Natalee Holloway Extended Discussion Thread 18

Anybody hear what happened on Dr. Phil today?

No I didn't hear the news from Dr Phil MAWG. I'm sure one of our resident computer whiz's will post the transcript tonight.

Cohen reminds me of a Democrat. Liar. Hey, I forgot. He's a former CBS executive. CBS is the home of Dan Rather. Enough said.

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Thanks for starting a new thread.

Maybe it will bring good luck to the Equusearch folks down there in Aruba.

Who are the Sloots going to sue? This could be a good thing, because all Sloots will be deposed, and we may get conflicting testimony from them.

But Arlene will probably say: "We do not do suits the same as in America. In Aruba, one is allowed to lie on a deposition in a civil suit."

;)

Great job on starting a new thread, RGVTx.

www.scaredmonkeys.com/2006/01/20/james-whitaker

James Whitaker, Underwater Search Expert, on Rita Cosby: “I have the equipment to go out and search in that area”
January 20th, 2006

James Whitaker talks to Rita Cosby, “Live & Direct”, January 18, 2006

Well, the latest round of searches for Natalee Holloway are in the sand dunes of Aruba. Divers are still planning to take to the waters off Aruba, in the coming weeks to look for clues. LIVE & DIRECT tonight is underwater search specialist James Whitaker; he just got back from a few days in Aruba.

James, I want to start with this new information about the sand dunes. You were talking to authorities down there. What did they tell you as sort of what is leading them back to the dunes? Did they tell you a friend of Joran’s was giving new clues?

JAMES WHITAKER, UNDERWATER SEARCH SPECIALIST: No, they didn’t elaborate on what the clue was. They just said there was good, credible information to lead them there. And we actually found out about it after they were on already there working the area.

COSBY: When did they start it, James? How long have they been out there? Two days? How long?

WHITAKER: It’s been about two days now, yeah.

COSBY: You’ve seen the site for yourself. Sort of describe it for our viewers. I was out there, too.

WHITAKER: Well, this is a volcanic island. There’s lots of big boulders and big piles of rocks. And there’s wind blowing all the time in one direction. It piles and drifts the sand. It’s pretty deep in areas.

COSBY: You know, I understand that your team offered Aruban authorities your equipment. You’ve got pretty good state-of-the-art equipment. What was their response? I understand they were a little tepid.

WHITAKER: Well, that’s true. They never took the offer seriously from my take on it. But we were talking about using ground penetrating radar which is more appropriate for this area, because the cadaver dogs will be somewhat limited with high winds. They have to get their nose right in there—

COSBY: What do you think, was it because you’re an outsider, James?

What was the reason?

WHITAKER: Well, I don’t have a take on that. I don’t know what—why they’re standoffish. Maybe they may take our offer up after they’re finished doing what they’re—what they have planned there with the cadaver dogs, and using all the searching people they have there. Maybe they will use the ground penetrating radar at the end of it, but we have no indication of that at this point.

COSBY: Now, separately I know you’re looking at the waters. You’ll be checking about five miles off the coast there. Why is that area so key? Explain to our viewers—I was there. It’s right near the fisherman’s hut. Right where the cage was missing, there was a knife, when the hut was broken into that night when Natalee vanished. Describe why that area seems to be key and Dompig, the police chief is leading you there.

WHITAKER: The other story is, as you say, the missing trap, which is a steel crab trap of sufficient size. It’s larger than traps we use in this country. And it’s big enough for her to be put into and taken out to sea and dumped. And sea has been searched out to 150 feet of water depth. But the equipment they had down there, that’s all the deeper they could get. Three to five miles out we’re approaching the deepest part of 1,000 feet. I have the equipment to go out and search in that area. That’s what the plan is.

