Russia to help Cuba build space center

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow is ready to help Cuba develop its own space center, Russia's space agency chief said on Wednesday after talks in Caracas with Venezuelan and Cuban officials, Itar-Tass news agency reported. Russia has stepped up efforts to develop closer links with both countries, which are ideological enemies of Washington, including sending Russian strategic bombers on a mission to Venezuela this month. "We have held preliminary discussions about the possibility of creating a space center in Cuba with our help," the chief of Russia's Federal Space Agency Anatoly Perminov was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass in Caracas. "With our Cuban colleagues, we discussed the possibilities of joint use of space equipment ... and the joint use of space communications systems," Perminov was quoted as saying. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin visited Cuba this week and together with representatives from several Russian ministries and large Russian companies looked at ways to help Cuba recover from hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Renewed Russian links to the Caribbean island will stir memories in Washington of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis when the United States and Soviet Union almost went to war over Soviet missile bases on Cuba, which is 90 miles from U.S. shores. Russian officials have said they want to renew Cuban ties that were neglected after the Soviet Union's collapse.

Right.  And what scientific advantage would it be to have missile launching capabilities, disguised as a space program, in the Western Hemisphere? Hugo and Vladamir need to go away. If nobody but me can see through this charade the Russians are performing, then shame on me. But what better way to threaten the United States? Cuba needs to be invaded -- by the USA of course! Think of the advantages: 1. Great Cigars 2. Incredible baseball pitchers 3. New vacation hot spots 4. Cleaner oceans 5. Tax savings by eliminating the need for Coast Guard Rescues 6. Hot latino/cuban chicks 7. Another state to claim hurricane damages  8.  Possible place to send all Liberals -- For Good 9.  Vindicating all those who suffered because of the Bay of Pigs 10.  Daily tours of Guantanamo by Vacationing Patriots to visit our friends on lock down there.