Hearing Loss of US Diplomats In Cuba Is Blamed On Covert Device (bostonglobe.com) 224
bsharma shares a report from The Boston Globe: The two-year-old U.S. diplomatic relationship with Cuba was roiled Wednesday by what U.S. officials say was a string of bizarre incidents that left a group of American diplomats in Havana with severe hearing loss attributed to a covert sonic device. In the fall of 2016, a series of U.S. diplomats began suffering unexplained losses of hearing, according to officials with knowledge of the investigation into the case. Several of the diplomats were recent arrivals at the embassy, which reopened in 2015 as part of former President Barack Obama's reestablishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba. Some of the diplomats' symptoms were so severe that they were forced to cancel their tours early and return to the United States, officials said. After months of investigation, U.S. officials concluded that the diplomats had been exposed to an advanced device that operated outside the range of audible sound and had been deployed either inside or outside their residences. It was not immediately clear if the device was a weapon used in a deliberate attack, or had some other purpose.
Damn that Roadrunner... (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
No, I work for a 3 letter agency in Cuba and my sources tell me that the diplomats lost hearing because they started to masturbate too much while in Cuba.
Re: (Score:2)
Possibly even embassy people pranking each other.
(deadpan)Oh, ha ha. Great prank there. Hilarious. Increíblemente jodidamente gracioso, idiota.
"Ha ha, Cabron! You're totally deaf!"
"... What?"
Well, that's done then (Score:2)
Immunity and protection are the precepts of diplomatic law. Without them there are no diplomatic relations. Time to take our ball and go home.
Re: (Score:2)
Immunity and protection are the precepts of diplomatic law. Without them there are no diplomatic relations. Time to take our ball and go home.
Have to say I disagree. Cuba is one of our closest neighbors; it is to both our benefits that we have a positive relationship. Besides, do you honestly believe that we haven't conducted espionage on Cuban diplomats?
We were listening in on Angela Merkel's telephone calls for chips sake, Spying on the chancellor, the leader of the free world. If we're spying on such an important ally, I'm sure we've been spying on Cuban diplomats. We've been spying on everyone.
We'd be huge hypocrites to throw a paddy over
Re: (Score:2)
using a focused sound/energy device to make someone deaf is totally the same-thing as listening to voice mails lol
you realy need to come back to reality
Re: (Score:2)
using a focused sound/energy device to make someone deaf is totally the same-thing as listening to voice mails lol
you realy need to come back to reality
At whom or what would a device hidden inside the embassy be focused on? No to mention: why would it be targeted at any body or thing? Unless maybe a US listening device inside the embassy ...
Re:Well, that's done then (Score:5, Informative)
using a focused sound/energy device to make someone deaf is totally the same-thing as listening to voice mails lol
There is no indication that this was a deliberate attack. Spying on diplomats and missions is always part of the game of international relations, especially between nation-states that do not have the best relations. Whatever caused this could easily have been a side effect of a covert listening device or technique and an unintended consequence.
During the cold war, the US Embassy in Moscow was given a wooden version of the Great Seal of the United States by local school children. What they didn't know is that it contained a covert listening device, which consisted of a passive resonant cavity. It worked by having the KGB transmit microwave energy from across the street, which would resonate in the bit of metal, and re-radiated. (more info here [wikipedia.org].
A Canadian diplomat and family were also affected by the same thing, the chances of it being a deliberate attack is relatively low as Canada has had good relations with Cuba for pretty much all of its modern history.
Re: (Score:2)
What if the ear damage is just a side-effect of ultra-sonic data transfer of some spy device :D Normal bug detectors won't notice it.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm sure the intention was not to make them deaf, that was a side effect. There would be no point in making people deaf just for the sake of it.
Re: (Score:2)
Because listening in on telephone calls is exactly the same as damaging people's hearing, right?
Everyone spies on everyone. Everyone does not cause physical harm to other diplomats.
Re: (Score:2)
The US may not have made Angela Merkel deaf (yet). But deafening a few diplomats is pretty minor compared to a lot of the things the US has done covertly.