COSBY: We wish you a lot of luck. Please keep us posted, Jim, thank you very much.

www.scaredmonkeys.com/2006/01/19/steve-cohen

Steve Cohen: And the Aruban Spin Game Continues (Statement, lie, retract … oh my)

January 19th, 2006

Does anyone really want to know why Aruba’s tourism is going down the drain? Does anyone really want to know why the Holloway and Twitty family got fed up with the nonsense out of Aruba to even the point that Dave Holloway, a man who said he would not boycott Aruba, ultimately changed his mind?

At what point does the nonsense end? At this point that is all it is. How many times is a statement going to be made officially out of Aruba pertaining to this case and then it be retracted because of some excuse like a language barrier? How many times does “something bad happen” become nothing at all?

Now comes Steve Cohen’s latest SPIN JOB. Yesterday Cohen did an interview with Travel Video TV where he said the following. So much for getting off the roller-coaster:

Aruba believes it is most important to get a hold of her mental state and most importantly, Natalee’s physical state at the time of disappearance. “Two of the boys said they had consensual sex with her. Whether consensual or not, depends on her ability to be conscious and make a choice,” said Cohen.

Not only did Steve Cohen say these words in this interview as they quoted Mr. Cohen, Aruba the Truth, part of the Aruban Strategic Communications Task Force also posted the interview article in full. That is Aruba the Truth and the ASCTF that Steve Cohen is a part of. Rather peculiar that they had no issue or problem posting this article on their web site. An article that is an interview with one of their members.

Then all of a sudden in true “something bad happen” style Steve Cohen and the Aruba the Truth web-site has decided to retract the comment and interpret/clarify it as the following:

There are concerns about the statements regarding the investigations view of whether or not any of the suspects had consensual sex with Natalee Holloway. It was not my intention to suggest that they had admitted any such actions on the official record. The statement was made in regard to why interviewing Alabama teens would be important to the case. However, the Office of the Prosecution believes it is important to determine all details of that night including Ms. Holloway’s physical state.

So somehow, “Two of the boys said they had consensual sex with her. Whether consensual or not, depends on her ability to be conscious and make a choice,” becomes not an action on the official record? Then why say it at all? This is the game that has been played for seven months.This is no different than the comments made that the three suspects were going to be reinterogated. What now? Another communication error? Another mistake? These statements were made by the individual put in place to prevent all those previous communications errors from occurring.

Also today on the Dr. Phil Show Steve Cohen said the following:

Dr. Phil asks him, “From your opinion, based on what you know, do you believe that these boys are guilty of wrongdoing here?” Steve says that he does. “Do the prosecutors believe they are guilty of wrongdoing?” Steve says that they do. “Do you believe that [the boys] have available, intimate knowledge of what happened to her that night?” Again, Steve confirms that he does.

I guess we all must wait for either this evening MSM shows or tomorrow for the retractions and reinterpretations of what was said during The Dr. Phil Interviews. Also from todays Dr. Phil Show comes the following so that no one ever gets confused who Steve Cohen works for and is paid by.

“And, who pays you?” Dr. Phil probes. “I’m actually paid by the tourism industry, which is the Aruban Tourism Authority, and also a group called AHACA, which is an association of hotel owners on the island.”

Steve Cohen then tells Beth Twitty that he regrets the roller-coaster ride. Really? It doesn’t seem like the ride has ended in the slightest. One must remember that the Dr. Phil show was taped that was seen today. Thus the roller-coaster ride that Cohen promised would not happen again last week has just occurred again today.

Dr. Phil acknowledges Beth’s frustration with Steve and asks Steve what he would like to say to her.

“I regret the roller-coaster of December,” says Steve. “I think it was a mistake. I don’t think our expectations were that it was going to yield that much, but I really do regret it. The last thing we want to do is be part of any of the emotional trauma that you’ve experienced up to this point.”

This charade has gone on for seven months. I do not think anyone could comprehend dealing with such back & forth nonsense as the Holloway’s & Twitty’s have put up with. To exacerbate the problem, they are dealing with their missing daughter. As Beth Twitty commented,

“Well, just what I was saying at the beginning,” she says. “As you can see, we’re put through enough as it is.

