[p5a0u9l]

The motive is to make it harder for US personnel to carry out foreign policy objectives in these nations. if a hostile foreign state can cause these symptoms without being detected, hence deniability, that’s a win for them. which is why EM radiation alone is hard to accept, since it would be trivial to set up ultra wideband detection equipment at these locations. likely there is much more known that is not released for security reasons.

[rendall]

"The motive is to make it harder for US personnel to carry out foreign policy objectives in these nations."

If they were soldiers, sure, that makes sense. But I thought the the job of diplomats is essentially to be a messenger between governments. "Carry out foreign policy objectives" means to relay accurately the stance and desires of the home government. Hurting a diplomat in no wise hurts the home government, it just makes communication more difficult.

[p5a0u9l]

in a perfect world, and amongst allies, yes. between nations that see international cooperation differently, not so much. case in point, cuba.

[rendall]

What sorts of things can embassy staff do that works against the interests of the host country?

[p5a0u9l]

aside from old school spying, all sorts of soft power tactics: support or not a government measure with marginal support, connect people or not with resources in the home country, advocate or not for sales of defense products from home country.