Re: (Score:2)
The US may not have made Angela Merkel deaf (yet). But deafening a few diplomats is pretty minor compared to a lot of the things the US has done covertly.
So based on the theory that one wrong allows another do we get to nuke North Korea for being so evil to its citizens? Or can we agree that two wrongs does not make a right?
Re: (Score:2)
The thread I replied to suggested (at a minimum) cutting diplomatic contact. Presumably that would mean reinstating sanctions, which cause extensive harm to ordinary people. Other posters suggested lots of things up to "nuke 'em."
So what's your position on three wrongs?
The US plays diplomatic hardball when it suits them. Maybe Cuba did something bad here, maybe not; the story has a lot of holes. Even if they did, perhaps we should agree that even if nations can't be nice to each other's diplomats they s
Re: Well, that's done then (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Presumably that would mean reinstating sanctions, which cause extensive harm to ordinary people.
Not according to the Cuban government. Everything was wine and roses during the time of sanctions. As in, "what sanctions are you talking about, comrade?"
You wouldn't be saying that the Cuban government was lying about such stuff, would you?
Even if they did, perhaps we should agree that even if nations can't be nice to each other's diplomats they should try to keep the regular people out of it.
So "regular people" are off-limits, but diplomats are fair game? Obviously they can't be fair to each others' diplomats.
How many deaf Russians had to cut their stays in the US short because they went deaf in Russian embassies, again?
Re: (Score:2)
Feel free to move the not two words to the left if you really must have format logic rather than typical English usage.
Re: (Score:3)
Diplomatic relations are based on reciprocity. Germany would be well within their rights to reciprocate by halting intelligence-sharing activities with the US. If a specifically appropriate reciprocal response is unavailable (for instance, if there were no intelligence-sharing to halt), a well-honored tradition in diplomatic relations is to expel diplomats (as Russia did recently in response to US sanctions). Reciprocity is what makes bilateral relations work.
The problem here is that there IS no possible (i
Re:Well, that's done then (Score:5, Insightful)
Cubans did
Citation needed. The apparent attack happened in Cuba, it does not follow that it was perpetrated by the Cuban authorities, any more then an attack on a diplomat on US soil is assumed to be caused by the CIA. It might be, but at this point it appears to be he-said, she-said.
Min
Re: (Score:2)
It's also not known whether this was actually an attack or a side effect of other activities. A Canadian diplomat and family were also affected, and Cuba has a long history of relatively good relations with Canada.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
"Stop trying to make 'fetch' happen, Gretchen. It's not going to happen!"
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, listening in on phone calls and permanently damaging diplomats is exactly the same thing.
Mother of false equivalence.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, listening in on phone calls and permanently damaging diplomats is exactly the same thing.
Mother of false equivalence.
#1 theory is that this was caused BY listening in. Not that they deliberately made the diplomats deaf. In all likelihood, no matter who is responsible, Cubans, Russians, whoever... they probably didn't know they were damaging the diplomats hearing.
Re: (Score:2)
they probably didn't know they were damaging the diplomats hearing.
"Hey, Juan, that was Oswaldo on the phone. He said to turn off the listening device, it's unintentionally hurting people and we can't do that."
"What you say, man? I can't hear you. Speak louder..."
Re:Well, that's done then (Score:5, Insightful)
We might want to determine who was behind the attack first, rather than simply assuming it was the Cuban government. For one thing, I can't imagine what motive the Cuban government would have for attacking American diplomats at a time when Cuba is trying to normalize relations with the USA. (I can imagine other parties wanting to sabotage that relationship, though)
Re: (Score:2)
We might want to determine who was behind the attack first, rather than simply assuming it was the Cuban government. For one thing, I can't imagine what motive the Cuban government would have for attacking American diplomats at a time when Cuba is trying to normalize relations with the USA. (I can imagine other parties wanting to sabotage that relationship, though)
Yep. It would definitely be in Russia's interests to perpetrate this and it fits with their disregard of health damages to those they view as their enemies. Russia would love to re-establish military bases in Cuba and Cuba has resisted this so far, despite Trump's attempts to make them as angry as possible, in the hopes of improving relations with the USA. A bunch of misdirected anger at Cuba while the Russians laugh in the background totally seems plausible. I'd put the Canadian problems as collateral
Re: (Score:2)
It seems that SOMEONE is pulling out the old Cold War playbook again.
