very unlikely’ that a foreign actor is responsible, five IC (intelligence community) components place emphasis on sensitive intelligence reporting continuing to point away from foreign involvement.”

Two intelligence agencies have now shifted their positions on the likelihood foreign adversaries have carried out attacks or developed a directed energy weapon capability.  It suggests the consensus on Havana Syndrome is fracturing. Based on our reporting, we believe the two dissenting agencies are likely the NSA (signals intelligence) and FBI (domestic incidents) which is notable given the weight signals intelligence plays in all source analysis.

“In contrast, one IC (intelligence community) component judges there is a ‘roughly even chance’ a foreign actor has used a novel weapon…Another IC (intelligence community) component judges there is a ‘roughly even chance’ a foreign actor has developed a novel weapon…However, this component continues to assess it is unlikely a foreign actor has deployed such a weapon…”

A former intelligence analyst said of the assessment, “The updated ICA doesn't even adhere to the agency's basic analytic tradecraft standards. They claim to have "moderate-to-high confidence," which requires few intelligence gaps and an absence of contradictory evidence. A recent IC experts panel conclusions totally contradict the assessment findings -- meaning analysts would have to totally ignore what their own experts concluded.”

Posted on X nearly two weeks before the new intelligence report, our Havana Syndrome investigation called “Government Gaslighting” drew on reporting from more than a dozen individuals who have explored or experienced AHIs.  

Since publication, more US government personnel have come forward to our team.  Some say their government agency discouraged them from reporting AHI incidents, and when they did, they say they were retaliated against including the revocation of their security clearances.  The CIA denies retaliation claims.

Based on our reporting, the ICA was supposed to be released last month, but it was delayed after two congressional investigations were highly critical of the CIA and the nation’s top intelligence official, the Director of National Intelligence.

In early December, a GOP House congressional report found “it appears increasingly likely’ a foreign adversary is behind some of these attacks.  The report singled out the CIA and the Director of National Intelligence for allegedly impeding congressional oversight efforts to uncover the facts.

An equally critical report from the Senate Intelligence Committee documented allegations of government gaslighting,writing that “many individuals faced obstacles to timely and sufficient care.”  

The report went further, criticizing the Agency for halting its collection of clinical research, “...the Committee nevertheless assesses that CIA may not be well postured to respond to future AHI reports and to facilitate quick, accessible, high-quality medical care for those who need it, particularly in the case of another AHI cluster.”

Government records recently shared with our team underscore the disconnect between the Defense Department and the CIA over its treatment of affected personnel.  The Defense Department is more forward leaning and provides the most consistent support.

By contrast, the CIA is accused of “gaslighting” affected intelligence officers. Their traumatic brain, inner ear and eye injuries are well documented, but the intelligence community insists they were “probably the result of factors that did not involve a foreign adversary, such as pre-existing conditions, conventional illnesses and environmental factors."

“Alice,” a medically retired CIA officer, was interviewed for our project. She says she experienced an AHI while on assignment in Africa.  She described how her brain was “fried” by a directed energy attack. One of the best analogies is a computer: the hardware is still there, but the software is corrupted.  You no longer get updates. You can’t connect the dots anymore.  System components, like your balance, and vision, don’t work together.   We heard stories about intelligence officers having to learn to walk again. 

While we don’t have the whole picture, we understood that many officers who experienced AHIs were on a leadership track. Some privately question if there may be an insider threat because there are clusters of cases.  For example, several AHI survivors worked on the same project but from different countries. 

As the Biden White House leaves the door open to attacks by foreign adversaries,  the senate confirmation process begins for top national security positions in the Trump administration.  Havana Syndrome survivors, such as Marc Polymeropoulos, a former senior CIA officer who was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury after he says he was attacked by a directed energy weapon, sees an opening.

“I have been a strong critic of President Trump, yet on this issue I believe there is absolute common ground with the new administration. In fact,  I believe this new administration will be far more forward leaning in getting to the bottom of AHIs, and I look forward to working with them on this,” Polymeropoulos said. 

“During the confirmation hearings for (SEC DEF) nominee Pete Hegseth, (FBI Director) Kash Patel, (Director of National Intelligence) Tulsi Gabbard and (CIA Director) John Ratcliffe, senators should ask about AHIs,” Polymeropoulos explained. “There are three bins, accountability (no one involved previously in this issue should keep their job), health care and attribution.” 

“Catherine Herridge Reports” is six months old. We see so much opportunity for independent journalism. Our reporting has already achieved the kind of accountability corporate media strives for.  

After our investigation, “Adding Insult to Injury: When Service Members Take A Back Seat to Iran,” nine Purple Hearts were awarded to soldiers whose base was hit by Iranian ballistic missiles in January 2020. 

After our investigation, “The Cost of Following Orders: COVID Vaccine Injured In The US Military,” a 24-year old soldier was granted “full relief” and two years back pay after her debilitating heart condition was linked to the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.

Independent journalism is about innovation. With seven million views for the Havana Syndrome investigation, we are sharing new reporting with subscribers called “The Back Story.”

Think of it as a conversation about the legwork, the research as well the background reporting that goes into the final investigation on your screen. 

It’s a personal account of why we believe there is no substitute for fact driven reporting that tells the stories we could not tell before because of political and corporate pressures. 

“The Back Story,” a fully edited 14 minute project drops Monday on our website for paid subscribers and those who have already donated! We can’t do this reporting without your generous support!

Investigations into the Afghanistan withdrawal, Russia Gate and government overreach are ahead.

Best, Catherine