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US Slashing Embassy Staff In Cuba Because of Apparent Sonic 'Attacks' (qz.com)

PolygamousRanchKid shares a report from The Washington Post (Warning: may be paywalled; alternative source): The United States is yanking more than half its diplomatic personnel from its embassy in Havana and warning Americans not to visit Cuba, saying it is for their own safety after a string of mysterious injuries harmed at least 21 Americans stationed there. "We have no reports that private U.S. citizens have been affected, but the attacks are known to have occurred in U.S. diplomatic residences and hotels frequented by U.S. citizens," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement. "The Department does not have definitive answers on the cause or source of the attacks and is unable to recommend a means to mitigate exposure." Investigators are looking into the possibility that they were subjected to some sort of "sonic attack," among other theories, though it is not clear why American diplomats and a handful of Canadian envoys would be the only ones to complain of symptoms. Cuba has denied having anything to do with the injuries. Among the possibilities being explored is that agents acting on behalf of a third country may be responsible.

7 of 70 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I am baffled by JohnFen · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Nothing about this "sonic attack" story makes any sense whatsoever from a physics point of view.

    This whole thing reeks of "cover story". I think we can all safely assume that we have no idea whatsoever what the truth of the situation is.

  2. Re:Microwaves by JohnFen · · Score: 2

    I don't think we can even assume that there are any attacks at all. I'm not saying there aren't, but I am saying the what is being reported on this stuff is obvious nonsense, which leaves us with literally no data on which to even form a hypothesis, let alone draw conclusions.

  3. It's a shame we know this by istartedi · · Score: 2

    The smart thing to do would have been to evacuate the embassy without telling anybody, possibly leaving behind a skeleton crew who understood the risk. They could pack it with sensors and determine what it was and where it was coming from. It seems plausible that Cuba wouldn't do this, and since Canada has had normal relations with them for years that's an obvious mistake. I'm guessing the Canadian embassy is near the US one; but if it isn't then we have to ask ourselves who would want to mess with both countries? We're probably not going to find out though now, because our hand was tipped... unless we actually know who it is and are deciding not to announce *that*, in which case I stand corrected and might applaud them for a smart move... if I'm alive long enough to see it declassified. That takes what, 50 years usually?

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    1. Re:It's a shame we know this by radarskiy · · Score: 2

      I'm guessing the Canadian embassy is near the US one; but if it isn't then we have to ask ourselves who would want to mess with both countries?

      Over three miles apart, so It's not just collateral damage.

    2. Re:It's a shame we know this by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Was listening to an NPR interview a while back, one of the guests was former intel and seemed certain it was Russia. I agree that this is a great way for them to try to stifle the warming of relations between the US and Cuba. Notice how certain elements are blaming Cuba for not securing Embassy staff. Great excuse for an anti-Cuba administration to kill normalization efforts.

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  4. Re:Gulf of Tonkin, with a side of bossa nova by ClickOnThis · · Score: 3, Interesting

    First sentence of TFS:

    The United States is yanking more than half its diplomatic personnel from its embassy in Havana and warning Americans not to visit Cuba, saying it is for their own safety after a string of mysterious injuries harmed at least 21 Americans stationed there.

    Second sentence of TFS:

    "We have no reports that private U.S. citizens have been affected, but the attacks are known to have occurred in U.S. diplomatic residences and hotels frequented by U.S. citizens," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement.

    PopeRatzo is right. Those sentences contradict each other. Why would the State Department warn private citizens if only government officials have been affected? There might be a case for avoiding hotels where US diplomats have stayed, but discouraging civilians from visiting Cuba altogether? That seems like fear-mongering.

    I have to wonder whether your reading comprehension is up to snuff.

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  5. Re:I am baffled by Dan+East · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This was discussed before. It's most likely highly directional RF (microwaves), which easily penetrate walls, etc, while staying well focused. There are numerous studies where microwaves directed at a person's head will manifest as sounds they can "hear", although it is likely caused by the direct stimulation of the structures in the ear by the radio waves.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
    http://grouper.ieee.org/groups...

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