As March 2024 closed, the Insider together with CBS News and Der Speigel published their expose and aired their segments on 60 Minutes which detailed the current state of affairs concerning anomalous health incidents (AHIs) aka the “Havana Syndrome.”
Alleged: Russia is attacking U.S. personnel and Families
The revelations brought to the forefront an alternative analysis on the origin of the source of these AHIs to that which the Office of Director Intelligence (ODNI) provided in their 2023 report. The primary and most acute difference is the association of the AHI attacks to Russian military intelligence (GRU) Unit 29155, known for their involvement in lethal operations as identified as being behind these attacks.
Unit 29155 personnel and associates have been identified as being in proximity to the locations where the targeted individuals (and families) with U.S. government affiliation and more specifically a Russia nexus have been attacked. These attacks have happened both domestically and abroad, and frankly raised far more questions than are answered.
The expose, the 60 Minutes episode, and subsequent interviews and first-person accounts, such as that provided by retired CIA officer, Marc Polymeropoulos, indicates the U.S. intelligence community has and is not handling the AHIs in the best manner, but one which this author has himself experienced in the past.
First person experience
While on assignment in the former Soviet Union in the early 1980s, I and my family were subjected to gamma ray flooding, microwave flooding, and regularly dousing and painting with what has become known as “spy dust” (luminol and nppd). The flooding of our offices and quarters by various energy sources were no doubt for clandestine collection purposes; the painting of our residences and vehicles were to allow the KGB at the time to associate our DNA and chemical marker if found on a Soviet citizen under suspicion of having contact with the U.S. intelligence. When we took swipes to see just how pervasive the spy dust presence was in our flat, my infant son’s crib, changing table, and room in general was the most heavily doused.
At that time, while EPA and others came to the USSR and conducted studies in the end, the conclusion was, “no worries, you’ll be just fine.” One was left with doubt and the feeling “that the can” had been kicked all the way down the road and out of sight.
The USG would like a word
- ODNI – “most IC agencies have concluded that it is very unlikely a foreign adversary is responsible for the reported AHIs. The IC agencies have varying confidence levels because we still have gaps given the challenges collecting on foreign adversaries – as we do on many issues involving them.”
- FBI – “We will continue to work alongside our partners in the intelligence community as part of the interagency effort to determine how we can best protect our personnel.” Adding, “the FBI has messaged its workforce on how to respond if they experience an AHI, how to report an incident, and where they can receive medical evaluations for symptoms or persistent effects.”
- White House – “…has directed departments and agencies across the federal government to prioritize investigations into the cause of AHIs and to examine reports thoroughly; to ensure that U.S. Government personnel and their families who report AHIs receive the support and timely access to medical care that they need; and to take reports of AHIs seriously and treat personnel with respect and compassion.”
From this seat, all canned responses and none revelatory or surprising. ODNI is sticking to their guns that the investigation and research continues, and they aren’t ready to point the finger to any U.S. adversary. The FBI promises to care for their personnel and the White House points to existing resources.
Resources exist
The Intelligence Authorization Act of 2024 ensured support for victims of AHI across the intelligence community elements and made possible flexibility to the CIA to “for payments to qualified victims” and required each IC element to “issue regulations and procedures for implementing the Havana Act of 2021 authorities.” Those authorities authorized the CIA, State and other agencies to provide payments to those agency personnel who incur brain injuries from hostilities while on assignment. On assignment is defined as:
- during a period of assignment to a foreign or domestic duty station.
- in connection with war, insurgency, hostile acts, terrorist activity, or other agency-designated incidents; and
- not as the result of willful misconduct.
It is clear, as detailed in the Insider expose and the 60 Minutes segments which included discussion with victims of AHI, authorized mechanisms are available and achievable by the various agencies, yet these same agencies apparently are keeping the bar high for victims to garner care and or relief as authorized.
A Russian offensive counterintelligence effort?
Why the ODNI in their statement has doubled down on their position that the AHIs are not being directed by an adversary remains puzzling.
The use of energy weapons against U.S. personnel is considered by Putin to be one of his most effective counterintelligence operation neutralizing those with knowledge of Russia, working against the Russian intelligence efforts. Indeed, as detailed in the expose numerous medals and awards have been presented to those evolving directed energy weapons.
The Soviet’s didn’t care then (during my time in the USSR), nor do they care now, as to the possible longstanding health issues which may follow their use of technology in an offensive counterintelligence manner.
That said, the need for effective countermeasures to these attacks which result in AHIs against U.S. government personnel and families is crucial.
