PerryScope/ The mysterious Havana Syndrome

The mysterious Havana Syndrome

PHOTO CAPTION: (Left photo) The Hotel Nacional in Havana is one of the locations where the Havana Syndrome has been experienced. Wikipedia photo by By Jongleur .

 FIVE YEARS and some 200 victims later, a mysterious malady that often starts with a sound — described as “buzzing,” “grinding metal” and “piercing squeals” — had spread around the world.

The first cases were CIA spies, who kept the attacks secret for a while.  But eventually word got out and it spread like wildfire.  In late 2016, twenty-six personnel and family members reported a wide variety of symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, hearing and vision loss, severe and debilitating cognitive impairment, tinnitus, brain fog, vertigo, and loss of motor control.  It affected the lives of diplomats, spies, Defense and National Security personnel working in US embassies around the world and at home.  It has come to be known as the “Havana Syndrome” since it first occurred at the US embassy in Havana, Cuba.

 The victims complained of being bombarded by waves of pressure in their heads. Some described the noise as an immense swarm of cicadas filling their heads. Others characterized the effects as a wall of sound.  Recently, it occurred at the White House victimizing two National Safety Council staffers. One said that when the attack occurred, he felt “as if I was going to die.”

Act of war

Doctors, scientists, intelligence agents and government officials have all been trying to find out what causes “Havana Syndrome,” which originally had struck diplomats and spies in Havana; hence, the term “Havana Syndrome.”  Some call it an act of war, others wonder if it is some new and secret form of surveillance.  And some people believe it could be all in the mind, which of course is ridiculous considering the extent of the attacks in various cities around the world.

But for lack of solid evidence as to its origin, the Havana Syndrome had been downplayed by government officials who call it “anomalous health incidents.” But the major media outlets label them as “attacks,” as well as top officials, albeit privately, for fear of antagonizing geopolitical rivals without proof.  Holy mackerel!  Isn’t the multitude of cases enough to prove that Havana Syndrome exists?  Is it because doing so would point fingers at the Russians – or the Chinese — as the source that triggers the Havana Syndrome attacks?

Microwave energy weapons

 Two reports emerged from the studies conducted on Havana Syndrome.  One report concluded that there were four plausible attack vectors on US officials: directed energy weapons, chemicals, infectious agents, and psychological and social factors.  However, they are deemed speculative since they lack scientific evidence with the exception of “directed energy weapons,” which is supported by several officials, particularly CIA Director Williams Burns who emphasized the “very strong possibility” that Havana Syndrome was the result of intentional attacks.  Could he be referring to “microwave energy weapons,” which Russia and China have been involved in their long term directed energy weapon research and development?  Incidentally, the Russians have developed portable microwave energy weapons that can fit into a van or SUV with a range of 500 to 1,000 yards, which can be conveniently parked in front of a US embassy anywhere in the world and hit the target at close range.

But due to lack of concrete evidence, neither the directed energy weapon theory nor any proposed alternatives can be proven or disproven, which leaves those suffering from Havana Syndrome living in misery.
A bipartisan group of senators is urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take immediate action to the widespread occurrence of Havana Syndrome.  They called the phenomenon “a significant, unmitigated threat to our national security.”

They called on Blinken to “immediately” appoint a senior-level official to replace someone who was inattentive to the plight of the victims.  What’s the matter with Blinken?

HAVANA Act

Consequently, President Biden signed into law a bill – known as the HAVANA (Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks) Act — passed unanimously by both houses of Congress that would boost financial support for victims who have suffered brain injuries while working for the CIA or State Department.

Meanwhile, uncovering the truth has become a top US national security priority, which one official described as the most difficult intelligence challenge they have ever faced.  And because of geopolitical concerns, hard evidence has been elusive, making the Havana Syndrome a battleground for competing theories.  But microwave energy weapons have emerged as the likely culprit.  First of all, it’s invisible, silent, and portable, which can be moved anywhere.

It all began in 2015 when the US and Cuba re-established diplomatic relations.  With its newly opened embassy, the US had started collecting intelligence and pushing back against Russian and Chinese spies.  Cuba became the new geopolitical battleground.

It was then that the sounds began.

While the US is cautious not to accuse the Russians and Chinese of the microwave energy weapon attacks, these attacks began in Moscow in 1953, sixty-eight years ago!  And the Russians privately admitted this, and justified it because they were simply jamming listening devices on the US embassy’s roof, as reported by the New York Times some 45 years ago: “The Russians have privately admitted to using microwaves, to counter the array of listening devices on the [US embassy’s] roof.”   Some people think they use microwaves to activate their own surveillance devices hidden in the embassy.

But that was during the Soviet communist era and today there is a new sheriff in Moscow disguised as a peaceful world leader.  But make no mistake, once a communist, always a communist.   So nothing much has changed between the US and Russia, which remains a totalitarian society today.  They’re still geopolitical rivals, distrustful of each other.

The July 16, 2021 issue of The New Yorker, said: “Many American officials suspect that Russian operators and technology are responsible for the [Havana] syndrome, but quoted a senior Biden administration official as saying, ‘We have not yet determined intent or motive. We do not have a view on that yet.’”  It also revealed that since Biden was elected president, the attacks have largely shifted to Vienna, with some two-dozen directed against American officials.  In my opinion, I believe Biden should call the Havana Syndrome the greatest geopolitical issue in the world today.  An attack on a US embassy is an attack on US sovereignty.

And this brings the Havana Syndrome to the forefront of US-Russia geopolitical rivalry.  I believe that President Biden should make it a high priority foreign relations issue.  He must act now!

(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)