Empire or Republic: from Joplin Missouri to Kabul Afghanistan
- President Obama visits Joplin Missouri
Current Activity of Homeland Security Destroys Lives Abroad and Neglects Survival at Home
Five percent of Homeland Security budget would have prevented many of Joplin’s ‘tragedy’ (and saved us from Obama’s gaseous oratory!) and the other 400 deaths from this year’s crop of tornadoes.
On May 29, 2011, President Obama visited Joplin, Missouri, the site of a devastating tornado that killed 140 and pronounced it a terrible “tragedy”. But were the deaths the inevitable result of ‘natural events’ beyond the human intervention?
Coincidentally the same week Afghan President Karzai condemned the killing of a family of 14 by a NATO fighter bomber, running the total to several hundred civilians killed so far this year and thousands over the decade.
The relation between the civilian deaths in Joplin and Afghanistan raises fundamental questions about the priorities, character and direction of the US Empire and the future of the American republic.
Geography of Tornados
Every year at least 20 major violent tornadoes – with winds exceeding 200 mph – hit “tornado alley” and beyond, including central Texas, northern Iowa, central Kansas, Nebraska, western Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. Each and every year at least sixty are killed and several hundred are maimed and injured. This year, through May 2011, over 519 have been killed, 25% of whom were in mobile homes, almost three times as many as those in standard houses.
In other words, these tornado-related deaths are predictable, annual, and region-specific and have a higher incidence among low income households. Government agencies and academics have compiled data banks and time series information mapping the route, frequency and impact of tornadoes.
Information about the nature of killer tornadoes is plentiful. Nevertheless deaths mount from year to year. Fear and insecurity stalks the region’s most susceptible to the violent whirlwinds, even as the Congress and White House have increased personnel and funding for ‘Homeland Security’ twenty fold over the decade .The current budget is over $180 billion. If we add the deaths caused by other ‘natural’ disasters like the flooding of New Orleans, the numbers of deaths are staggering. What explains this perverse relation between huge public funding for ‘homeland security’ and the increased insecurity of vulnerable Americans in clearly identified danger zones?
PRESIDENT KARZAI WARNS US STOP RAIDS KILLING CIVILIANS
The reason is clear: ‘Homeland Security’ (HS) is an Orwellian misnomer. The agency is not concerned with domestic, civilian, American security. HS is part of a military-police response to imagined overseas threats, which have not materialized or at least have not produced deaths comparable to tornadoes and floods in the last 11 years.
HS (Homeland Security) spends billions and employs thousands to investigate, spy and harass citizens engaged in legal-constitutional activities. HS and the Pentagon spend tens of billions on overseas infrastructures – buildings, bases, camps -and over 900 billion in arms. HS and the Defense Department forcefully intervene militarily throughout the world via overt and clandestine operations.
To be precise HS (Homeland Security) intervenes offensively overseas, attacking civilian targets, while it fails to engage domestically to protect American civilians who are left defenseless in the face of predictable natural disasters.
HS and the Pentagon’s sustained violent overseas operations are rejected and regarded as a hostile imperial intervention by the civilians in those countries adversely affected. In contrast, defenseless citizens in the US would welcome large-scale intervention in the form of community shelters, which would provide survival, security, life-saving protection and financial aid for rebuilding their lives. Moreover, Pentagon and HS spending on overseas infrastructure, bases and bombs results in deficits, whereas investments in tornado and flood shelters would stimulate jobs, growth and investment in the US.
The current activity of HS destroys lives abroad and neglects survival at home: It has nothing to do with our “homeland” and even less with our “security”. Five percent of HS budget would have prevented many of Joplin’s ‘tragedy’ (and saved us from Obama’s gaseous oratory!) and the other 400 deaths from this year’s crop of tornadoes.