Instead of the truth, we get comments out of Aruba that there is no effect on tourism. If that is the case that Aruba has not been affected maybe someone from the Department of Tourism would like to post Aruba’s tourism numbers since June? Especially when individuals in Aruba have already gone on record as to the decline at both the airport and cruise ships. Instead, they state the following:

Minister for tourism and transport Edison Briesen said his industry has remained resilient. There has been no impact on economy after the boycott.

www.scaredmonkeys.com/2006/01/19/dr-phil

Dr. Phil Show (Part 1): Steve Cohen, “do you believe that these boys are guilty?” “YES.”

January 19th, 2006

Today on the Dr. Phil Show some interesting comments come from Steve Cohen. Cohen, consultant to the Aruban government, who has gone on TV among the many from The Aruba Strategic Communications Task Force and professed the suspects innocence, now says they are guilty. After all this time that Aruba, the Aruban government and the Tourism industry has defended Aruba and the three suspects at the same time we are now told that they think the suspects are guilty.

Dr. Phil asks him, “From your opinion, based on what you know, do you believe that these boys are guilty of wrongdoing here?” Steve says that he does. “Do the prosecutors believe they are guilty of wrongdoing?” Steve says that they do. “Do you believe that [the boys] have available, intimate knowledge of what happened to her that night?” Again, Steve confirms that he does.

Steve explains, “Forensic materials continue to be collected. I think we’ve got our hands on some forensic material now that may actually open up the doors to the final results of this case.”

Then comes the amazing statement of the interview with Steve Cohen. Many have questioned from the outset the position that Steve Cohen held and the conflict of interest of the many relationships he had with private sector Aruban Tourism Association, Strategic Communication Task Force, consultant to the Aruban government and access to the ALE information. The comments continue:

Dr. Phil says, “You say that you are a consultant paid by the tourism industry that’s also working in conjunction with the government, and in the same breath you say that you are the ones that had to let these boys out of jail?”

“I was the guy who had to let them out,” says Steve. “I opened the jail door for all three of them. It was nobody else. It was me. And my feeling was that we had lost. And then we didn’t lose because we all sat together and said, ‘We can figure this out.’”

John Kelley speaking in response to Steve Cohen and in reality speaks for the many who have questioned and scratched their heads at the conduct of Aruban officials covering the Natalee Holloway disappearance. There is a reason why tourism has taken a dip in Aruba and its because many are just appalled at what has transpired.

John answers for her. “We’re not going to sit here and say, ‘Mr. Cohen’s a nice guy. He told us some nice things. Aruba’s a nice country.’ No! Their daughter’s missing. We don’t have answers. The answers are down there. They have the resources, they have the men, they have the answers, they’ve got the suspects, it’s all down there for them to solve this, and they’re not doing it. We need that done.

One wonders at this point whether Aruba has acted too late and the effects have been set in motion with regards to their tourism decline.

"We do not do suits the same..."

Arlene, the Ardent Aruban Apologist.

msnbc.msn.com/id/10925978/

VIDEO AVAILABLE

MSNBC - Rita Cosby "Live and Direct"
Updated: 10:13 p.m. ET - Jan. 19, 2006

New leads discovered in Aruba in case
Sand dunes may link investigators to Natalee Holloway's last whereabouts

Investigating a new lead, Aruban police are searching sand dunes along Aruba’s northeast coast in attempts to make a break in the case for missing Alabama teenage Natalee Holloway.

The island's deputy police chief now says credible information lead to this latest hunt for clues. These sand dunes could be the very last place where Natalee Holloway was seen alive by three young men previously held by Aruban authorities in her disappearance.

Jossy Mansur with Aruba's “Diario” newspaper and Holloway family attorney John Q. Kelly joined Rita Cosby on ‘Live and Direct’ to discuss the recent developments as well as a gag order in the case.

To read an excerpt from their conversation, continue to the text below. To watch the video, click on the "Launch" button to the right.

