CIA modifies position regarding Covid origins
The CIA currently evaluates “with low confidence” that the origin of Covid-19 is more likely linked to a lab leak. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The CIA has revised its assessment regarding the origins of Covid-19, now indicating it is “more likely” that the virus resulted from a lab-leak incident rather than emerging naturally. However, the agency has emphasized that this conclusion is not definitive.
A spokesperson for the CIA released a statement on Saturday that was reported by various media outlets, stating that the agency “assesses with low confidence that a research-related origin of the Covid-19 pandemic is more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting.” The spokesperson also noted that both scenarios remain possible and that the evaluation may change as new information becomes available.
This updated assessment follows the recent confirmation of John Ratcliffe as CIA director after his nomination by US President Donald Trump. Ratcliffe has been a prominent advocate for the lab-leak theory, asserting that it is “the only theory supported by science, intelligence, and common sense.” After his confirmation, Ratcliffe indicated that assessing the origins of Covid would be a priority from day one.
According to the Washington Post, the CIA's assessment had been completed before Ratcliffe's swearing-in but was made public following his directive to declassify the information.
The ongoing debate regarding Covid-19's origins has become a significant issue in US politics, particularly as the pandemic has resulted in over 7 million deaths globally. One prevailing theory posits that the virus arose from zoonotic transmission from animals to humans. In contrast, another theory suggests that the virus inadvertently escaped from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak first occurred. The Chinese government has dismissed the lab-leak theory.
Opinions among US authorities continue to differ on this topic. The FBI and the Department of Energy show a preference for the lab-leak hypothesis, while other agencies, including parts of the intelligence community, support the natural origin theory.
In November, Robert Redfield, a former director of the US Centers for Disease Control, claimed that Covid-19 was “intentionally engineered as a part of a biodefense program,” implying that the US had a “substantial” role in this effort due to its funding of related research.
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
A spokesperson for the CIA released a statement on Saturday that was reported by various media outlets, stating that the agency “assesses with low confidence that a research-related origin of the Covid-19 pandemic is more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting.” The spokesperson also noted that both scenarios remain possible and that the evaluation may change as new information becomes available.
This updated assessment follows the recent confirmation of John Ratcliffe as CIA director after his nomination by US President Donald Trump. Ratcliffe has been a prominent advocate for the lab-leak theory, asserting that it is “the only theory supported by science, intelligence, and common sense.” After his confirmation, Ratcliffe indicated that assessing the origins of Covid would be a priority from day one.
According to the Washington Post, the CIA's assessment had been completed before Ratcliffe's swearing-in but was made public following his directive to declassify the information.
The ongoing debate regarding Covid-19's origins has become a significant issue in US politics, particularly as the pandemic has resulted in over 7 million deaths globally. One prevailing theory posits that the virus arose from zoonotic transmission from animals to humans. In contrast, another theory suggests that the virus inadvertently escaped from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak first occurred. The Chinese government has dismissed the lab-leak theory.
Opinions among US authorities continue to differ on this topic. The FBI and the Department of Energy show a preference for the lab-leak hypothesis, while other agencies, including parts of the intelligence community, support the natural origin theory.
In November, Robert Redfield, a former director of the US Centers for Disease Control, claimed that Covid-19 was “intentionally engineered as a part of a biodefense program,” implying that the US had a “substantial” role in this effort due to its funding of related research.
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