Systemic Bases of Perpetual Domestic Neglect
Death from ‘natural’ events raises a fundamental POLITICAL question: Why is the budget of Homeland Security and the Pentagon directed overseas, toward destructive, offensive, military activity rather than to domestic, constructive, defensive activity to protect American lives and productive economic activity?
The problem is systemic not due to some personal flaw or political idiosyncrasy of the moment. The structures of the US economy and military institutions are oriented ‘outwardly’ to conquering foreign financial markets and building a military empire. The ideology which informs strategic policymakers is imperial-centered not republican: They do not speak of developing and deepening the economy and security of ‘middle America’. Every member of the political and corporate elite talks of ‘world’ or ‘global’ leadership – a thinly veiled euphemism for the drive to sustain world dominance. Within the imperial framework the entire ‘security’ budget is directed toward maintaining offensive military supremacy. No wonder there is a steep decline in all spheres of domestic security – natural, social, personal, health and employment –a phenomenon that proceeds with little public debate. The only exception is when threats to security impinge most directly and forcefully on a significant sector of the population. For example, witness the storm of protest from those directly affected when the politicians moved to privatize social security and Medicare.
Nevertheless, the entire political spectrum, the two parties, the Congress and the White House over the past 30 years, have created an artificial consensus in which overseas wars, foreign aid to patrons (Israel) and clients (Pakistan and Egypt) absorbs the greatest percentage of budgetary spending. No political or economic leadership has stepped forward to articulate the obvious connection between global expansion and domestic decay; to forcefully state that the deterioration of the republic is a direct product of the vast resources channeled into military and economic empire building. Who on New York City’s Wall Street or Washington’s Pentagon is going to even look at or consider a ‘security plan’ with regard to the geography of catastrophes – tornado alley covering a dozen states and the floods and deaths that overwhelm the lowlands from Montana to Louisiana?
Listen America! Their message is loud and clear:
Small towns and trailer parks do not count! You have your 2nd amendment (the ‘right to bear arms’), you have your ‘small government’, and you have your flags: ‘Wav ‘em and weep’ as tornadoes blow down your houses and your sons and daughters return wrapped in flags to the Battle Hymn of the Empire!
Conclusion
One might argue that community storm shelters won’t break the Treasury or reverse the empire. More to the point, their absence, from the federal, state and local political agenda, is emblematic of the total subordination of domestic America to imperial Washington. The ‘cost’ of building community shelters at the strip malls and trailer parks in Joplin, Missouri is less than a regional training outpost in Kandahar, Afghanistan. It is not a question of money.
Conquering Afghanistan villages enhances the prestige of the Generals, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and NATO officials. Can saving 145 lives in Joplin, Missouri match that in terms of world politics or the politics of imperial leadership? For Afghanistan, Washington builds a thousand military shelters and bomb proof bunkers .For the Americans living in tornado alley and the flood plains of the Mississippi people must make do.
When you hear the tornado warning, it’s up to you. As a proud, free American you can find a rock to crawl under and say your prayer: the Federal government and Homeland Security have the Endless, World-wide War against Terror to fight and cannot be bothered by a Joplin, Missouri nursing home in the path of a tornado.
We exaggerate: Obama will jet in and speak before the cameras in solemn terms of the ‘tragedy’ and ‘courage’ of the people of Joplin… But will any local politician stand up and speak truth to power? Most of these deaths and (many more to come) are avoidable; under a democratic American republic, the government ‘intervenes’ to provide protection, health and employment for its people.
In the meantime, as the empire continues to grow it destroys its own people, just like the sow that devours its offspring.