Hmmm. kinda of makes you wonder who benefits from this.
Re: (Score:2)
I HEAR Cuba is a wonderful place to live (Score:5, Funny)
An eye for an eye? (Score:5, Funny)
"They sent us some Kanye West cd's, let's pay them back in kind"...?
Poorly maintained local electronics? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Doesn't the State Department do security scans of our embassies and diplomatic residences for hazards if any kind, intentional or otherwise? Being posted to a location with plague rats would be just as big a problem.
Re: (Score:3)
And ultrasonics just got added to the sweep checklist.
Probably rolling out continuous monitoring equipment as we speak to embassies around the world - if they're on their game they had the equipment in-place before they published this story; it would take about an hour to rig up a device like this from a 555 timer, couple of resistors and capacitors, a power transistor or two, and a big horn tweeter - surely there are copycats around the world doing just that right now with intent to deafen whomever it is t
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Probably rolling out continuous monitoring equipment as we speak to embassies around the world
You might have to wait on that one, for an administration which isn't actively trying to dismantle the Department of State. [bloomberg.com]
Re: (Score:2)
While I'm sure they do, high volume sounds outside of the audible frequency range probably wasn't one of the things that are swept for. All in all this makes very little sense to be done intentionally, as there's literally nothing to gain from it. I'd go with what others are suggesting - that this is probably caused by some poorly maintained or malfunctioning piece of equipment.
Re:Poorly maintained local electronics? (Score:5, Insightful)
There are millions and millions of transformers all over the world, in countries far poorer than Cuba, and they have been in use over the course of a hundred years. If this was remotely realistic (a transformer going bad or being repaired in such a way that it could cause subaudible soundwaves that damage hearing but in such a subtle way that no one notices it happening) then it would have been encountered many times before. Think of it - any time you would have an entire family of people going deaf at the same time, there would be extensive investigation into the cause, even in a third world country. If anything it would at least make the news, even if the cause was not found.
Re:Poorly maintained local electronics? (Score:4, Interesting)
By the time I was 35 my hearing above 11 kHz was pretty much gone. On those hearing tests, I rated among 60- and 70-year olds. And no I didn't listen to loud music as a kid. I actually hated rock concerts because of how loud they were, and only went to one in my life (part of a school rally). The loss seems to have stabilized. I'm 48 now and I'm still able to hear 11 kHz, but not above.
I didn't notice it happening, and it happened pretty rapidly (within a few years). Because of the relatively few incidents of exposure and short durations (single pings - this was in the days before CHIRP sonars), I've wondered if the cause wasn't the sonars, but rather some electronic device. Say, a component in a computer I used all the time, constantly exposing me to high frequency noise just outside my hearing range for hours every day. I do suffer tinnitus, though oddly it doesn't bother me as it's in the frequencies I've lost so doesn't interfere with hearing "real" sounds.
Re: (Score:2)
Agree... It is easy to make noise but HARD to deliver high enough sound pressure to be a concern at high frequencies -- the higher frequency you go. It is possible, But it is going to require special design for the apparatus to not quickly break down and is thus not going to happen accidentally just from a defect in a standard transformer.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Depends on the transformer, power levels, and housing - but, yeah, most wouldn't be that loud. Still could happen by accident.
Burglar alarm motion detectors based on ultrasonics in the 1980s were bordering on these kind of damaging levels of sound pressure.
Re: Poorly maintained local electronics? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3)
Doubtful it was the Cubans (Score:5, Interesting)
I think it is very doubtful it was the Cuban government. They want money from the USA, in the form of tourism, the ability for people in the USA to send money back home to family in Cuba, etc. Obama already set all that in motion and gave it to them for free (IE without any worthwhile conditions or concessions from the Cuban government). The Castros should be tickled pink with the state of things - they still have full control, yet are now getting some respect and official acknowledgement from the superpower next door, and money, goods and services are beginning to flow into their country.
