this post was submitted on 01 Apr 2024
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A mysterious illness that has affected US diplomats in recent years has been linked to a Russian intelligence unit.

Personnel stationed around the globe with "Havana Syndrome" have reported unexplained symptoms such as dizziness.

They may have been targeted by Russian sonic weaponry, according to a joint investigation by The Insider, Der Spiegel and CBS's 60 Minutes.

There has long been a suspicion that those affected have been hit by directed energy or microwaves fired from hidden devices - a possibility that was acknowledged in an earlier US intelligence report

The fresh media investigation alleges that operatives from a Russian military intelligence unit - known as 29155 - may have targeted the brains of US diplomats with "directed energy" weapons.

It says there is evidence that places members of the unit in cities around the world at times when US personnel reported incidents.

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An American military investigator examining instances of the syndrome told 60 Minutes that the common link between victims of the syndrome was a "Russia nexus".

Greg Edgreen explained: "There was some angle where they had worked against Russia, focused on Russia, and done extremely well."

He also said the official US bar of proof to show Russian involvement had been set too high, as his country did not want to "face some very hard truths".

Crucially, this started happening in late 2016, and reports became more widespread (including Canadian foreign ministry personnel) in 2017.

TL;DR Trump or one of his toadies decided to made the burden of proof insanely high because Trump likes Putin.

[–] Stovetop@lemmy.world 35 points 7 months ago (1 children)
[–] MicroWave@lemmy.world 40 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)
[–] FartsWithAnAccent@fedia.io 12 points 7 months ago (1 children)
[–] TheBenCommandments@infosec.pub 3 points 7 months ago

FartsWithAnAccent is wary

[–] steal_your_face@lemmy.ml 1 points 7 months ago

Ok shaggy 🙄

[–] PatFussy@lemm.ee 19 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Wasn't there that event at US Steel that gave Havana syndrome? It was also released like a year ago that the syndrome is not caused by foreign intelligence or weapons...

https://web.archive.org/web/20240302172926/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/03/01/havana-syndrome-intelligence-report-weapon/

[–] rdri@lemmy.world -2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Link to the original report there shows 404 error.

In case it matters, current report comes from The Insider - media created by Russian dissidents.

[–] PatFussy@lemm.ee 2 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Why would the CIA change their mind after 1 year? They were investigating for years and they conclude it's not a weapon, then a year later they say 'nope April fools LOL'

[–] steal_your_face@lemmy.ml 3 points 7 months ago

Need to create support for a war with Russia

[–] rdri@lemmy.world -3 points 7 months ago

This particular investigation was underway for 3 years. If your only argument is LOL then I guess it's not use in suggesting you to read it.

[–] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 11 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Is Havana syndrome anything more than mass psychogenic illness? There's a lot of hay been made about these people's illness, but I haven't seen any evidence of an actual issue or anything remotely explainable with current technology.

[–] mosiacmango@lemm.ee 16 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

The article that this thread is under points out other possible causes. If you read it, it may answer your question. They suppose that it may be a sonic weapon used by a russian operative.

Sonic weapons are very real tech that is here now.

[–] SkybreakerEngineer@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago (2 children)

And yet have never been shown to have the alleged effects, and haven't been seen pointed at Americans

[–] VirtualOdour@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago

Sonic weapons are really easy to detect, they should have good evidence if it is but I've not seen any.

[–] mosiacmango@lemm.ee 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

The article is talking about possible correlations, not 100% locked down proof. It never claims to have definitive facts.

Some of the health effects reported do line up with sonic weapon. Nausea, dizziness/etc, so there is some interesting overlap, especially with deployed Russian operatives in the same area. Method + motive possibly connecting.

[–] maximuspleb@lemmy.wtf -1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

The thing is, I doubt Russia has the capability to do something for so long and get away with it.

I think it's more likely China, in terms of such capability that is.

[–] rdri@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

The investigation here heavily relies on series of coincidences between travel records of Russian agents and accidents history.

[–] andri@lemmy.world -1 points 7 months ago (1 children)
[–] douglasg14b@lemmy.world 0 points 7 months ago

Do you have alternative theories? Or are you just armchair dunking?