Read more by James Petras >>>
Top rank Florida[TM].(hotels and resorts)(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
Florida Trend February 1, 2002
top rank florida[TM]
Upcoming Lists:
March: * Economic Development Organizations * Small Business Development Centers * Chambers of Commerce
April: * Accounting Firms * Law Firms
May: * Bank Holding Companies * Thrifts * SBA Lenders * Trust Banking Firms
HOTELS & RESORTS
2002 Last Rank Year Name City
1 1 Disney’s Port Orleans Resort (1) Lake Buena Vista 2 2 Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Lake Buena Vista 3 3 Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Lake Buena Vista 4 4 Orlando World Center Marriott Orlando 5 NR Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Lake Buena Vista 6 5t Disney’s All-Star Music Resort Lake Buena Vista 6 5t Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort Lake Buena Vista 6 NR Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Lake Buena Vista 9 7 Caribe Royale Resort Orlando 10 8 Rosen Center Hotel Orlando 11 NR Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Lake Buena Vista 12 9 Fontainebleau Hilton Resort Miami Beach 13 10 TradeWinds Island Resorts St. Pete Beach 14 11 Sheraton World Resort Orlando Orlando 15 17 Boca Raton Resort & Club Boca Raton 16 13 Wyndham Orlando Resort Orlando 17 15 Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista 18 14 Disney’s Contemporary Resort Lake Buena Vista 19 12 Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa (3) Hollywood 20 16 Adam’s Mark Jacksonville Jacksonville
21 19 Hyatt Orlando Kissimmee 22 20 Disney’s Boardwalk Inn & Villas Lake Buena Vista 23 18 Peabody Orlando Orlando 24 21 Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Lake Buena Vista 25 22 Disney’s Polynesian Resort Lake Buena Vista 26 28 Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Destin 27 23 Hilton in the Disney Lake Buena Vista World Resort 28 24t Saddlebrook Resort-Tampa Wesley Chapel 28 24t Rosen Plaza Hotel Orlando 28 24t Delta Orlando Resort Maingate Orlando 31 24t Loews Miami Beach Hotel Miami Beach 32 29 Renaissance Orlando Resort Orlando
33 30t Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort Haines City 33 30t Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando 33 30t Hyatt Regency Grand Orlando Cypress Resort 36 NR Adam’s Mark Daytona Beach Resort Daytona Beach
37 33 Radisson Hotel Orlando Orlando 38 35 Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Lake Buena Vista 39 34 Marriott’s Marco Island Resort Marco Island 40 36 Radisson Resort Parkway Kissimmee 41 37 Tampa Marriott Waterside Tampa 42 38 Days Inn Lakeside Orlando 43 NR Doral Golf Resort and Spa Miami 44 41 Amelia Island Plantation Amelia Island 45 NR South Seas Resort Captiva
46 43 Sheraton Bal Harbour Bal Harbour 47 44 Holiday Inn International Orlando Drive 48 45 Four Points by Sheraton Lakeside Kissimmee 49 40 Westin Innisbrook Resort Palm Harbor 50 42 Hotel Inter-Continental Miami Miami
2002 Last Rank Year Name Phone
1 1 Disney’s Port Orleans Resort (1) (407) 934-5000 2 2 Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin (407) 934-4000 3 3 Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (407) 934-3400 4 4 Orlando World Center Marriott (407) 239-4200 5 NR Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (407) 934-7637 6 5t Disney’s All-Star Music Resort (407) 939-6000 6 5t Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort (407) 939-5000 6 NR Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort (407) 939-7000 9 7 Caribe Royale Resort (407) 238-8000 10 8 Rosen Center Hotel (407) 996-9840 11 NR Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (407) 934-4760 12 9 Fontainebleau Hilton Resort (305) 538-2000 13 10 TradeWinds Island Resorts (727) 562-1240 14 11 Sheraton World Resort Orlando (407) 352-1100 15 17 Boca Raton Resort & Club (561) 447-3000 16 13 Wyndham Orlando Resort (407) 351-2420 17 15 Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa (407) 827-2727 18 14 Disney’s Contemporary Resort (407) 824-1000 19 12 Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa (3) (954) 602-6000 20 16 Adam’s Mark Jacksonville (904) 633-9095