So it makes absolutely no sense for them to do something as petty as this - injuring diplomats from the USA for no good reason whatsoever, with the only possible result being harm to relations between the two countries. If the Cuban government didn't want these diplomats there, they would simply tell them to leave - it is a dictatorship after all.
IMO this is the action of some other government, with sophisticated technology and deep covert capability, doing this because it is in their best interest for Cuba and the USA to not have good relations. I'll leave the exercise of figuring out who those players could be to you.
Re: (Score:2)
Surely nobody honestly thinks that the Cuban government isnt paranoid as fuck about American ambassadors, especially since after the Cuban missile crisis we used Canadian ambassadors to spy for us.
Re: (Score:2)
>Surely nobody honestly thinks that the Cuban government isnt paranoid as fuck about American ambassadors
I can see being paranoid about American intentions (Americans have traditionally seen Cuba as a resource to exploit which is why the revolution had so much backing to start with...), but I can see no benefit to deafening the ambassadors.
It almost certainly has to be some kind of surveillance or counter-surveillance accident of technology, though I suppose there could be an audio engineer out there wit
Re: (Score:3)
It's a counter-surveillance device that's used by both the Americans and the Canadians. It emits inaudible soundwaves at varying frequencies in a spread spectrum mode so that it can not be detected by integrative sound pressure detectors. It works by vibrating the air so violently that the objects that are targeted by a laser surveillance device, e.g.: windows, tile areas, are vibrating with an amplitude so much larger than would have resulted from a normal conversation, or even a shouting w
Re: (Score:2)
Or, just a rogue Cuban with their own agenda, access and means.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, you do have a excellent point. There are surveillance devices called laser microphones (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_microphone) which reflect a laser beam off of some object acting like a diaphragm (such as a window) which vibrates as sound waves strike it. By measuring changes in the reflected beam, the audio can then be decoded. So it is entirely possible there is a counter device which emits subsonic sound waves that cause windows, etc, to vibrate constantly to cover and conceal the audio
Inaudible?! (Score:2)
For me, it's the inaudible part that doesn't add up.
Regarding the laser microphone :
If this device emits in the inaudible part of the spectrum, how can it jam speech ?
The most obvious counter-counter-measure, would be to clean the sound spectrum from the laser, amplifying the frequencies mostly found in human voice, and masking frequencies out of this frequency-band (thus masking all frequencies beyond hearing range but still somewhat picked up by the mic).
Or is the anti-laser counter-measure banking on out
Re: (Score:2)
How the hell is hearing loss possible with a out-of-spectrum noise ?
By definition sound outside the audible spectrum is sound outside the frequency response of the human auditory system.
"Sound" is changes in pressure through a medium (in this case, air). Our ears interpret a constant stream of these pressure changes (IE waves of them) within a certain frequency range as sound we can hear. So the pressure changes must occur within some frequency to be heard, and the intensity of the pressure change determines how "loud" the sound is. So what if you have pressure waves at, say, 20 hertz, that are very intense? We don't perceive it as sound (because our ears "filter" it out and don't care a
Re: (Score:2)
I don't know much about this stuff, but maybe the window vibration is non-linear and can create
Re: Inaudible?! (Score:2)
I think 96khz was motivated by filter design, but 192khz was primarily to minimize bit jitter with realtime digital mixing (even with a shared clock source, it's *really hard* to get multiple sources outputting serial bitstreams to have every single bit line up *precisely* in realtime (ie, no buffering to add latency). 192khz gives more headroom to tolerate slightly-sloppy timing.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The hearing damage occurred at the Diplomat's homes (as it affected families/children as well), and also happened to a Canadian diplomat and family. It's much more likely that it was an unintended side-effect of an intelligence gathering effort.
Re: (Score:2)
The hearing damage occurred at the Diplomat's homes (as it affected families/children as well), and also happened to a Canadian diplomat and family. It's much more likely that it was an unintended side-effect of an intelligence gathering effort.
