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Friday, March 10, 2017

Jihadis Take Everything From European Countries For Their Own Benefit And To Advance The Destruction Of The Very Countries That Give Them Benefits

Jihadis Living on Support Payments from the Europe They Vowed to Destroy

by Giulio Meotti
March 10, 2017 at 5:00 am

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/10022/jihadi-welfare

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Al Harith's story reveals the depth of one of Europe's biggest scandals: the jihadis' use of European cradle-to-grave entitlements to fund their "holy war".
Europe gave them everything: jobs, homes, public assistance, unemployment benefits, relief payments, child benefits, disability payments, cash support. These Muslim extremists, however, do not see this "Dependistan", as Mark Steyn called the welfare state, as a sign of generosity, but of weakness. They understand that Europe is ready to be destroyed.
Filled with religious certainty and ideological hatred for the West, not required to assimilate to Europe's values and norms, many of European Muslims seem to feel as if they are destined to devour an exhausted civilization.
Public policy goals instead need to be to move people off welfare -- shown to be basically a disincentive to looking for work -- and toward personal responsibility. There need to be legal limits on the uses to which welfare funds can be put -- for example, welfare funds should not to be used for purchasing illegal drugs, gambling, terrorism or, as there is no free speech in Europe anyway, for promoting terrorism. One could create and fine-tune such a list. Disregarding the limitations could result in losing benefits. This would help fight the ghettoization and Islamization of Europe's Muslims. The cycle of welfare and jihad needs to be stopped.

Four years ago, the British liberal newspaper, The Guardian, ran a story about the "survivors of Guantanamo", the "victims of America's 'icon of lawlessness'", "Britain's survivors of the detention centre that has been called the 'gulag of our times'". The article featured a photograph of Jamal al Harith.
Al Harith, born Ronald Fiddler, a Christian convert to Islam, returned to Manchester from detention at Guantanamo Bay thanks to activism of David Blunkett, Home Secretary of then-Prime Minister Tony Blair. Al Harith was immediately welcomed in England as a hero, the innocent victim of the unjust "war on terror" after September 11. The Mirror and ITV gave him £60,000 ($73,000) for an exclusive interview about his experience at Guantanamo. Al Harith was also compensated with one million pounds by the British authorities. The victim of the "gulag of our times" bought a very nice house with the taxpayers' cash.
A few weeks ago, al Harith made his last "journey": he was blown up in Mosul, Iraq, on behalf of the Islamic State. Al Harith had also been recruited by the non-governmental organization "CAGE" (formerly known as "Cageprisoners") as part of its testimony advocating the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
Celebrities such as Vanessa Redgrave, Victoria Brittain, Peter Oborne and Sadiq Khan appeared at CAGE's fundraising events. The NGO has been funded by the Joseph Rowntree Trust, a fund created by the chocolate magnate, and by the Roddick Foundation, the charity of Anita Roddick. Al Harith was also invited to the Council of Europe, to give testimony against retaining Guantanamo.
Al Harith's story reveals the depth of one of Europe's biggest scandals: the jihadis' use of European cradle-to-grave entitlements to fund their "holy war". Europe gave them everything: jobs, homes, public assistance, unemployment benefits, relief payments, child benefits, disability payments, cash support. These Muslim extremists, however, do not see this "Dependistan", as Mark Steyn called the welfare state, as a sign of generosity, but of weakness. They understand that Europe is ready to be destroyed. They have no respect for it. From Marseille to Malmö, many Muslim children have been raised to despise the societies that have made them so comfortable. Most Islamists in Europe are now living on support payments from the nations they had vowed to destroy.
A few days ago, the Danish press revealed that the Danish government has been paying sickness and disability benefits to Muslim extremists fighting in Syria for the Islamic State. "It is a huge scandal that we disburse money from the welfare fund in Denmark for people who go to Syria," said Employment Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. The terrorists who struck Paris and Brussels have also used the generous British welfare system to fund their jihad. It is emerging from a trial in the UK that Mohamed Abrini, known as "the man with the hat" after the deadly attack at Brussels airport, received £3,000 in benefits before flying to Paris and disappearing.
It is not the first time that the role of the welfare state emerges in the Islamic infrastructure of terror:

The family of Omar Abdel Hamid el Hussein, the terrorist behind the attack in Copenhagen in February 2015, which killed two people, received money from Danish social programs.
British Islamist Anjem Choudary, convicted of encouraging people to join the Islamic State, urged the faithful to leave work and to seek unemployment benefits to devote full-time to war against the "infidels". Choudary himself pocketed £25,000 a year in benefits.
In Germany, when the newspaper Bild ran an analysis of the 450 German jihadists fighting in Syria, it found that more than 20% of them have received benefits from the German state.
In the Netherlands, a jihadist named Khalid Abdurahman appeared in a video of the Islamic State in front of five heads just cut off. The Dutch newspaper Volkskrant revealed that he had been declared "unfit for work" and was paid for a treatment of claustrophobia.

