Havana Syndrome, Malevolent Microwave Attacks

"[The Canadian government is trying to] sweep things away quietly and carry on as if there is nothing to see  here. What is being done is simply not good enough."

"I thought, all right then things are fine [told of no confirmed cases of Havana syndrome with Canadian diplomatic staff since 2018 in Cuba]. It has been almost three years since things happened. There is no apparent reason for concern."

"I had no idea. The department did not tell me about them [other 'incidents']. [Global Affairs] had been withholding and hiding information and being rather dishonest about the reality there and the risks."

"It is a perfect storm of privacy, security and bureaucratic inertia all coming together to make sure things don't happen."

"One would thnk the top priority would be to find out what it is that is potentially putting all of our international staff everywere in the world at risk and defend against it. Instead, they are choosing to leave their people to fend for themselves. Why?"

Top echelon Canadian diplomat (name withheld)

"There is no other explanation for it, considering he can identify the time and date of the attack and the symptoms are the same as every other case."

The lack of care, the lack of support from the government has been disgraceful. They are throwing these people under the bus."

Lawyer Paul Miller

A high-ranking Canadian diplomat in Cuba was flown home for assessment earlier this year after experiencing neurological symptoms consistent with Havana syndrome. The man, who the lawyer described as “high-ranking,” had only been posted in Cuba for a short time before the incident in February. Photo by Desmond Boylan /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The mysterious, unseen, unheard, unexpected and little-understood attacks remain a mystery, even as they continue to re-occur, now not only in Havana, Cuba, but elsewhere in the world as well, wherever the U.S. and Canada have their diplomatic missions abroad. The attacks' origin is as unknown as is the uncertanty over the nature of the attacks themselves. What is no mystery is the great physical and psychological harm they cause to people innocent of any aggravating effect that might bring such punishing attacks upon them.

Research has been incapable of conclusively identifying the method of the attacks, what they are comprised of to render them so ubiquitous and effective, and who might be directing them to malevolent effect, much less why. Although uncertainty remains and many experts in the field of microwave energy are skeptical, U.S. investigations concluded Havana syndrome to result from targeted energy attacks. The whys and wherefores  unknown, much less the hows.

When it first emerged in Havana, striking American diplomats and members of their families, and then Canadians were also targeted, many observers suggested some type of hysteria was at play. Until patient studies revealed brain abnormalities caused by some type of blunt force trauma although there was no physical outer sign of anything amiss. People reported a sound reverberating in their heads and from that what emerged was imbalance, memory impact, headaches, dizziness and other critical brain function signals attesting to the reality of the attacks. Not psychosomatic as some suggested.

US Vice President Kamala Harris delayed her arrival in Hanoi after reports that US diplomats in the Vietnam capital may have experienced the mysterious illness dubbed "Havana Syndrome" EVELYN HOCKSTEIN POOL/AFP

Americal diplomatic personnel around the world have been affected by continued reports of Havana syndrome. Two American diplomats this week were evacuated from their posts in Vietnam following Havana syndrome attacks. In Canada, a high-ranking Canadian diplomat posted to Cuba was flown back to Canada for assessment early this year after undergoing an attack consistent with the syndrome.

His experience left him so devastated at the neurological symptoms he now suffers that he has become the latest in a string of Canadian diplomats to join a $28-million lawsuit brought against the government of Canada for neglect and abandonment of its employees. Before this man was posted to Cuba he was sent to Dalhousie University's Brain Repair Centre in Halifax for an assessment of his brain health.

Tests were conducted on his brain and cognitive functions. A routine of baseline testing that Canadian diplomats posted to Cuba since the concussion-like symptoms first appeared in 2017. There was no reason to be concerned he was told, no confirmed cases of Havana syndrome in Canadian diplomatic staff had occurred since 2018. Once in Cuba, however, his colleagues briefed him otherwise. Talk of 'incidents' since 2018 arose.