RITA COSBY, HOST, ‘LIVE AND DIRECT’: Jossy, starting with you, what do you know about this search? What was sort of the tip to go back to the sand dunes?

JOSSY MANSUR, “DIARIO” NEWSPAPER: The tip hasn't been revealed to us. There is a tip that one witness gave to the police that started this whole search at the area of the dunes. They have been searching yesterday. I think they were searching today. They still have about 20 more hours of searches to do.

COSBY: Jossy, you say one witness, who is this witness? When did this information come forward? Is it a new witness?

MANSUR: It's a witness the police recently interviewed. He gave an alibi, the alibi didn't work out. So, that started the police on this new search of the sand dunes. In the meantime, Tim and his people, are searching the oceans for a fish trap.

COSBY: You know, Jossy, you say he gave an alibi. Are you suggesting that police were talking to him as a possible suspect or having some involvement in the case?

MANSUR: The police did talk to quite a range of Joran's friends in the last few weeks. One of them apparently turned out to be of interest to them. They questioned him further. He gave some kind of an inkling or clue that they believe in that the girl was buried or is buried somewhere in the dunes.

COSBY: That's really significant. John, let me go to you. John, what have you heard? Hearing now this is one of the things I was hearing a lot what we were down in Aruba, that his friends could have some information or connection—are you getting a sense, as a representative of the family, that there's a representative here?

JOHN Q. KELLY, HOLLOWAY FAMILY ATTORNEY: Yes, I talked Karen Janssen yesterday and Gerold Dompig today, and as I understand it this is a new tip that came in within the last week. They felt it was fairly credible and it was very detailed. They would have been remiss not to follow through on it.

What they're doing it they're going to search the entire sand dune area with their probes, their metal probes. And hopefully there was some involvement, today we're trying to coordinate getting the FBI in there with cadaver dogs immediately afterwards to go through the turned up sand and soil.

COSBY: And you know, John, the fact that they are using cadaver dogs, and the thing we heard from Jossy that may be buried. Obviously, that's an ominous sign, but are you getting inkling, again, as Jossy was suggesting, maybe she was buried there?

KELLY: Well, yes. I mean, some of the information was confidential but there has been some very important information in terms of activity on the sand dunes, both that night when they were up at the lighthouse, which is directly across from the sand dunes there, and some observations that were made immediately afterwards, the next day by certain people involved in the initial search for Natalee. So, it's always been a particular place of interest all along. And I'm glad they're doing a very thorough search now.

COSBY: You know, Jossy, that's a pretty big area, isn't it, that they're checking? The dunes are pretty high?

JOSSY: Yes, this is a pretty big area. I think Art Wood has narrowed it down to a place where he did find a belt that was buried there. The belt was given over to the police. But we haven't heard anything more belt it just simply disappeared.

COSBY: In fact, I think they were saying that the belt was too old to be tested? Which Art would have physically looked at the belt, said it looked like there was still some good stuff on there to be able to at least determine whether or not it was connected.

What do you know about the gag order, too, Jossy. There is apparently a gag order on Chief Dompig. And I want to show what we've learned, is that Aruba's attorney general issued the gag order. Deputy Police Chief Gerold Dompig and Prosecutor Karen Janssen aren't allowed to talk about the case. Why are they trying to shut them up, Jossy?

MANSUR: I have no idea, but the gag order is a reality. I've heard about this. I've known about this gag order for some time now and they are strictly forbidden to talk to anyone in the media to begin with, and anyone else outside of the investigative team.

COSBY: That's very interesting. Because Dompig was on our show saying, he believes the three boys are guilty as hell.

John, have you seen Joran Van Der Sloot's—it looks like this is sort of his web site, which is what a lot of people believe. On it, there are interesting pictures and I think some troubling things. If you look at his blog, it—one of the pages—there's a picture, on top of it, there's a caption, no body, no case making fun of the situation. You can see it there with the picture of him with his family with his mother and father. You know, how disturbing is this? John?

