US still hasn't said who was behind 'microwave' attacks on its diplomats

• Date: 06 December 2020
• Author: SETH J. FRANTZMAN
• Published date: 06 December 2020
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

"Overall, directed pulsed RF (radio frequency) energy, especially in those with the distinct early manifestations, appears to be the most plausible mechanism in explaining these cases among those that the committee considered," the report said.

The August 2017 reports were followed by more incidents the US reported from China. They may have been more widespread than that and a mystery surrounds the incidents. According to the report the US thought Russia might be one of many countries that could be a culprit. US tensions with Russia rose during the 2016 election.

"Russia [is] of one of the few countries that have used microwave technology before, and a theory among investigators was that some rogue Cuban intelligence officials worked with Russia because they were unhappy with the détente between the US and Cuba," the CNN report notes, relying on a senior US administration official.

Something appears to be missing here though. How was a third country, perhaps Russia, able to penetrate Cuba or even China? Is it reasonable to conclude that "rogue" elements did this on Cuban soil?

In September 2019 an Associated Press report noted that "a string of bizarre injuries to US diplomats and their families in Cuba has left at least 21 people with a variety of ills including permanent hearing loss, fatigue, dizziness, visual and balance problems and sleeping difficulties, and is now being called an 'attack' by the US government. It's unclear who is behind all of this." Canadian diplomats were also affected, and in June 2019 a Washington Post piece called for accountability.

The...