Not necessarily. A keyfob or even cellphone app constantly emitting high frequency noise to thwart listening devices might affect the carrier and surroundings even when at home.
Same thing happened at the Canadian Embassy. (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politic... [www.cbc.ca]
Re:Same thing happened at the Canadian Embassy. (Score:5, Interesting)
In a comment earlier I threw out the idea that the hearing damage was caused by a countersurveillance device (such as one to disrupt laser microphones) that was employed incorrectly (used continuously when only meant for use for a few minutes at a time, wrong settings for the size of the room, etc). The fact that it happened to Canadians too might lend credence to that theory, as it is likely the US and Canada shares some degree of technology or services to protect diplomats in foreign countries. Still, this seems the kind of thing that the CIA would try and sweep under the rug if it was US tech that caused it, instead of playing dumb and letting it become mysterious international news.
There's also the possibility that the Cubans employed such a device to protect the privacy of foreign diplomats, as a nice gesture, and it the technology was misused in some way to cause hearing damage.
Maybe something like The Thing? (Score:4, Interesting)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Very cool, but it blows my mind how they did not check inside at first.
Re: (Score:2)
Well, there were no electronics. It was a passive cavity resonator. That was the beauty of "The Thing"
The lesson to be learned here (Score:2)
Being nice to d-bags only gives them permission to continue being d-bags. Same applies to Maduro, North Korean, Putin, Iran, ISIS, Al Qaeda, and Boko Haram. That last only always reminds me of "Temple of Doom"
Re: (Score:2)
Iran and Russia are only "bad guys" in the sense that they interfere with our interference efforts.
Re: (Score:2)
Not Russia in general. Putin.
Iran seems to be too much of a closed society to point strictly at the mullahs.
Re: (Score:2)
Russia's invasion of and annexation of Crimea was interference with our interference efforts.
The U.S.A. was interfering in Syria, because Syria is in the way of a pipeline from Saudi Arabia into Europe.
Russia interfered with that, because it has plans to build a pipeline from Russia to Europe instead.
Ukraine was going to partner with Russia on that pipeline to Europe.
So the U.S.A. overthrew the democratically elected government of the Ukraine.
Russia took back Crimea, interfering with our prevention of that pipeline.
And just a few days ago, we put sanctions on Russia that our NATO allies
So who planted it (Score:2)
The article mentions that the "officials familiar with the probe said investigators were looking into the possibilities that the incidents were carried out by a third country such as Russia, possibly operating without the knowledge of Cuba’s formal chain of command."
Of course it doesn't mention that the device could have come from the second party. Hint: I'm talking about the USA spy agencies. Because all US embassies have strange spying devices in or (mostly) on top of them, And do those of the o
Scary (Score:2)
I mean; it is scary that such a device is capable of existing, and you can be physically attacked/damaged over time without noticing it.
It is a cruel sort of weapon victims have no chance of defending against with high potential of grave accidental collateral damage, so it should clearly be banned; same with any weapon using light outside human visible range with no visible warning.....
Also, is there some kind of monitoring system that can be installed, and portably carried that could detect such kind
Re: (Score:2)
I seriously doubt it's a weapon. What kind of impractical weapon do you have to install onsite and slowly makes your target deaf? You are better off making them sick or something.
Conspiracy theory (Score:2)
Ridiculous conspiracy theory, just to cover up these diplomats went deaf from too much masturbation.
(what with all those jineteras...)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
> Odumba had no clue about foreign policy.
As opposed to... what?
Re: (Score:3)
The embargo is still in place. Only Congress can roll that back.
The executive could eliminate the travel ban and normalize diplomatic relations. And that's what was done.
Re:Remind me... (Score:5, Insightful)
If the commies are harming our diplomats, why did Odumba normalize relations with them? As usual, Odumba had no clue about foreign policy. Castro may be dead, but the antics haven't changed. I expect the Democrats to attack me for asking this, but the question needs an answer.
Yeah, you seem like you're up for a reasoned, civil debate...