21 19 Hyatt Orlando (407) 396-1234 22 20 Disney’s Boardwalk Inn & Villas (407) 939-5100 23 18 Peabody Orlando (407) 352-4000 24 21 Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort (407) 824-3000 25 22 Disney’s Polynesian Resort (407) 824-2000 26 28 Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort (850) 267-8000 27 23 Hilton in the Disney (407) 827-4000 World Resort 28 24t Saddlebrook Resort-Tampa (813) 973-1111 28 24t Rosen Plaza Hotel (407) 996-9700 28 24t Delta Orlando Resort Maingate (407) 351-3360 31 24t Loews Miami Beach Hotel (305) 604-1601 32 29 Renaissance Orlando Resort (407) 351-5555
33 30t Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort (863) 422-7511 33 30t Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal (407) 503-1000 33 30t Hyatt Regency Grand (407) 239-3949 Cypress Resort 36 NR Adam’s Mark Daytona Beach Resort (386) 254-8200
37 33 Radisson Hotel Orlando (407) 351-1000 38 35 Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (407) 938-4300 39 34 Marriott’s Marco Island Resort (941) 394-2511 40 36 Radisson Resort Parkway (407) 396-7000 41 37 Tampa Marriott Waterside (813) 221-4900 42 38 Days Inn Lakeside (407) 351-1900 43 NR Doral Golf Resort and Spa (305) 592-2000 44 41 Amelia Island Plantation (904) 261-6161 45 NR South Seas Resort (941) 472-5111
46 43 Sheraton Bal Harbour (305) 865-7511 47 44 Holiday Inn International (407) 351-3500 Drive 48 45 Four Points by Sheraton Lakeside (407) 396-2222 49 40 Westin Innisbrook Resort (727) 942-5560 50 42 Hotel Inter-Continental Miami (305) 577-1000 this web site animal kingdom lodge
2002 Last Rank Year Name Website (www.)
1 1 Disney’s Port Orleans Resort (1) disneyworld.com 2 2 Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin swandolpin.com 3 3 Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort disneyworld.com 4 4 Orlando World Center Marriott marriottworldcenter.com 5 NR Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort disneyworld.com 6 5t Disney’s All-Star Music Resort disneyworld.com 6 5t Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort disneyworld.com 6 NR Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort disneyworld.com 9 7 Caribe Royale Resort cariberoyale.com 10 8 Rosen Center Hotel rosencentre.com 11 NR Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge disneyworld.com 12 9 Fontainebleau Hilton Resort fontainebleau.hilton.com 13 10 TradeWinds Island Resorts tradewindsresort.com 14 11 Sheraton World Resort Orlando sheratonworld.com 15 17 Boca Raton Resort & Club bocaresort.com 16 13 Wyndham Orlando Resort wyndham.com/orlandoresort 17 15 Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa wyndham.com/palaceresort 18 14 Disney’s Contemporary Resort disneyworld.com 19 12 Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa (3) diplomatresort.com 20 16 Adam’s Mark Jacksonville adamsmark.com/ jacksonville 21 19 Hyatt Orlando orlando.hyatt.com 22 20 Disney’s Boardwalk Inn & Villas disneyworld.com 23 18 Peabody Orlando peabodyorlando.com 24 21 Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort disneyworld.com 25 22 Disney’s Polynesian Resort disneyworld.com 26 28 Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort sandestin.com 27 23 Hilton in the Disney hilton-wdwv.com World Resort 28 24t Saddlebrook Resort-Tampa sadlebrookresort.com 28 24t Rosen Plaza Hotel rosenplaza.com 28 24t Delta Orlando Resort Maingate deltaorlandoresort.com 31 24t Loews Miami Beach Hotel loewshotels.com 32 29 Renaissance Orlando Resort renaissancehotels.com/ mcosr 33 30t Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort grenelefe.com 33 30t Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal loewshotels.com 33 30t Hyatt Regency Grand hyattgrandcypress.com Cypress Resort 36 NR Adam’s Mark Daytona Beach Resort