KELLY: It's really disturbing. And as I understand it that's a statement that's originally attributed to his father, when he advised him. The father, Paul Van Der Sloot, who is now in court looking for monetary damages, which is shameful to say the least.

But apparently he got them lawyered up. He told them not to use their e-mails, not to use their cell phones, and to get a consistent story and assured them, that if there was no body found, there'd nobody case. And from all suggestions it appears he was at least complicit in the conspiracy to cover up whatever happened that night.

Link available to: Joran Van Der Sloot's photo website

Arlene, the Ardent Aruban Apologist.

Appropriate and alliterative.

http://www.amigoe.com/english/

Tourists do not like Aruban cuisine

ARUBA – What proportion does culture bear to tourism in Aruba; how do the Aruban citizens identify themselves with their identity? Cultural anthropologist Astrid van Wijk did a doctoral researched on the above.

During her research in 2005, she discovered that the Aruban identity can hardly be found in what the hotels offer to their guests. “Tourists do not like Aruban cuisine”, said a chef. A survey on the guests’ culinary preferences, included all sorts of international dishes, from Polynesian to Mexican, but no Aruban. Buffets are combined with the evening entertainment, but the hotels do not offer Aruban nights with Aruban entertainment.

Very little distinction is being made between Caribbean/Aruban- and South American music and dance on the so-called carnival nights. Local dance-groups do not always keep their engagements with the hotels and because of that, some hotels now contract dancing-ensembles that have no trouble at all doing Aruban waltzes as well as Brazilian sambas. However, most of those dancers are not originally from Aruba. Van Wijk says that start including the culture of a country in the promotion has become an international trend. Therefore, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) recommends investing in cultural aspects in the tourist policy. The Aruba Tourism Authority told Van Wijk that they would actively follow that trend.

Van Wijk had spoken with hotel managers, ATA- and Ahata officials, activity coordinators, food & beverage managers, and with persons that are involved in marketing and sales of the tourist product Aruba. She has also examined the brochures Aruba Nights, Events, and Experience. Sun, Sea, and Beaches still dominate in the promotion, while culture and own identity get very little attention. Now is the time to pay more attention to cultural aspects, now that the safety-image of Aruba has suffered a blow due to the Holloway-affair, the collapse of the Natural Bridge, and the attack on the famous fofoti-tree in front of the Amsterdam Manor Resort.

Van Wijk will give a lecture on the conclusions of her research in the auditorium of the University of Aruba this coming Thursday at 20:00.

On Greta tonight.

John Kelley, Beth's attorney, said that he has applied to the civil court to be allowed to sit in, as Natalee's family's representative, on the hearing for Paulus Van Der Sloot at the end of this month, when Paulus will ask for payment from the government for his wrongful arrest.

Kelley said Karen Janssen told him he should try to get permission to attend the hearing.

Kelley spoke about the secretiveness of Aruban court hearings and how difficult it is to find out what has been said and done in the hearings. He said there is no way to just get a transcript, as in America.

He said Karen is going to Holland again soon to review the case records there, to make sure she did not miss anything.

Greta asked didn't Karen make copies of records for Aruba? John said he didn't discuss that with Karen.

There was no mention of the 2 Aruban policemen who raced off to a nearby island to possibly find Natalee alive.

He said Karen is going to Holland again soon to review the case records there

Another vacation in the 'midst' of things.

Thanks, Shebacal, for the updates.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10945871/

'Rita Cosby Live & Direct' for Jan. 19th

Guests: Beth Holloway Twitty, Wally Zeins, William Gallegos, Rocky Sickman, Hamid Mir, Jackie Spinner

Snip...
COSBY: ...And a new lead in the Natalee Holloway case as her family takes a new tactic, looking for answers. Beth Holloway Twitty is going to join us live.