Russia and possibly China have developed technology capable of injuring brain and a US company made a prototype in 2004. A slide from the 60s or early 70s from a CIA briefing on microwave radiation. A microwave weapon has been suggested as a possible cause of ‘Havana Syndrome’ suffered by US officials. Photograph: Handout

 

One morning in February he felt his right ear begin reverberating: "It was like a ringing, but there was no sound", he explained. When it stopped after a minute he ran to the front door but there was no one about. In the days to follow his symptoms became more serious; distorted sound, echoing in one ear, ear pressure, and acute pain. Headaches developed and intensified pain in his ear and right side of his face. 

Flown out of Cuba back to Canada and on to Halifax for assessment, he underwent testing where he was unable to complete a balance test without falling over. Doctors identified inconsistency in his brain waves, but were unable to determine whether his was a case of Havana syndrome. He is still awaiting a definitive diagnosis. 

 

A physiotherapist he sought out treated what he diagnosed as a percussive force such as a targeted energy device that hit the man behind the right ear. Thanks to the treatment his symptoms were reduced, but vertigo and vision issues continue to emerge. "We are all on our own, so take care of yourself because Global Affairs is not going to", he was told by colleagues after he had arrived in Cuba. 

Multiple investigatons into the incidents were launched in the U.S. Some concluded the attacks were likely caused by the use of radio-frequency energy like microwave radiation. The Canadian government on the other hand has been silent about cases involving staff. A briefing was held in the spring to discuss plans to expand the Canadian mission in Cuba after staff was reduced in the wake of the original incidents.

Diplomats and their family members who suffer hearing, cognitive and balance issues are suing the federal government, with the claim that it had failed to protect them or to take adequate action to have them medically treated. The Canadian govrnment speaks of the "health, safety and security of ur diplomatic staff and their families is a priority", and that it is continuing to investigate the cause of Havana syndrome.

"At least two U.S. officials stationed in Germany sought medical treatment after developing symptoms of the mysterious health complaint known as Havana Syndrome, U.S. diplomats said."

"The symptoms, which included nausea, severe headaches, ear pain, fatigue, insomnia and sluggishness, began to emerge in recent months and some victims were left unable to work, the diplomats said. They are the first cases to be reported in a NATO country that hosts U.S. troops and nuclear weapons."

"U.S. diplomats said similar incidents had been registered among American officials stationed in other European nations, but declined to provide any detail."

Washington Post, 18 August 2021

The American Embassy in Berlin is investigating unexplained illness among U.S. staff posted in Germany.  Photo: Kay Nietfeld/DPA/Zuma Press

"American officials may have reason to fear Havana syndrome even on U.S. soil: In April, lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services committees said that there was an investigation into two potential Havana-like attacks in the States, including one reported instance involving a National Security Council official just south of the White House. In August, Vice-President Kamala Harris’s trip from Singapore to Vietnam was delayed after the U.S. embassy in Hanoi warned of a “report of a recent possible anomalous health incident,” the language that government officials use to describe Havana syndrome symptoms. While the symptoms have predominantly hit Americans, several Canadian officials have also reported experiencing Havana syndrome. In April, nine Canadian diplomats wrote to the foreign affairs minister saying they were struggling to get information from the government on their cases. Canadian Global Television Network reported at the time that there had been more than two dozen cases among Canadian officials."

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Havana Syndrome

"I was a zombie, basically. They sent me back with a damaged brain. They exposed me twice. I should not have been sent back there."

"People who were normal came back abnormal. I am not the same person."

"It seems almost certain that we were the victims of targeted attacks. There is no other plausible explanation."

"The fact that they can sit in a big meeting and blatantly tell us that everything is fine and they have a great system at hand for dealing with people, it is a brazen denial of our experience."

Unnamed 35-year Canadian diplomat

"[It's hard to say why the diplomats] aren't getting the respect they deserve from their government."

Lawyer Paul Miller

Canada's embassy in Havana, Cuba   Desmond Boylan / AP file

Eight Canadian diplomats who were posted to Cuba with their families and who experienced sudden, strange inexplicable 'attacks' of unknown origin that left them in a state of psychological and brain-physically imbalance have decided to take the Department of Foreign Affairs to court, joining a $28-million lawsuit against the Government of Canada. For neglect, among other issues, for lack of concern, lack of action, lack of full disclosure, lack of practical support when they were left vulnerable and ill, unable to live their normal lives because of exposure to a peculiar and unknown 'weapon' aimed strategically at American and Canadian diplomats posted to Cuba. 

