CIA Backs COVID Lab Leak Theory: What We Know
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) now backs the theory that the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory, according to an assessment released on Saturday by order of new director John Ratcliffe.
But the agency said it has "low confidence" on this conclusion, adding that there isn't sufficient evidence to easily resolve the ongoing debate over the origin of the pandemic.
Why It Matters
Finding the origin of the pandemic that killed millions around the world, forced many more into lockdowns, and profoundly disrupted life as we know it could be crucial to prevent future outbreaks.If the virus was found to have escaped from a lab, countries around the world might decide to implement tighter regulations on medical and scientific research involving dangerous viruses. If it was discovered to have originated in a wet market, efforts might be made to make these places more secure.
Should the virus be tracked down to a Chinese lab, the relations between the U.S. and China, already strained, are likely to erode in a way that would impact the entire world. Should the lab leak theory be dismissed, trust between the two countries might actually improve, as tensions between them ease.
What To Know
The assessment declassified and released on Saturday on the orders of Ratcliffe, Donald Trump's pick to lead the CIA, was conducted under the Biden administration. It is not based on new intelligence, but rather on the same evidence that has been available to the agency for months now.However, people close to the CIA said that the assessment is based in part on a closer analysis of the conditions in the high-security labs in the Wuhan province, as reported by The New York Times......
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So Senator Tom Cotton was right years ago when he said COVID came from a lab leak.