Europe's welfare system has created a cultural toxin for many in a sullen, unproductive Muslim underclass who live in the segregated enclaves such as the banlieues of Paris or "Londonistan". Filled with religious certainty and ideological hatred for the West, not required to assimilate to Europe's values and norms, certain of these European Muslims seem to feel as if they are destined to devour an exhausted civilization.

Muhammad Shamsuddin, a 39-year-old London-based Islamist, was featured in a documentary called "The Jihadis Next Door." Shamsuddin, a divorced father of five who lives on state handouts and claims he cannot work because he has "chronic fatigue syndrome," was filmed preaching hate against non-Muslims on British streets. (Image source: Channel 4 video screenshot)

Public policy goals instead need to be to move people off welfare -- shown to be basically a disincentive to looking for work -- except in extraordinary cases, and toward personal responsibility. There need to be legal limits on the uses to which welfare funds can be put -- for example, welfare funds should not to be used for purchasing illegal drugs, for gambling, for terrorism or, as there is no free speech in Europe anyway, for promoting terrorism. One could create and fine-tune such a list. Disregarding the limitations could result in losing the benefits. Measures such as that would will help fight against the ghettoization and Islamization of Europe's Muslims.
Who is winning here? Democracy or Islamic extremism? The cycle of welfare and jihad needs to be stopped. Now.

Giulio Meotti, Cultural Editor for Il Foglio, is an Italian journalist and author.

© 2017 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

Dems And Libs Are Going To Have To Find Another Issue To Get Rid Of Trump. Russian Hacking Was A Failure!

The ‘Trump Is A Russian Plant!’ Case Is Falling Apart. Here Are 4 Things You Need To Know.

BY:

BEN SHAPIRO

It’s now been months upon months of speculation about the supposedly

nefarious connections between the Trump campaign and the Russian

government. Democrats have relied on Trump begging Russian dictator

Vladimir Putin publicly to hack Hillary Clinton’s emails, connections between

former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and the Russian government,

and friendliness between Trump advisor General Michael Flynn and the

Russians in order to suggest that Putin “hacked the election” on Trump’s

behalf. They’ve also relied on various media reports suggesting that the

intelligence community was participating in some sort of sophisticated

surveillance operation that caught up Trump associates in chats with the

Russian government.

There’s a lot of smoke.

VIDEONo evidence yet of Trump team, Russia collusion -U.S. lawmaker

Current Time0:24

Duration Time1:15

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Here’s the problem: there’s no fire.

At all.

We’re now six months in. Have we seen a single piece of actually

incriminating evidence suggesting that Putin “hacked the election” on

Trump’s behalf? Or have we just seen rumors and innuendos, all disowned

in the ninth paragraph of a New York Times report headlining Trump-Russia

contacts?

Here’s what we actually know.

1. Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper Said There

Was No Evidence of Collusion. Speaking with NBC’s Chuck Todd, Clapper

was asked if there was evidence of collusion. Clapper: “Not to my knowledge.”

According to Clapper, collusion or collaboration or uncovered information did

not exist while he was there – i.e. up until January 20th. As Matt Taibbi of

Rolling Stone says, “This is the former Director of National Intelligence

telling all of us that as of 12:01 a.m. on January 20th, when he left government,

the intelligence agencies had no evidence of collusion between Donald Trump’s

campaign and the government of Vladimir Putin’s Russia.” Clapper also told

ABC News, “There was no evidence whatsoever, at the time, of collusion

between the Trump campaign and the Russians.”

2. Members of Trump’s Campaign Talked To The Russians – But There’s

No Proof of Wrongdoing.There have been multiple media reports suggesting

that the intelligence community knew that Trump associates were talking with

the Russians. Each and every one of those reports contains the information

that there’s no evidence that anybody did anything wrong, and that campaign

officials often speak with foreign officials. As Andrew McCarthy of National

Review notes, The New York Times ran with a hot-button piece titled,

“Intercepted Russian Communications Part of Inquiry into Trump Associates” the

day before Trump’s inauguration. The story contained this little detail, buried

down in the article: “It is not clear whether the intercepted communications had

anything to do with Mr. Trump’s campaign, or Mr. Trump himself. It is also

unclear whether the inquiry has anything to do with an investigation into the

hacking of the Democratic National Committee’s computers and other attempts

to disrupt the elections in November.” Oops.