Dalhousie University in Halifax took the lead in examining the diplomats' symptoms in an effort to understand and discover what it might have been that attacked them and affected their brains in the process. The government itself through its Department of Foreign Affairs (renamed Global Affairs by this government) did nothing to investigate the issue and even seemed to doubt the credibility of the sufferers, and nor did they arrange for medical treatment and follow-up for any of the diplomats or their dependants.

Leaving the diplomats and their families that accompanied them to Havana and shared the horrible experience, to fend for themselves, to seek out medical treatment in an effort to identify the problem and find a solution to their illness. In the experience of the diplomat quoted above who had requested anonymity, he was re-posted to Havana after being tested at Dalhousie University's Brain Repair Centre. A report was sent to Foreign Affairs on his condition, but it was never divulged by Foreign Affairs to him personally.

Instead, he was re-posted to Cuba. His formerly mild symptoms worsened considerably while he was in Cuba until he reached the point where he could no longer function at the Canadian Embassy in Havana due to the severity of the illness he finally succumbed to; memory loss, cognitive difficulties, dizziness. When he contacted the Canadian government for medical assistance he was returned to Canada and sent back to Dalhousie for urgent testing. A letter confirming him to be case No.15 in the Havana syndrome file of the government reached him.

 

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His neurological and other medical symptoms were originally reported back in 2016, when the syndrome first appeared, targeting American and Canadian Embassy staff. Diplomats concerned sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs last month, which pointed out that the department's actions worked "to diminish and distort what happened to Canadian diplomats for an agenda unconnected to their or their families' well-being". A meeting they had was "a disheartening reminder of the delays, mismanagement, half-truths and empty promises we have faced since 2017".

 

A US flag flies at the embassy in Cuba, where cases of Havana syndrome were first reported. Photograph: Desmond Boylan/AP

 

In the United States, authorities have aggressively investigated their cases of Havana syndrome among U.S. diplomats and other staff, including the CIA. U.S. numbers affected were put at 130, which included cases out of Europe, Asia and Cuba, according to a recent New York Times report. One American report concluded that the mysterious neurological and hearing symptoms were likely targeted microwave attacks, a find not shared by the Government of Canada.

A Dalhousie University study from 2019 suggested neurotoxins might have been involved, used to fumigate diplomats' housing, a suggestion rejected by the diplomats, that there is no research to support the theory and nor does it clarify why other nationals were not affected. Pesticides was rejected by the National Academy of Science in the U.S., as a possible cause. Another theories is that of mass hysteria, none of them having the credibility of microwave attacks being the source of the inexplicable illness with its neurological symptoms.

The unnamed diplomat continues to struggle with cognitive and memory issues, along with tinnitus and sleep problems, taking medication for cognitive impairment. His cognitive deficit is between 25 to 30 percent, he explains, and his career has been "put on a shelf", while he now prepares to retire. As far as he and other diplomats are concerned, the only explanation that makes sense is that put forward by the U.S. National Academy of Science report, that directed energy is the likely cause of Havana syndrome.

The group action lawyer, Paul Miller,  points out as well that children posted with their parents to Cuba who suffer similar symptoms have received no substantial testing or treatment, their families left largely to fend for themselves; that despite being employees along with their families of the Department of Foreign Affairs -- which incidentally recently posted notice of its intention to expand in Cuba, despite not yet solving the dilemma causing brain injuries suffered by diplomats and their families -- the situation has left them in a quandary and feeling "abandoned"..

"Since the beginning of the health incidents, the health, safety and security of our diplomatic staff and their families remains a priority."

"Global Affairs Canada maintains a strict security protocol to respond immediately to any unusual events affecting Canadian diplomats or their families posted to a mission abroad."

Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Christelle Chartrand