No doubt you’ve heard the story by now. US Embassy personnel in the Cuban capital are being struck down by a mysterious ailment whose symptoms include memory loss, hearing impairment, cognitive disability and other symptoms. No direct cause has been identified, but some sort of technological agent is suspected, probably involved with espionage. Several dozen US diplomats and embassy workers have been recalled.

The first guess is that the Cuban G-2 is involved, and the injuries are the result of some microwave or ultrasound devices installed to eavesdrop on US diplomats. But no one knows for sure. In fact, the Cubans want better relations with the US, not worse, it makes no sense for them to do this deliberately. These state security guys are real creeps though, they were trained by the East German STASI, but for a host of practical reasons, I don’t think they are involved. The Cuban regime does not want to drive away all those rich tourist dollars. I guess our own intelligence agencies can’t be ruled out either, trying to gen up an excuse to embarrass the Communist regime. Still I don’t think that’s very likely either. It would have leaked out by now.

Of course, the Cuban regime is not monolithic, there is no reason why some rogue faction of the Cuban secret police might not be involved, or even some third party, like the Russians, Chinese or Venezuelans.

Then again, maybe its not about espionage at all. Maybe it was Chinese drywall that was used to remodel the embassy building. The PRC is doing a lot of business with Cuba. A load of that stuff came into the US not too long ago, and it was found to be impregnated with formaldehyde and other toxic substances. Not only were people getting violently ill from the fumes, but they were so chemically active that even wiring and plumbing in brand new homes were corroding. You may recall that story, a bunch of homeowners were suing construction material suppliers for damages, and they were denying it vigorously.

That’s what happens when you get unregulated industries desperate to undercut their competitors. I’m sure the Chinese government would not do anything to alienate their fellow Communists in Cuba, but Chinese business is like businesses everywhere. They’ll do whatever it takes to make a buck.