3. The FBI Denies It Was Targeting Trump. After President Trump tweeted

that the Obama administration had targeted him for wiretapping, FBI Director

James Comey asked the Justice Department to confirm that such a claim was

absolutely false. According to The New York Times, “FBI officials are said to

be worried that the notion of a court-approved wiretap will raise the public’s

expectations that the federal authorities have significant evidence implicating

the Trump campaign in colluding with Russia’s efforts to disrupt the presidential

election.” In other words, they have no such evidence. So Trump’s attempt to

target Obama inadvertently exposed the fact that there’s no evidence the

intelligence community thought Trump was in cahoots with Putin.

4. Even Democrats Are Backing Off The Trump-Russia Connections

Narrative. Last week, Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) said on MSNBC that

there were “transcripts that provide very helpful, very critical insights into

whether or not Russian intelligence and senior Russian political leaders,

including Vladimir Putin, were cooperating, were colluding with the Trump

campaign at the highest levels to influence the outcome of our election.” This

week, Coons admitted he didn’t know of any “conclusive proof” that any

such collusion took place, as John Sexton of Hot Air points out.

So far, it’s all implications and innuendos. There’s no hard evidence here.

That doesn’t explain why Trump would have the platform changed on Ukraine,

or why he seems so all-fired fascinated by Putin. But the suggestion that

Trump worked with Putin to steal the election appears to be sheer leftist fantasy.

Israel's Security Wall Has Been An Unparalleled Success. Can US Learn From Israel?

March 08, 2017

Israel’s security wall:

A model for America?

EZRA LEVANTREBEL COMMANDER

On assignment in Israel, I had a fascinating conversation with
IDF Col. (Ret) Dany Tirza, who headed strategic development
for Israel’s security wall.

Construction began in 2002, and had reduced terror attacks
originating in the West Bank by approximately 99 per cent.

Tirza tells me that between three to five people still try to
cross the barrier illegally every day. Most are criminals but
he adds that others include:

"Palestinian women that are running away from their families.

You know what happens to a Palestinian wife if her husband

suspects her. She'd better run away."

Tirza and I also discuss the dramatic demographic shift in
the nearby town of Bethlehem. Once majority Christian, it
is now overwhelmingly Muslim. I asked who was responsible
for driving the Christians out, and his answer may surprise you.

We also talked about the logistics of the barrier, and whether
or not this design would be suitable for construction on the
U.S. southern border.

(PS: See more reports from The Rebel mission in Israel at
RebelIsrael.com)

Degenerates In Panama City, Florida.

EXCLUSIVE: 'We're getting drunk!' Spring Break students defy drinking ban to twerk, flash, fight and fall over... and if you think this is bad, wait for this weekend - when the party REALLY begins

Spring Break partying has already begun - with police reporting arrests for drinking on the beach, underage drinking, public intoxication and 'disorderly conduct'
Over the course of four days in Panama City Beach, DailyMail.com saw college kids get so drunk they needed medical attention, flash their breasts in public and appear to have sex in a nightclub
Spring break gets fully under way on Friday and Saturday, with 2.5 million expected to flock to the beaches - up from 1.3 million the previous weekend - even though many beaches have banned drinking
Of those, tens of thousands head to Panama City Beach, as well as other Florida resorts such as Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, and Texas hotspot South Padre Island
For Panama City Beach, the annual influx means a $40 million payday - but there is concern some students are using college loans to fund their fun

By Ruth Styles In Panama City, Florida, For Dailymail.com

PUBLISHED: 10:29 EST, 10 March 2017 | UPDATED: 16:09 EST, 10 March 2017

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Slumped over drunk on the beach, necking beer on hotel balconies and performing lewd dances in front of baying crowds, these are the Spring Break shenanigans that students don't want their parents to see.

Over the course of four days in Panama City Beach, DailyMail.com saw college kids get so drunk they needed medical attention, flash their breasts in public and, in one incident, appear to have sex pressed against the barriers in a nightclub.

More still were seen getting drunk day and night, with some downing beer through funnels and others doing shots in the pool to chants of 'drink, drink, drink, drink!' - all despite the city banning drinking on the beach.

