[Terriergal]

I don't think ditter and I took issue with the idea that they might use birds, we wondered why he would do that if the birds would then return to cuba eventually (or other birds similarly infected, since he has no way to control the spread once they release the birds). You provided a simple answer that we thought was shortsighted. Now, saying that he might have vaccinated his population makes more sense than assuming no infected birds would ever get back to cuba.... or that none of the birds would transmit it to the local insect/bird population before actually leaving the island.

[William Wallace]

Understood, TG. As the great Yankee sage Yogi Berra said, I made a wrong mistake. ;-)

I don't know what 'solution' Castro's scientists came up with to prevent the spread of the disease on the island. A vaccine is a possibility, but I doubt the lack of one would deter Castro. The answer may be as simple -- and chilling --as Castro hates the U.S. so much he doesn't care if his people get infected.

[Luis Gonzalez]

You are making the assumption that 1) these birds make a round trip, and 2) he cares about the people of Cuba.