[Leaning Right]

> How was Cuba not effectively part of Russia’s Communist war machine... <

Cuba was fully integrated into the Soviet machine, with one important exception. There were no Soviet military units in Cuba (except for advisors, of course). No armored units, no bombers, etc. And that wasn’t because the Cubans and the Soviets were nice, peaceful guys. It’s because they didn’t want to provoke the US.

> how in the world can you compare NATO with the evil empire’s Warsaw pact <

My comparison is not from the viewpoint of morality. As you noted, the Warsaw Pact was just another extension of what Reagan rightly called the evil empire.

Instead I’m looking at things from a practical point of view. You simply must consider how your moves will be seen by your opponent. That’s how you win chess games (or diplomatic struggles).

[dfwgator]

Cuba was fully integrated into the Soviet machine, with one important exception. There were no Soviet military units in Cuba (except for advisors, of course). No armored units, no bombers, etc. And that wasn’t because the Cubans and the Soviets were nice, peaceful guys. It’s because they didn’t want to provoke the US.

This was the cause of the rift between Castro and Che Guevara. Che wanted Soviet troops in Cuba, Castro didn't.

[ansel12]

What does Cuba have to do with anything?

NATO is Europe and they formed a defensive alliance against the evil empire-building Russians, and they support their next-door neighbor and fellow European nation, Ukraine.

I can’t believe we have to deal with this pro-Russia/anti-America propaganda you guys put out