This week, 1.3 million students, most aged between 18 and 21, head out on vacation, with a further 2.5 million set to follow on Friday.

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A student funnels beer on a hotel balcony - just one of the Spring Break shenanigans students don't want their parents to see

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While on Spring Break, students also were seen by DailyMail.com playing drinking games on their hotel balconies like 'slapping the bag' - removing the bag of wine inside the box of wine and then passing it around. This week, 1.3 million students, most aged between 18 and 21, head out on vacation, with a further 2.5 million set to follow on Friday

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Over the course of four days in Panama City Beach, DailyMail.com saw college girls 'performing' on stage for crowds of men who cheered them on and took videos of them with their phones

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'Disorderly conduct': One student appeared to expose herself to crowds of shocked onlookers

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The student then seemed to dance her way off stage as men stared at her from behind dark sunglasses

Of those, tens of thousands head to Panama City Beach, as well as other Florida resorts such as Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, and Texas hotspot South Padre Island.

For Panama City Beach, the annual influx means a $40m payday – approximately $2m of which is funneled into city coffers via a statutory bed tax.

Bars and restaurants across town benefit greatly from the Spring Break shenanigans, including Dirty Dicks Crab House, whose slogan is 'where diners come to get crabs'.

Across the country, the student dollar equates to a $1bn boom for tour operators, bar owners and club promoters, according figures prepared by University of New Orleans economist John Laurie.

But not everyone is delighted to see the students, including the local police department which is charged with enforcing rules introduced in 2015 banning drinking on the beach following a spate of rapes – 42 between 2007 and 2014.

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Outside the Spinnaker Beach Club, which is famous for its Tuesday 'Beach Bash' parties, girls could be seen performing lewd dances for large crowds

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A group of college girls cheer on a friend as she funnels beer on her hotel balcony not far from the beach. 'This [Panama City Beach] is the top Spring Break place and it's great for parties,' one party-goer told DailyMail.com

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Other students or college 'drop outs' relax and drink on a balcony nearby, 'pre-gaming' before heading out to a beach bash

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Wet n' Wild: Some revelers seemed in awe of the sloppy 'performances', including this fully clothed student who sipped her drink as she watches drunk girls dance - and fall over - on 'stage'

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Showing off: One student seemed to enjoy proudly displaying her behind for her fellow spring breakers

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Quite the spectacle: Two men cheer on a twerking college student sporting a more sophisticated look, wearing glasses with her swimwear

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Smile you're on camera: The twerking college girl turned around to proudly show off her dance moves and toned physique - and is almost certain to have been filmed by those watching

As a result, the 2016 season saw a drop in crime with police figures showing a total of 20 gun-related offences and 256 drug arrests, compared to 93 gun busts and 507 drug arrests the previous year.

In total, 1,222 people were arrested during 2016 Spring Break, compared to 2,423 in 2015.

Figures for this year are not yet available, although a total of 18 arrests were made in Panama City Beach over the weekend of February 3-5 – the majority for underage drinking and disorderly conduct.

STUDENTS USE COLLEGE LOANS FOR SPRING BREAK

A growing number of students, it seems, will use their student loans to fund their upcoming fun-in-the-sun spring breaks, reported the New York Post.

About 30 percent of American students will tap into their college debt to pay for their wild week-long holidays.

While using student loan cash for booze, beer pong and sunblock is not illegal, few experts find it wise.

'Students should minimize their borrowing during their college years and live a sparse lifestyle — but no one wants to hear that when their fraternity brothers or sorority sisters are packing up to Cabo for the week,' said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst of Bankrate.com.

'It's like putting spring break on a credit card, but this one is subsidized by taxpayers,' McBride added.

The average college student graduates with $28,000 in loans. The default rate on those loans is 11.8 percent, according to LendEDU.

The company conducted a survey of 500 college students who have an outstanding student loan and who said that they were planning a spring-break getaway.

The 30 percent response rate translates into 2.83 million students traveling to warmer climates on their loans.

In Daytona Beach, which hosts between 5,000 and 10,000 students each weekend in March, 106 arrests were made last weekend, while police in Fort Lauderdale - the fourth most popular destination of 2017 according to a survey of travel businesses - logged 137 crimes, albeit not all committed by Spring Breakers.

Among the those on the wrong side of the law in Panama City Beach was Adam, 20, a student from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, who was hauled off by cops for drinking on the beach according to his friends.

