# What's with all this Cuban "sonic" shit going down? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 15, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402 "2017-09-15T14:19:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/1 "2017-09-15T14:19:02Z")
Maybe not the most mundane topic, but fuckall if I know where else to post this… > **[At least 5 Canadian diplomats and families hit by mysterious 'sound attacks'...](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cuba-sonic-sound-attacks-canadian-diplomats-1.4289996)** > > At least five Canadian diplomatic families were affected by strange "sound attacks" or "health attacks" on their homes in Havana, more victims than previously believed, suggesting the attacks deliberately targeted Canadians. Wow - loud grinding/high-pitched chirping/vibrations that resulted, for some, in temporary hearing and speaking problems (Canadian diplomats), while others (the US diplomats…HUH?) are _still_ afflicted? Huh? Can’t return to this thread for another seven or so hours - curious to see what befuddled speculations there can be. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/2 "2017-09-15T14:30:20Z")
It is difficult to believe that the CIA doesn’t know every trick in the deck. Yet they are confused with this episode in a developing nation. I hope a solution will be found soon. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/3 "2017-09-15T15:59:19Z")
I’m assuming that it is the Russians, since it also targets Canadian diplomats and they’ve maintained good relations with Cuba. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2017, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/4 "2017-09-15T22:40:43Z")
There was a report on the CBC today about this saying g that the Cubans _had allowed FBI and RCMP agents in to investigate_, so I don’t think this was the Cubans’ doing. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/5 "2017-09-16T02:45:56Z")
What amazes me is that no one in the US is claiming to have a clue as to what technologies might be responsible. Since Cuba has everything to lose and nothing to gain, I think we can safely discount them as responsible. In my opinion they are the fall guys here. Some country who has good access to Cuba and a real dislike of the US and the ability to develop diabolical devices that damage people seems most likely. Hmmm. I will point out that N.K. has the ability to come up with enough test subjects to develop technology that more sissified countries simply couldn’t develop or even research. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/6 "2017-09-16T03:22:53Z")
Aliens ������ ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/7 "2017-09-16T10:31:23Z")
For no good reason, I also suspect the Cubans are innocent. Someone else might be doing this to hurt US-Cuban relations. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/8 "2017-09-16T12:00:03Z")
I smell Putin’s dirty work. He see Cuba as a Russian satellite state, & is trying to sink improved US Relations. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/9 "2017-09-16T16:08:15Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Aliens �� Admit it you were just looking for any [excuse](https://youtu.be/9nhVhXZtT5Q?t=68) to mention that. :smack: manoman I was completely clueless that this has been going on since last [November](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/08/sonic-attacks/537714/). Couldn’t find anything in search, (right now its results are yielding an annoying white page for each search attempt) so I’m kinda surprised that this weirdness is the first(?) mention of it at the dope. > [@](#): > > …[J]ournalists at CBS reported that the diplomats’ medical records indicated that they had undergone audiological evaluations and a battery of other tests, and that there was documented concern for the possibility that they “were targets of a type of sonic attack directed at their homes, which were provided by the Cuban government.” The analysis coincides with reports from the Associated Press earlier this month: “After months of investigation, U.S. officials concluded that the diplomats had been attacked with an advanced sonic weapon that operated outside the range of audible sound and had been deployed either inside or outside their residences.” ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/10 "2017-09-17T11:42:36Z")
? Ultrasonic mosquito repellents ? [http://www.google.com.au/search?q=ultrasonic+mosquito](http://www.google.com.au/search?q=ultrasonic+mosquito) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/11 "2017-09-17T12:12:11Z")
Dr. Robotnik. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/12 "2017-09-17T13:36:20Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > Admit it you were just looking for any [excuse](https://youtu.be/9nhVhXZtT5Q?t=68) to mention that. > :smack: manoman I was completely clueless that this has been going on since last [November](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/08/sonic-attacks/537714/). > Couldn’t find anything in search, (right now its results are yielding an annoying white page for each search attempt) so I’m kinda surprised that this weirdness is the first(?) mention of it at the dope. [Here’s the previous thread about it.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=833055) Google is excellent for this type of search. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/13 "2017-09-17T21:56:32Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > [Here’s the previous thread about it.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=833055) Google is excellent for this type of search. cool, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![sweat209](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/14 "2017-09-18T02:12:17Z")
