The medical evacuation of at least two U.S. diplomats to Vietnam ahead of Vice President Harris’ visit has exposed the Biden administration’s struggle to answer questions about the so-called Havana syndrome.
Hundreds of U.S. officers are believed to be suffering from serious health problems due to unidentified health incidents (UHI) that occur in U.S. offices around the world.
The evacuation of U.S. personnel to Vietnam, first reported by NBC, forced the vice president to delay her arrival in the country on Tuesday, drawing attention to an issue that the administration has been reluctant to to argue.
“The problem in Vietnam was the top-level reaction we’ve seen publicly,” said Mark Zaid, a lawyer who represents more than two dozen people affected by the UHI.
“And that now raises the question of whether he was serious enough to protect the vice president, and what about the rest of the people serving in those locations?”
President Biden
Joe Biden, father of Marine assassinated: “Biden turned his back” US conducts military strike against ISIS-K planner Pentagon official holds first talks with Chinese army under leadership Biden: MORE report took office promising to address more unanswered questions about Havana syndrome more urgently, so named because of the most prominent profile of these incidents that arose in 2016 among diplomats serving in Havana, Cuba.
Shocked U.S. officials have reported hearing a high-pitched sound that appeared to come from a specific direction, followed by sensations of intense pressure around the face and ears and that have caused overwhelming nausea.
Documented injuries range from short- and long-term symptoms of brain fog and headaches, dizziness, insomnia, among other cognitive and physical problems that, for some, have accelerated their withdrawal from government.
The administration has set up investigative working groups that include the CIA, the National Security Council, the Department of Defense, and the State Department, but have not yet met around a specific explanation for the UHIs. .
“The interagency is actively examining a number of hypotheses, but has not made any determination as to the cause of these incidents or whether they constitute an attack of any kind by a foreign actor,” a Department of State spokesman wrote. ‘Been in an email to The Hill.
Lawmakers and advocates are frustrated by the slow pace of search for answers.
“Ongoing reports of these health incidents require all the attention of the Biden administration and a coordinated interagency response,” the senator said. Jeanne Shaheen
Cynthia (Jeanne) Jeanne Shaheen Night Defense: Chaos at the Gates When Kabul Evacuates Enter on Day 5 55 bipartisan senators call on Biden to “immediately evacuate” Afghans who helped American Afghan women express shock, fear and challenge under the new Taliban government MORE (DN.H.), which has introduced legislation to provide benefits to victims of incidents, has tweeted amid reports about the incident in Vietnam.
“We need to determine causation, provide affected staff with the medical care they need, and issue clear guidelines on staffing about the threat and how to mitigate it.”
Rep. Joaquin Castro
Joaquin Castro Lawmakers flooded with calls for help out of Afghanistan Lawmakers can’t reconcile weakening SALT limit with progressive goals House Democrats reintroduce diversity bill in State Department MORE (D-Texas), wrote in an email to The Hill that the incidents in Vietnam are “worrying,” mainly because they have occurred very close to the vice president’s visit.
“As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Intelligence Committee, I will continue to push the State Department and the intelligence community to investigate these incidents and dissuade them from happening in the future.” he said.
Incidents have been reported around the world, in Cuba, China, South American countries, Central Asia and Europe. There have even been reports in the United States, including an alleged attack on the ellipse near the White House.
Sources familiar with these unexplained health incidents say that while the State Department does everything it can to communicate with staff, most information is blocked by reasoning about national security implications.
“We are all aware of this [but] it is necessary to give information to people even if it is “we are working on it” because the anxiety is very high, ”one of the sources said.
“These people are on the edge, it’s fragile.”
Zaid said the lack of transparency has served as an obstacle to representing his clients, some even are unable to tell him where the incident took place.
secretary of state Anthony Blink
Antony BlinkenUS desperately needs a renewal of foreign policy Zeldin calls on Biden to resign after the attack on Afghanistan Night defense and national security: terror in Kabul as explosions kill and kill hundreds MORE he sent a message to the entire department on August 5 in which he acknowledged the administration’s ignorance about the attacks and the risk they pose to diplomats and their families that could also be targeted.
“I wish we had more answers for you,” he wrote in the message.
A source familiar with the matter complained that the State Department did not disclose information about where there have been suspicions of attacks on Havana syndrome. In addition, it is unclear whether staff remain housed where the attacks on energy sources, such as apartments, were experienced.
“I would like to know, before I prepare to go anywhere, what the story is there and if it would have been attacked,” the source said.
Recently, lawmakers raised $ 30 million in the Senate version of the defense policy bill to help improve treatment for those who have experienced UHI.
And another bill passed by the Senate in June and awaiting a vote in the House would provide financial support for injured state and CIA employees.
But Zaid said the legislation has serious loopholes, excluding those who work for agencies beyond the CIA and the state, as well as others.
“They do not take into account past cases. They do not take into account family members who were affected as much as federal employees and who were in foreign countries because of their spouses working in the federal government. In some cases, they do not take into account inmates who worked for the federal government, but who were not considered full federal employees, but were there for the U.S. government. They don’t take into account retirees, including those from Cuba, “he said.
The legislation also leaves it to each department to determine who should qualify for help, which Zaid said will lead to “completely arbitrary and capricious determinations.”
“Congress and / or the executive must develop guidelines that apply to everyone equally. There should be no difference between the CIA and the State Department just because the medical officials of these agencies had different opinions. There needs to be a government-wide understanding and definitions of what they are looking for and how they will respond to these cases. Otherwise, it will obviously be unfair, “he said.
This discrepancy is a slow battle in the State Department.
In a message sent to members of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the Foreign Service union, the group said it was pushing for parity for staff suffering from UHIs in China. The message called for the State Department to treat “confirmed” and “unconfirmed” victims equally with compensation and medical treatment.
Still, AFSA acknowledged the close commitment of senior State Department leaders.
“AFSA has been encouraged by the recent progress made with the Department to address the challenges facing our members,” the group said in its letter.
A State Department spokesman told The Hill that the Department does its best to provide immediate and appropriate care and attention when an employee reports a possible UHI.
“In coordination with our partners across the U.S. government, we are vigorously investigating reports of possible unexplained health incidents where they are reported,” the spokesman continued, saying it is a top priority for Blinken.
The spokesman also said the task force works with every U.S. mission abroad to communicate “an appropriate and appropriate message … to the workforce and the community that accurately portrays the conditions of each location.” .