Gabriel, 21, and friends Mike and Brett, both 20, said their roommate had found himself being taken away by police after being caught drunk on the beach at noon.

'It was crazy,' the trio told DailyMail.com. 'He was just having a few drinks on the beach and the cops showed up and took him away.'

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But not everyone is delighted to see the students, including the local police department who arrested a number of party-goers for underage drinking, drinking on the beach, public intoxication and disorderly conduct

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In the zone: One student appeared to really be into the music, raising one hand to the sky and holding a beer in the other

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Party on: Girls continued to dance on stage for the crowd and their cameras despite the risk of arrest

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A party-goer wearing a 'no shade' swimsuit seems to not have a care in the world as she dances for the crowd. 'We're getting drunk!' one Michigan student said

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Girls could be seen stripping off onstage and twerking for prizes ranging from t-shirts to having their entire bar tabs paid

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Some party-goers really outdid themselves, showing off their dance moves for the more-than-impressed onlookers

Mike, who was dressed in a Stars and Stripes bandana and matching swim shorts, added: 'They're going to fine him $250 and bring him back when he's sobered up.

'It's crazy how harsh the cops are – we're just having fun but they're everywhere'.

Paul Miller, 21, of the University of West Virginia, told DailyMail.com that he and his friends had come to party but complained of the police efforts to control the beach.

'This [Panama City Beach] is the top Spring Break place and it's great for parties,' he said. 'But we should 100 per cent be able to have a beer and enjoy the beach without the cops stopping you.'

The first wave of Spring Break parties saw a spike in drinking offences, among them public intoxication and disorderly conduct.

By Monday afternoon, a further seven arrests had been made – most for breaking the beach booze ban and public intoxication.

One local cop, who asked not to be named, told DailyMail.com: 'We've arrested two already this morning. Each time, it has been for being intoxicated on the beach.

'We take them to the Bay County Jail up the road and leave them there until they sober up.'

Local Police Chief Drew Whitman added: 'Most of the Spring Break arrests are for drinking on the sandy portion of the beach, underage drinking and disorderly conduct.

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As the day went on, drunken revelers started to get sloppy. One student put herself in a very revealing position in front of her friend, who appeared to push her away

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Heartstopping moment: One acrobatic student jumped off a roof into the sandy beach as amazed spring breakers looked on

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Drunken delight: A college student sporting a light pink bikini seemed to be having the time of her life dancing at the bash

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Shocking: The same student then flipped over, revealing herself to the crowd including a man whose jaw dropped at the sight

'Those who are arrested can get fines of up to $500 and have to get a taxi back after we release them from jail. Or their friends can pick them up.'

Other southern party towns such as Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale also saw arrests for drunkenness, underage drinking, loitering and fighting.

Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri said: 'Come here, have a good time and obey the law. But if you want to come here, get drunk and fight, you will be going to jail.'

And in South Padre Island, Texas, local law enforcement said emergency calls are 'going up each day' with Police Chief Randy Smith predicting 'the busiest week of the year' when revelers from the hard-partying University of Texas descend on Friday.

But despite the risk of arrest, students in Panama City Beach told DailyMail.com they plan to party on regardless – and could be seen hauling bottles of booze into their rooms and playing a game of cat and mouse with cops determined to keep a lid on the shenanigans.

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Unhappy ending: Most appeared to be having a boozy good time, although it all proved too much for one reveler who was discovered by DailyMail.com drunkenly slumped over a table in Pizza Hut

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Outside the Spinnaker Beach Club, which is famous for its Tuesday 'Beach Bash' parties, students were seen passed out on the sand and falling over following rounds of 'Mega Loko' shots - a shot glass filled with vodka and Four Loko

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In fact, revelers seemed to be passed out everywhere along on the beach as the day parties ended, falling over continuously

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Some spring breakers needed to be lifted off the ground by friends because of their drunken antics

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But earlier in the day, students were seen looking more calm - lounging in the sun before the real partying began

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Two spring breakers looked eager to party. One particularly patriotic party-goer sported a stars and stripes bandana

'We're getting drunk!' one Michigan student named Michael told this website. 'We've got a load of vodka and lime pops in our room. We mix them together - you should try it.

'We're just going to get drunk and have fun'.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Club La Vela, girls could be seen stripping off onstage and twerking lasciviously for prizes ranging from t-shirts to bar tabs in full view of the crowd.

Further down the beach, at the $142-a-night Holiday Inn, groups of students could be seen clustered on balconies challenging each other to drinking games.

