 Defense &
National Security |
Defense &
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US: Foreign adversaries not behind 'Havana syndrome' |
The U.S. intelligence community has determined it is unlikely a foreign adversary was responsible for a series of health incidents that plagued diplomatic staffers. |
A review conducted by intelligence agencies for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and released Wednesday probed a series of health incidents initially dubbed "Havana syndrome" after government employees in Cuba first reported experiencing mysterious neurological ailments there in 2016. But the review attributed those conditions to other factors and noted that intelligence agencies — with varying degrees of confidence — deemed it was unlikely a U.S. adversary had such capabilities. "Available intelligence consistently points against the involvement of U.S. adversaries in causing the reported incidents," the report states. "There is no credible evidence that a foreign adversary has a weapon or device that is causing AHIs," referring to anomalous health incidents (AHI). A redacted report said that methods included attempts to identify "suspicious persons near indecent sites" or other patterns among those affected. Mark Zaid, an attorney representing roughly two dozen people experiencing AHIs, dismissed the report, arguing that the "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." "Until the shrouds of secrecy are lifted and the analysis that led to today's assertions are available and subject to proper challenge, the alleged conclusions are substantially worthless. But the damage it has caused to the morale of the victims, particularly by deflecting from the governments' failure to evaluate all the evidence, is real and must be condemned," Zaid said in a statement. Read more on the report at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. |
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How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
the future: |
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The U.S. Air Force is testing new technology that could let it brew jet fuel from the air. That's part of an attempt to create a decentralized supply chain for jet fuel — allowing future American military outposts to produce their own. The Department of Defense on Tuesday announced a $65 million contract with startup Air Company, which brews fuel out of carbon dioxide pulled from the atmosphere. |
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Iran could produce enough material to develop a nuclear bomb within 12 days, a senior Pentagon official told lawmakers on Tuesday. Colin Kahl, the undersecretary of Defense for policy, said Tehran’s nuclear development progress has been “remarkable” since the Trump administration withdrew from a nuclear pact in 2018. “In 2018 … it would have taken Iran about twelve months to produce one bomb’s … |
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A senior Defense Department official on Tuesday said U.S. weapons and munitions in Ukraine are not being systemically misused after House lawmakers raised concerns over proper oversight of the billions of dollars in security aid flowing to Kyiv. Colin Kahl, the Pentagon's under secretary of Defense for policy, told the House Armed Services Committee it has not "seen any evidence of diversion” from U.S. assistance to support … |
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Upcoming things we're watching on our beat: |
- Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs Ely Ratner and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey Ford will speak at the Hudson Institute on Thursday at 10 a.m. ET.
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in India tomorrow for the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
- Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley is traveling in Europe and Africa this week.
- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to the Middle East this weekend to to meet with regional leaders and U.S. troops.
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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House Foreign Affairs sets first hearing to review Afghanistan withdrawal |
The House Foreign Affairs Committee is kicking off its first hearing in its review of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, inviting the leaders of two groups that organized charter flights for those seeking to leave the country. The March 8 hearing will feature testimony from the leaders of Allied … |
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Events in and around the defense world: |
- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) will speak at the Hudson Institute on "A Test of Will: Why Taiwan Matters" at 9 a.m. ET.
- The Government Executive Media Group will hold a discussion on the "State of the Army" at 11 a.m. ET.
- The Center for a New American Security will host a virtual conversation on "Russian Political Stability: Assessing How the Kremlin's War in Ukraine is Affecting Putin's Hold on Power" at 11 a.m. ET.
- Ukrainian and Russian journalists will share the struggles of wartime reporting at a National Press Club virtual discussion at 11 a.m. ET.
- Former U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Joel Rayburn will speak at a New America virtual discussion on "The Invasion of Iraq - Twenty Years On," at 12 p.m. ET.
- The Atlantic Council will hold a conference on "Looking north: Security in the Arctic," with Norwegian Ambassador to the U.S. Anniken Ramberg Krutnes, at 2 p.m. ET.
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News we've flagged from other outlets: |
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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The Senate approved a resolution on Wednesday that aims to reverse a Biden administration rule on environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing, … Read more |
| FBI agent Peter Strzok on Wednesday said former President Trump and others "successfully chilled the FBI's willingness to investigate anything" Trump-related, … Read more |
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Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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