adamsmark.com/ daytonabeach 37 33 Radisson Hotel Orlando orlandoradissonhotel.com 38 35 Disney’s Wilderness Lodge diseyworld.com 39 34 Marriott’s Marco Island Resort marcomarriottresort.com 40 36 Radisson Resort Parkway radissonparkway.com 41 37 Tampa Marriott Waterside marriotthotels.com/tpamc 42 38 Days Inn Lakeside thhotels.com 43 NR Doral Golf Resort and Spa doralresort.com 44 41 Amelia Island Plantation aipfl.com 45 NR South Seas Resort floridameetings.com/ southseas 46 43 Sheraton Bal Harbour sheraton.com 47 44 Holiday Inn International holidayinnsofcentral Drive florida.com 48 45 Four Points by Sheraton Lakeside orlandosheraton.com 49 40 Westin Innisbrook Resort westin-innisbrook.com 50 42 Hotel Inter-Continental Miami interconti.com
No. of 2002 Last Rooms No. of Rank Year Name & Suites Rooms
1 1 Disney’s Port Orleans Resort (1) 3,056 1,008 2 2 Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin 2,267 2,076 3 3 Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort 2,112 2,112 4 4 Orlando World Center Marriott 2,000 1,889 5 NR Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort 1,921 NA 6 5t Disney’s All-Star Music Resort 1,920 1,920 6 5t Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort 1,920 1,920 6 NR Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort 1,920 1,920 9 7 Caribe Royale Resort 1,338 0 10 8 Rosen Center Hotel 1,334 1,139 11 NR Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge 1,293 NA 12 9 Fontainebleau Hilton Resort 1,206 1,196 13 10 TradeWinds Island Resorts 1,124 644 14 11 Sheraton World Resort Orlando 1,102 1,070 15 17 Boca Raton Resort & Club 1,055 924 16 13 Wyndham Orlando Resort 1,052 829 17 15 Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa 1,014 890 18 14 Disney’s Contemporary Resort 1,008 NA 19 12 Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa (3) 996 900 20 16 Adam’s Mark Jacksonville 966 875
21 19 Hyatt Orlando 919 895 22 20 Disney’s Boardwalk Inn & Villas 892 372 23 18 Peabody Orlando 891 833 24 21 Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort 867 NA 25 22 Disney’s Polynesian Resort 847 NA 26 28 Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort 820 159 27 23 Hilton in the Disney 814 787 World Resort 28 24t Saddlebrook Resort-Tampa 800 NA 28 24t Rosen Plaza Hotel 800 768 28 24t Delta Orlando Resort Maingate 800 783 31 24t Loews Miami Beach Hotel 790 733 32 29 Renaissance Orlando Resort 778 714
33 30t Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort 750 325 33 30t Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal 750 705 33 30t Hyatt Regency Grand 750 676 Cypress Resort 36 NR Adam’s Mark Daytona Beach Resort 746 702
37 33 Radisson Hotel Orlando 742 723 38 35 Disney’s Wilderness Lodge 728 NA 39 34 Marriott’s Marco Island Resort 727 673 40 36 Radisson Resort Parkway 718 708 41 37 Tampa Marriott Waterside 717 681 42 38 Days Inn Lakeside 695 671 43 NR Doral Golf Resort and Spa 693 598 44 41 Amelia Island Plantation 667 249 45 NR South Seas Resort 666 666
46 43 Sheraton Bal Harbour 659 616 47 44 Holiday Inn International 652 645 Drive 48 45 Four Points by Sheraton Lakeside 651 651 49 40 Westin Innisbrook Resort 650 0 50 42 Hotel Inter-Continental Miami 640 604
2002 Last No. of Rank Year Name Suites
1 1 Disney’s Port Orleans Resort (1) 2,048 2 2 Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin 191 3 3 Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort 0 4 4 Orlando World Center Marriott 111 5 NR Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort NA 6 5t Disney’s All-Star Music Resort 0 6 5t Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort 0 6 NR Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort 0 9 7 Caribe Royale Resort 1,338 (2) 10 8 Rosen Center Hotel 65 11 NR Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge NA 12 9 Fontainebleau Hilton Resort 60 13 10 TradeWinds Island Resorts 480 14 11 Sheraton World Resort Orlando 32 15 17 Boca Raton Resort & Club 131 16 13 Wyndham Orlando Resort 223 17 15 Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa 124 18 14 Disney’s Contemporary Resort NA 19 12 Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa (3) 96 20 16 Adam’s Mark Jacksonville 91
