And the players move into position...

My friend Louie D sent to this me and at first I thought it was a hoax. But no - Russia really is looking to send nuclear battleships into the Caribbean. The fleet includes Peter the Great, "one of the world's largest combat warships", and Admiral Chabanenko, "Moscow's most modern destroyer." Article here.

Russia said on Monday it would send a heavily-armed nuclear-powered cruiser to the Caribbean for a joint naval exercise with Venezuela, its first major maneuvers on the United States' doorstep since the Cold War.

Russian officials denied the mission was in any way linked to a naval standoff with U.S warships in the Black Sea, but it will take place at a time of high tension between Moscow and Washington over the conflict in Georgia.

Russia has criticized the United States for sending a command ship and two other naval vessels to Georgia, on its southern border, to deliver aid and show support for President Mikheil Saakashvili after Moscow sent troops into Georgia.