[Fred Mertz]

¶Each surveillance flight included a return stop in Las Vegas, which some officials said were meant to be recreational. Mr. Mueller said the authorities were not sure of the purpose of the stops.

We have hypothesized the purpose of the Las Vegas trips here. My guess was the money laundering/get cash aspect, with secondary motives of indulgence in Sin City.

[piasa]

It's also a great place to meet up with each other and others and discuss those flights and their observations. A brainstorming session so to speak- with so many crowds that one group of foreign looking individuals meeting there repeatedly wouldn't be suspicious.

They could do the same thing at Disneyworld but then as you say, there wouldn't be the money laundering advantage or the lapdancer angle.