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At this point I think we owe Cuba and Russia an apology for the hysteria involved. However, if you're looking for a reason you can always find one. From the ar

At this point I think we owe Cuba and Russia an apology for the hysteria involved. However, if you're looking for a reason you can always find one. From the article, it sounds like the spraying of pesticides was "more than usual" which might mean it was done intentionally to appear as an accident, since the spraying is a good cover. I expect this would be easy enough to check on if they only sprayed with more frequency at diplomatic residences and the embassy. Edit: a few replies here are really more thoughtful than my comment. I recommend reading them :)

bilbo0s 7y ago
Well, on the one hand, "they" did spray more frequently at diplomatic residences. On the other hand, unless things have changed considerably since my day, "they", would almost certainly be American diplomatic services. That's who would direct the spraying operations at those residences, not the Cubans. The Cubans would have no involvement with those spraying operations, however, you would think Cubans would still spray the neighborhood just as they would any other neighborhood. That said, again, the problem was likely us spraying our diplomats' homes and offices multiple times more because, to our minds, the Cuban spraying was not enough.
- codezero 7y ago
  Ah yes. Great point.
gvb 7y ago
> At this point I think we owe Cuba and Russia an apology for the hysteria involved. We are at the point where we need to confirm the hypothesis. If the hypothesis is confirmed we owe Cuba and Russia an apology.
- codezero 7y ago
  Yep. Fair conclusion thanks for pointing that out.
- harry8 7y ago
  I feel reluctant to apologise to Putin's russia for anything much, it grates. We are at the point where there is a very much more plausible theory than the one that was used to throw accusations around suggesting that a little more circumspection was indeed, required. Somebody should be accountable for that lack of circumspection. Was it incompetence? Inexperience? Stupidity? Something more nefarious? (eg pointing and shouting enemy action for any and all the reasons people do this). Worth finding out and acting on. We'd probably prefer people be competant dealing with these sorts of accusations as a risk mitigation strategy alone.

bilbo0s 7y ago

Well, on the one hand, "they" did spray more frequently at diplomatic residences. On the other hand, unless things have changed considerably since my day, "they", would almost certainly be American diplomatic services. That's who would direct the spraying operations at those residences, not the Cubans. The Cubans would have no involvement with those spraying operations, however, you would think Cubans would still spray the neighborhood just as they would any other neighborhood. That said, again, the problem was likely us spraying our diplomats' homes and offices multiple times more because, to our minds, the Cuban spraying was not enough.

codezero 7y ago
Ah yes. Great point.

gvb 7y ago

> At this point I think we owe Cuba and Russia an apology for the hysteria involved. We are at the point where we need to confirm the hypothesis. If the hypothesis is confirmed we owe Cuba and Russia an apology.

codezero 7y ago
Yep. Fair conclusion thanks for pointing that out.
harry8 7y ago
I feel reluctant to apologise to Putin's russia for anything much, it grates. We are at the point where there is a very much more plausible theory than the one that was used to throw accusations around suggesting that a little more circumspection was indeed, required. Somebody should be accountable for that lack of circumspection. Was it incompetence? Inexperience? Stupidity? Something more nefarious? (eg pointing and shouting enemy action for any and all the reasons people do this). Worth finding out and acting on. We'd probably prefer people be competant dealing with these sorts of accusations as a risk mitigation strategy alone.