Re:Remind me... (Score:4, Funny)
Yes, because "odumba" could have predicted something that would happen two years after relations with Cuba were re-opened and they would be using a "sonic device" the likes of which are unproven to exist. If Obama was actually that powerful, you really should be afraid of him like you're pretending to be.
The US government has has sonic weapons since the 60's. Obama was a terrorist infiltrator, no other reason every single policy he implemented would be made to harm the US, even the libtards get things right on occasion if only by chance.
LOL, where do you guys get this stuff?
Re: (Score:2)
LOL, where do you guys get this stuff?
You know, marijuana has been legalized in some states, and soon to be in Canada. Maybe he's starting to show some side effects.
Re: (Score:2)
It's from a sonic device, beyond his range of hearing, sending him subliminal messages that Obama was a lizard bent on world destruction and Trump was sent back in time to stop him, but Trump got distracted by reality TV and forgot his mission for 8 years.
Re:Remind me... (Score:5, Insightful)
LOL, where do you guys get this stuff?
For most of us there's a clear barrier between imagination and reality, dreams and being awake, fact and fiction. For some, that barrier is broken. You can see that there's "fashions" in lunacy, like after Roswell lots of people claimed to have been abducted by aliens. People read about being abducted by little grey men, then they get abducted by little grey men. A lot of the seed stories aren't created by loons though, like for example there's good indication that Roswell was about making money. And it worked extremely well, maybe they weren't exactly your average tourist but a lot of people came and spent a lot of money they'd never have otherwise.
Which is why I'm pretty sure most of the political conspiracy theories are plants, because even if they're nuts at some point Obama had to spend time and resources disputing the lunacy. And once the ball is rolling everyone can add their own flavor. Father born in Kenya? Let's start a birther theory. Middle name Hussain? Let's start some theories that he's a Muslim... and a terrorist. Black man? Let's start some "Malcom X" theories for white people, some "Uncle Tom" theories for black people. Probably some Illuminati/NWO too, that works for all people in power. The conspiracy theorists tend to love it when you pile it on. And once you get a big enough ball rolling, you start setting off the "no smoke without fire" alarms even in more reasonable people.
The Internet has been a great boon for conspiracy theorists, because even though it's made people with very narrow interests make contact with like-minded all over the world it's also enabled echo-chambers with their entirely own alt-reality. And a lot of people think doing "research" on say #pizzagate is reading all the drivel and watching all the YouTube videos about it. Then you have the semi-reputable sites like Breitbart feeding the fire by keeping an arm's length distance from the actual conspiracies while driving people to them. So plants are the spark, conspiracy nuts the kindling and alt-sites bring the firewood. And the rest of the world wonders why the fires are so hard to put out...
Re: (Score:2)
I laugh every time someone here on slashdot posts a Youtube video link and says "here watch this, it will change your mind and prove I'm right!"
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't know at this stage how anyone could think the Russians didn't try to meddle with the election. The Russians have also attempted to muck about with recent European elections as well. The Russians are not the West's friends, and seeking division and chaos among the Western powers is critical, seeing as economically they are a midget, and even militarily they could not hope to meet the power of NATO. They have nukes, cheap oil and hackers.
Re: (Score:2)
Jesus Christ, why not just bring up Pizzagate while your at it?
Re: (Score:2)
Or not...
http://www.snopes.com/hillary-... [snopes.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Or the electronic whine from the 60s era transformers/tubes in the listening devices caused the problem.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
I don't know if you've noticed, but in Cuba they drive cars that are from the 40's and 50's. There is no way they have this advanced tech.
I don't know if you noticed, but most of those cars retain little of what was originally there other than the frame and the original shape of the car. Most have engines that are from more modern (though not the latest tech) Russian, EU and Japanese manufacturers. Besides, the US had such weapons in the 1960's. So it's not like you would need a bleeding edge chip fab in order to do this.
Re:Remind me... (Score:4, Interesting)
The linked story is such crap. It has gotten us talking about sonic weapons, and Cuba's access to them, and on top of that, it suggest, without any sign of evidence that Russia may be the culprit.
