According to The New York Times' DealBook blog, InBev has a significant partnership with Cuba to produce Bucanero beer, the second-largest player in the communist country's market.

In the the beer world, this deal is not very important since the island has a population of about 11 million. Besides, its economy is a mess.

"Government defaulted on most of its international debt in 1986 and does not have access to credit from international financial institutions like the World Bank, which means Havana must rely heavily on short-term loans to finance imports, chiefly food and fuel," according to Global Security Org. "Because of its poor credit rating, an $11 billion hard currency debt, and the risks associated with Cuban investment, interest rates have reportedly been as high as 22%."

The question of what would happen to InBev's Cuban business in the event the takeover of Budweiser is successful is an interesting one. Would the company have to divest the business to comply with the U.S. embargo or not do anything since it is not a U.S.-based company? Maybe the subsidiary could be operated through a non-U.S. InBev business. Regardless, it's a solvable problem from a legal and financial vantage point.

While I have no doubt I have no doubt the Belgian brewer will gladly say "adios" to its small Cuban beer business if that's the price it has to pay to complete its $46 billion hostile bid for Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc. (NYSE: BUD), public relations is another matter.

The European brewer already has two strikes going against it in the court of public opinion. For one thing, it's a foreign company trying to buy the most American of brands and politicians are already lined up against it. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama told reporters yesterday that it would be a "shame" if the King of Beers were sold to a foreign owner. Republican John McCain has been mum mainly because his wife Cindy's family owns the third-largest Anheuser-Busch distributor. Leaders in Anheuser-Busch's home state of Missouri, including Sens. Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill, are sounding the alarm bells, telling InBev "this Bud is not for you."

In the end, the only opinion that will count is the shareholders', particularly one large one named Warren Buffett. Unless the Oracle of Omaha is willing to add Anheuser-Busch to his stable of companies, odds are good that the company will have to say oui to InBev's offer.