Are Micro-waves Being Used In Sonic Attacks On U.S. Diplomats In Cuba and China?

A few months ago there were a string of reports of U.S. diplomats falling sick in the country’s consulates in Cuba and China. A range of theories made the rounds but what remained constant in the news coming out was the use of some kind of sonic targeting.

A report in CNN has revealed that scientists investigating these incidents are saying the ailments could have been caused by microwave weapons. In a Sunday interview with CNN, Douglas Smith, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Brain Injury and Repair said microwaves are "a main suspect" in causing the diplomats' injuries, but ultrasound and infrasound were being studied as potential causes as well.

"It's almost like a concussion, but without a concussion -- meaning that they look like individuals who have persistent concussion symptoms but have no history of head impact," Smith said, describing the injuries and explaining that learning the cause is vital to determining the best means of preventing it.

Another scientist, Beatrice Golomb, Professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, agrees with Smith’s theory. "Reported facts appear consistent with pulsed (radio frequency/microwave radiation) as the source of injury in Cuba diplomats. Non-diplomats citing symptoms from RF/MW ... report compatible health conditions," she concluded in her report.

The Sonic Attack

Some American officials in both China and Cuba reported hearing an unidentified noise before falling ill, and initial reports suggested they may have been hit by a secret sonic weapon.

The apparent victims of the mystery ailment have suffered symptoms consistent with mild brain trauma -- including, in some cases, disorientation and hearing loss. At least 25 diplomats were reportedly hit by this condition in Cuba. A similar number were impacted in Guangzhou, China.

Microwave Weapons

The New York Times says the United States and Russia, have for decades studied ways to weaponise microwave radiation. The weapon itself would be portable, according to The New York Times, capable of being held in one's hand or mounted on a vehicle, and while most would work over the span of only a few blocks, high-powered versions could fire microwave beams up to several miles.

In a statement, the U.S. State Department on Sunday said, "The investigation into the origin of these symptoms continues. The inter-agency community is working diligently to determine the cause of the symptoms, as well as to develop mitigation strategies."

The CNN report also says sophistication of the attack has led U.S. officials to suspect a third country is involved, perhaps as retribution against the United States or Canada -- whose diplomats have also been targeted -- or to drive a wedge between those countries and Cuba.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 03, 2018 09:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).