Here are a few things that I think are hard to argue against:
1) It only takes some decent knowledge of biology and some 50s tech to create something that deliberately harms a person's hearing.
2) Neither Russia nor Cuba has any interest in harming US or Canadian diplomats
3) There are quite a few parties (Cuban immigrants, unfettered government agents, Cubans hating Americans) who may want to harm US diplomats, whether to destroy Cuban-US relations, or simply to take perceived revenge on Americans.
4) There exist, and have existed for decades, listening devices which are technically passive, but get used through remote application of power. Think a resonating plane or chamber read through lasers, EM radiation, etc. For all I know, some may require inaudible (to humans) sonic waves to operate.
So, as far as I am concerned, the three most likely possibilities are, in no particular order.
0) There's nothing going on, this is all due to a parasite infection, an accident with a misused device belonging to the embassy, etc.
1) Some asshole, working contrary to Cuban interests, deliberately harmed the diplomats, possibly with a low tech, hand made device.
2) The Cubans or Russian fucked up, and harmed the diplomats while trying to spy on them
But nasty Commies deliberately targeting diplomats? I can't see their angle. I'm not saying they would not do it, I am saying I cannot see how they would profit.
Re: (Score:2)
They had a BBC quiz about which recent crazy quotes were from Trump and which were from Kim Jong Un. It was way too easy: short simplistic sentences were from Trump.
Re: (Score:2)
The story is sensationalist but like 90% of the stuff from Fox news and CNN and MSNBC and The New York Times it is Fake news, and yet tries to point to all the other news and call it fake. It would be better if they showed at least one iota of proof here, but apparently that is too much to ask! I don't buy it, sorry guys!
There. fixed that for ya.
Re: (Score:2)
The story is sensationalist but like 90% of the stuff from Fox news and CNN and MSNBC and The New York Times it is Fake news, and yet tries to point to all the other news and call it fake. It would be better if they showed at least one iota of proof here, but apparently that is too much to ask! I don't buy it, sorry guys!
There. fixed that for ya.
CNN and MSNBC have a lot of content that is political commentary by pundits. Whenever you see a split screen on CNN, it's not news, it's opinion. Even so, the anchors tend to correct or point out when the pundits state fake information or use false facts. Fox news doesn't even try. Also, just because you don't like or agree with the news that is being covered (i.e. the Trump leaks, the Russia investigation, etc.) doesn't mean that the news is fake.
The Russia, investigation, for example may find nothing.
Re: (Score:2)
Fox news doesn't try because it has never been their intention to offer just the news. Fox has always been about presenting a conservative view point.
CNN, etc, may frequently have a liberal slant to their stories but that's less to do with deliberately trying to be a "liberal" news source and more to do with the fact that they have liberal journalists and editors.
Fox is deliberately right wing with the stated purpose of being right wing. CNN is accidentally left wing (but actually have stories that cover
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I got hearing loss listening to cable news shows.
Re: (Score:3)
Huh. What's the point of your comment, again?
Are you implying that, because we're so quick to go to war, we should just start right on with the invasion and bombings and not make any attempt at dipl
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Cuba is a valuable member of the international community, and an important partner of the US. Or at least that's what our last President said.
Yeah, and our current President says the same thing about Russia.
I'm sure you hold the same high burden of proof for this alleged assault on our diplomats by Cuba as you do for Russian interference in the election, correct?
Re: (Score:2)
What, Cuba may have done something to physically injure US diplomats? Unthinkable! Cuba is a valuable member of the international community, and an important partner of the US. Or at least that's what our last President said.
And friends don't physically assault other friends' diplomats.
To be fair we don't know that Cuba has done anything. It could be a neutral party- or we could have done it to ourselves accidentally.
If our own counter-spying technologies relied on confusing listening bugs by drowning them out in ultrasound noise we could have made our own diplomats go deaf.
Right now it's impossible to know.
Re: (Score:3)
As a kleptocracy, they would be vastly more interested in opening up ties with the west than remaining dependent on other broken kleptocracies. You can get a lot more hard, western cash that way.
Re: (Score:2)