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In the evenings, youngsters intent on a good time headed to Club La Vela – a huge drinking spot that bills itself as 'the place to party with thousands'

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The club is also famous for hosting wet t-shirt contests, as well as foam parties and live music; mostly hip hop stars including upcoming performer Ty Dolla $ign

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Determined: One spring breaker is intent on keeping the party going, carrying milk and a six pack of beer back to his hotel

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Students dancing at La Vela. Over the course of four days in Panama City Beach, DailyMail.com even caught two youngsters appearing to have sex in the nightclub

Some were seen passing plastic bags of booze between rooms, while others could be seen doing beer funnels – the aim being to drink as much as possible in the shortest time.

In the evenings, youngsters intent on a good time headed back to Club La Vela – a huge drinking spot that bills itself as 'the place to party with thousands'.

It is also famous for hosting wet t-shirt contests, as well as foam parties and live music; mostly hip hop stars including upcoming performer Ty Dolla $ign.

Saturday night saw revelers crowd into the club for the annual welcome party, while on Sunday, the theme was pools, with free entry for girls in bikinis.

But it was on Monday night that the club really got going, courtesy of a 'wet n' wild foam party' that saw girls climb on stage and twerk in front of a baying crowd.

Others opted for alternatives such as Hammerhead Fred's, a neon-lit bar next door to a small theme park boasting rides such as the Vomatron sling-shot, and local strip club Show-n-Tail.

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Many students were seen by DailyMail.com falling over and struggling to get back up because they were too intoxicated - victim of Mega Loko shots, made with an equal mix of vodka and Four Loko

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While some spring breakers were able to get back on their feet, the party-goer pictured had to be taken away by paramedics

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Too much to handle: The man was laid down on the back of a patrol vehicle and driven away from the madness

Most appeared to be having a boozy good time, although it all proved too much for one reveler who was discovered by DailyMail.com drunkenly slumped over a table in Pizza Hut opposite La Vela.

Another was seen on Monday night falling over and struggling to get back up because he was so intoxicated.

Students appeared proud of their antics, with one group of girls found relaxing on the beach on telling DailyMail.com that they had been thrown out of La Vela two nights in a row for behaving too rowdily.

Mia Rife and Dana West, both 18 and from the University of South Carolina, admitted to being ejected from the club.

'A lot of people from our school come here [to Panama City Beach] and we had heard it was fun so that's why we're here,' said Mia.

'It has been good so far but calmer than we expected.' Dana added: 'Our plan for the week is to go to the beach every day and hit the clubs every night.'

According to the local tourist board, last weekend's shenanigans were just the start of the Spring Break influx, with thousands more expected over the next two weeks.

Daytona Beach, meanwhile, is expecting between 5,000 and 10,000 student vacationers next weekend alone, according to Chief Capri.

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A man walks down the beach with his friend in a festive costume, surely heading to one of the many Beach Bash parties

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Frat boys proudly show off their flag of Phi Delta Theta on the beach. Its most famous former members include Neil Armstrong and Bob Schieffer - but its chapter at the University of Central Florida was temporarily suspended over hazing allegations last month

The biggest numbers, however, are expected in South Padre Island, which will host a giant concert featuring rapper Lil' Wayne next Monday and a colossal Beach Bash the following day.

Unsurprisingly, the local police chief is preparing for action. 'Next week will be our busiest but calls are going up every day,' said Randy Smith.

He continued: 'We plan well ahead but you never know when criminal activity will occur. Most of the trouble is things like public intoxication, simple assaults and disorderly conduct [fighting].

'We want everyone to have fun while in South Padre Island but safely.'

Chief Whitman, of Panama City Beach, added: 'Use good common sense and remember – if it's against the law where you come from, it probably is here too.'

A message that many of the students in his town for Spring Break appear all too happy to ignore.

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All smiles: Not everybody misbehaves on Spring Break - and police point out that the numbers of arrests are down, and that the alcohol ban is working on the beach

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Too rowdy: One party-goer needed to be steadily held so as not to fall backwards into the ocean - but still held onto his drink

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But some spring breakers seemed to find time amid the crazy partying for a little beach romance

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This year, tens of thousands of students head to Panama City Beach, as well as other Florida resorts such as Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, and Texas hotspot South Padre Island for Spring Break

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A total of 18 arrests were made in Panama City Beach over the weekend of February 3-5 – the majority for underage drinking and disorderly conduct. Chief Whitman, of Panama City Beach, said: 'Use good common sense and remember – if it's against the law where you come from, it probably is here too'