Who and What Is Attacking U.S. Diplomats In Cuba? \*\* Several U.S. diplomats have fallen victim to an attack that experts are saying goes against the laws of physics. Something strange is going on in Cuba. Over the past several months, multiple U.S. officials have reported health issues ranging from headaches and difficulty concentrating to hearing loss and brain damage. The officials believe they were the targets of some kind of attack, possibly by some kind of sonic weapon. Many reported hearing painful noises in their offices or bedrooms. Several people fell victim to excruciating sounds in their hotel rooms while their neighbors slept peacefully. Moreover, many people report symptoms such as memory loss and concussions, which would require exceptionally powerful weapons to produce. \*\* Read more here. > **[Who and What Is Attacking U.S. Diplomats In Cuba?](https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/news/a28232/who-and-what-is-attacking-us-diplomats-in-cuba/)** > > Several U.S. diplomats have fallen victim to an attack that experts are saying goes against the laws of physics. ---
**Author:** ![sweat209](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/15 "2017-09-18T02:13:40Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > I smell Putin’s dirty work. > He see Cuba as a Russian satellite state, & is trying to sink improved US Relations. Why would Russia do that? What would they lose out by US and Cuba relations?:eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/16 "2017-09-18T02:53:58Z")
They would lose influence over a client state in the Western hemisphere as Cuba becomes closer to the US. You remember that whole missile crisis thing? ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/17 "2017-09-18T04:14:29Z")
Other theories I have heard on Reddit for this: [ul] [li]brain damage from heating by RF transmissions for the purposes of eavesdropping, either by using a passive bug like [this thing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_(listening_device)) or by somehow having the radio be modulated by vibrations of existing objects (walls, etc)[/li][li]brain damage from heating by RF due to deliberate malicious attack. Some people pointed out that the North Korean embassy is supposedly on a hill with a line of sght to the US one. I didn’t check if this is correct.[/li][li]food poisoning of some sort causing hallucinations. Either deliberate, or due to spoiled food, or seafood toxins such as [Ciguatera poisoning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciguatera). This sounds the most plausible to me.[/li][li]mass hysteria[/li][li]contagious neurological disease causing hallucinations. Some sort of meningitis or something.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/18 "2017-09-18T05:32:08Z")
Somebody is trying to create problems in US/Cuba relations. It certainly would not be the Cuban government. Who gains by this? There are plenty of people and organizations in Latin American who are unhappy with the thawing of relations between the two countries. Remember the Maine!! ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/19 "2017-09-18T15:05:27Z")
Assuming that something is actually happening, beyond some weird form of mass hysteria, of course it’s the Cuban government doing (or sponsoring) it. Who else has the sort of access within Cuba to carry out an operation like this? Beyond the bare fact of restoring relations, Cuba’s government has remained outspokenly hostile to the US government. Raul is 86, and the Party apparatus may well believe that if it is to survive the upheaval that may ensue upon his death, it will need the traditional enemy in order to unite the people. Hence the occasional provocation, in hopes of generating a hostile response. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402/20 "2017-09-18T15:12:31Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Assuming that something is actually happening, beyond some weird form of mass hysteria, of course it’s the Cuban government doing (or sponsoring) it. Who else has the sort of access within Cuba to carry out an operation like this? > > Beyond the bare fact of restoring relations, Cuba’s government has remained outspokenly hostile to the US government. Raul is 86, and the Party apparatus may well believe that if it is to survive the upheaval that may ensue upon his death, it will need the traditional enemy in order to unite the people. Hence the occasional provocation, in hopes of generating a hostile response. Why the Canadian diplomats, then? 😕 Canada isn’t the “traditional enemy.” I doubt Castro’s secret police is so stupid as to confuse Canadians with Americans more than maybe once. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-all-this-cuban-sonic-shit-going-down/796402.md?page=2)