CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 67,425	$ 95,111
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	137,039	123,324
Net amortization of debt discounts, premiums and deferred financing fees	2,752	5,467
Straight line rental income	(28,666)	(23,823)
Amortization of acquired real estate leases	44,154	33,654
Other amortization	14,610	12,186
Loss on asset impairment		9,247
Loss (gain) on early extinguishment of debt	1,895	(310)
Equity in earnings of investees	(8,655)	(8,390)
Gain on issuance of shares by an equity investee		(11,177)
Distributions of earnings from investees	8,230	8,279
Net gain on sale of properties	(2,039)	(41,573)
Change in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	(3,689)	(5,020)
Rents receivable and other assets	(46,790)	(33,149)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(9,140)	2,366
Rent collected in advance	(11,775)	6,667
Security deposits	415	2,072
Due to related persons	20,646	18,271
Cash provided by operating activities	186,412	193,202
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Real estate acquisitions	(389,536)	(749,987)
Real estate improvements	(86,077)	(66,543)
Investment in direct financing lease, net		(38,635)
Principal payments received from direct financing lease	4,954	3,643
Principal payments received from real estate mortgage receivable		8,183
Proceeds from sale of properties, net	9,643	263,170
Distributions in excess of earnings from investees	4,307	4,159
Investment in Affiliates Insurance Company	(5,335)
Increase in restricted cash	(2,073)
Cash used in investing activities	(464,117)	(576,010)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	180,814	264,056
Proceeds from issuance of preferred shares, net		265,391
Redemption of preferred shares	(150,000)
Proceeds from borrowings	1,368,500	750,000
Payments on borrowings	(1,055,681)	(738,904)
Deferred financing fees	(14,734)	(853)
Distributions to common shareholders	(125,588)	(108,213)
Distributions to preferred shareholders	(41,558)	(30,582)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(4,508)
Cash provided by financing activities	157,245	400,895
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	377	(1,454)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(120,083)	16,633
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	192,763	194,040
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	72,680	210,673
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Interest paid	165,874	151,259
Taxes paid	568	403
NON-CASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Real estate acquisitions	(243,212)	(321,235)
Investment in real estate mortgages receivable	(1,419)
NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of common shares	986	1,039
Assumption of mortgage notes payable	243,212	321,235
Assumption of note payable		$ 4,059