21 19 Hyatt Orlando 24 22 20 Disney’s Boardwalk Inn & Villas 520 (4) 23 18 Peabody Orlando 58 24 21 Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort NA 25 22 Disney’s Polynesian Resort NA 26 28 Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort 661 27 23 Hilton in the Disney 27 World Resort 28 24t Saddlebrook Resort-Tampa NA 28 24t Rosen Plaza Hotel 32 28 24t Delta Orlando Resort Maingate 17 31 24t Loews Miami Beach Hotel 57 32 29 Renaissance Orlando Resort 64
33 30t Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort 425 33 30t Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal 45 33 30t Hyatt Regency Grand 74 Cypress Resort 36 NR Adam’s Mark Daytona Beach Resort 44 this web site animal kingdom lodge
37 33 Radisson Hotel Orlando 19 38 35 Disney’s Wilderness Lodge NA 39 34 Marriott’s Marco Island Resort 54 40 36 Radisson Resort Parkway 10 41 37 Tampa Marriott Waterside 36 42 38 Days Inn Lakeside 24 43 NR Doral Golf Resort and Spa 95 44 41 Amelia Island Plantation 418 45 NR South Seas Resort NA
46 43 Sheraton Bal Harbour 43 47 44 Holiday Inn International 7 Drive 48 45 Four Points by Sheraton Lakeside 0 49 40 Westin Innisbrook Resort 650 50 42 Hotel Inter-Continental Miami 36
2002 Last Rank Year Name General Manager
1 1 Disney’s Port Orleans Resort (1) NA 2 2 Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Bill McCreary 3 3 Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort NA 4 4 Orlando World Center Marriott Phill Coffey 5 NR Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort NA 6 5t Disney’s All-Star Music Resort NA 6 5t Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort NA 6 NR Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort NA 9 7 Caribe Royale Resort Eric Rosenbaum 10 8 Rosen Center Hotel Emilio Fabico 11 NR Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge NA 12 9 Fontainebleau Hilton Resort Leo Salom 13 10 TradeWinds Island Resorts Brett Smith 14 11 Sheraton World Resort Orlando Keith Wolling 15 17 Boca Raton Resort & Club David Feder 16 13 Wyndham Orlando Resort Scott Marn 17 15 Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa Greg Hauenstein 18 14 Disney’s Contemporary Resort NA 19 12 Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa (3) Gary Sims 20 16 Adam’s Mark Jacksonville Irving Kass
21 19 Hyatt Orlando Mel Bettcher 22 20 Disney’s Boardwalk Inn & Villas NA 23 18 Peabody Orlando Alan Villaverde 24 21 Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort NA 25 22 Disney’s Polynesian Resort NA 26 28 Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Mike Stange 27 23 Hilton in the Disney James Grosso World Resort 28 24t Saddlebrook Resort-Tampa Dick Boehning 28 24t Rosen Plaza Hotel Gary Hudson 28 24t Delta Orlando Resort Maingate Michael Metcalf 31 24t Loews Miami Beach Hotel Michael Welly 32 29 Renaissance Orlando Resort Ralph Schmitz
33 30t Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort Dough Leedke 33 30t Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Brian Johnson 33 30t Hyatt Regency Grand Paul Tang Cypress Resort 36 NR Adam’s Mark Daytona Beach Resort Stuart Arp
37 33 Radisson Hotel Orlando James Haughney 38 35 Disney’s Wilderness Lodge NA 39 34 Marriott’s Marco Island Resort Robert Dictor 40 36 Radisson Resort Parkway Siegbert Kindi 41 37 Tampa Marriott Waterside Nabil Salloum 42 38 Days Inn Lakeside Terry Eich 43 NR Doral Golf Resort and Spa Tom Manno 44 41 Amelia Island Plantation Walther Vliegen 45 NR South Seas Resort C. van der Baar
46 43 Sheraton Bal Harbour Dan Kaplan 47 44 Holiday Inn International Peter Favier Drive 48 45 Four Points by Sheraton Lakeside John Brost 49 40 Westin Innisbrook Resort Ian Baxter 50 42 Hotel Inter-Continental Miami Frederik DeRoode
Ranked by combined number of rooms and suites.
(1)Includes The French Quarter and Riverside.
(2)Includes 120 villas.
(3)Formerly Diplomat Resort Country Club & Spa.
(4)Includes 520 Disney Vacation Club units, available only to members.
NR = Not Ranked.
t = Tie.
NA = Not Available/Not Applicable.
Research by Davis Kilgroe.
Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=111105
The views expressed herein are the views of the author exclusively and not necessarily the views of VT or any other VT authors, affiliates, advertisers, sponsors or partners. Legal Notice
Posted by
James Petras
on Jun 4 2011,
With
0 Reads,
Filed under
Editors Picks,
Government,
Politics.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the
RSS 2.0.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
COMMENTS
To post, we ask that you login using Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, or Hotmail in the box below.
Don't have a social network account?
Register and
Login direct with VT and post.
Before you post, read our
Comment Policy -
Feedback
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
I’d go further and say the primary purpose of DHS is direct surveillance and control over law-abiding Americans. We know this from the list adopted by DHS of supposed domestic terrorists. By including returning war vets in that list and, incredibly, those supporting Ron Paul and originalists on constitutional interpretation, the DHS has revealed its intent to locate, spy on, and eliminate anyone opposed to the encroaching totalist police state in DC. Scrutinizing its other activities obscures this essential fact.
As for money, Congress has given hundreds of billions to foreign countries, not to improve their economies, stabilize their currencies, and enhance their trade, that’s the cynical pretext given by those lying bastards in Congress, but to repay the big banks behind the loans made with IMF guarantees which were structured from the outset to fail in the knowledge the banks would be bailed out by American taxpayers. Endless dams and hydroelectric plants in the middle of jungles, housing projects unfit for livestock, all today rotting away as testament to real-life crimes committed not only against the world’s most destitute, but also against we Americans who ultimately paid for it all. (See John Perkins’ Confessions of an Economic Hit Man for the disgusting details.)
This has been going on for nearly forty years and continues alongside the brazen bail outs of those very same banks since the failure of Bear Stearns and Lehman Bros. FEMA’s response to Katrina, with that agency still being billed for high-sounding relief projects every bit as useless as those hydroelectric plants in jungles, is an example of vested interests being paid off under the guise of responding to emergencies, here and abroad. This is Congress in action with our income and wealth, a bought-and-paid-for collection of stooges selling out America for fame and the ceremonial pomp of Washington, whose record is one of enslaving the destitute poor in undeveloped nations and America working men and women alike to serve the banking cartel and zionist hegemonic ambitions over the Middle East and Central Asia. There is no recovery and in fact we’re quite probably heading straight into a real depression–the real deal this time. What in the name of heaven are Americans waiting for before they take action? A gestapo or stasi on American soil? Too late, it’s already here and it’s called the DHS.
People Unite, & quit this murderous system!!! Secure your home, & family. Return to self sufficiency!!! COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE!!!
Over 100 years ago, Mark Twain, pointed out that, “You can’t keep an empire abroad and a republic at home.”
Amen,
Infidel