Snip...And later, developments in the Natalee Holloway investigation. Her family is watching closely as a tip from the prime suspect‘s friend has investigators working again. Could this be the big break? Beth Holloway Twitty is going to join us live.

And, of course, we have some other stories going on. Natalee Holloway‘s mother is watching every move in Aruba as police are investigating the new lead: a tip from one of Joran Van Der Sloot‘s friends. Natalee‘s mother‘s going to join me live, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSBY: Tonight, a new development in the Natalee Holloway case. The attorney for the missing teen‘s family has a new demand for Aruban authorities. Meanwhile, could a potential new lead in this case be the breakthrough that Natalee‘s family has been waiting for?

LIVE & DIRECT tonight is Natalee‘s mom, Beth Holloway Twitty. Beth, I want to play real quick—this is what Jossy Mansur, of “El Diario” newspaper, told us yesterday about the new lead pointing to the sand dunes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSSY MANSUR, EDITOR, “DIARIO”: The police did talk to quite a range of Joran‘s friends in the last few weeks. And one of them apparently turned out to be of interest to them. They questioned him further. He gave them some kind of an inkling, some kind of a clue that they believe in, that the girl was buried or is buried somewhere in the dunes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSBY: Beth, what do you know? What have you been told about how credible this new search is? Jossy and your attorney last night seemed to be putting some stock in it.

BETH HOLLOWAY TWITTY, MOTHER OF NATALEE HOLLOWAY: Well, Rita, really nothing more than—that what we have just heard from Mr. Mansur. And, you know, I certainly hope this is a credible witness, although I‘ve become very skeptical of any actions that they‘re taking, just because usually we‘ve been misled all along. But, you know, I‘m just hoping that this really—there really was a witness that came forward. And if it was a friend of Joran‘s, is seems kind of farfetched to me that that would happen at this late date, but...

COSBY: Yes, we can always hope for the best. You know, Beth, you and I have talked about some of Joran‘s friends when I was down there in Aruba. They were sort of rounding them all up. We heard that they‘re talking to them again. Do you believe some of them know more than they‘re saying?

TWITTY: Oh, absolutely, I do, Rita. There‘s at least three or four of them that—they know exactly what happened that night. And it just amazes me that they have been to—hanging on to this secret this long. I know that at least—like I said, at least three or four of those boys know exactly what happened.

COSBY: You know, your attorney, John Q. Kelly, has asked—there was a letter that we just got asking that he be in court during a hearing for Paulus Van Der Sloot, Joran‘s dad. Why does your attorney—why does he think it‘s critical to be there?

TWITTY: Well, you know, they‘re very secretive in the criminal proceedings, but surely they‘re not going to be so secretive in a civil proceeding as this. And I think it is important that he be there. And I don‘t see why they would have to have this under the lock and key like they do the criminal proceedings.

I think he has every right to be there. I think he has more so of a right to be in that courtroom than Paulus Van Der Sloot does, to be filing this motion. It‘s just reprehensible that Aruba would even hear Paulus Van Der Sloot in this case.

COSBY: A lot of people are pretty stunned, Beth. You know, real quick, there‘s also a search—we talked about what‘s going on in the sand dunes. There‘s a search in the water. We know that EquuSearch is back out there looking into the fisherman‘s hut.

Are you optimistic and, at least, are you happy to see that they‘re going back out there?

TWITTY: Oh, well, I mean, I am. And I really feel that this has been something that has needed to be addressed a long time. I mean, the FBI and I spoke about this early in—end of August or first of September, that there was a concern that this fishing trap or crab trap, as they call it, was missing, was reportedly missing, along with a knife.

And, you know, Tim Miller was just never able to conduct the search. He was never able to finish it because of the depth of the water. And I feel that he and Mr. Whitaker have laid the foundation, and they‘re ready to come in, and hopefully they can either rule this in or out, Rita.

COSBY: We‘re going to be keeping an eye on it. Beth, thanks so much.

It‘s always good to have you on. We appreciate it.

To read article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10945871/

Copy: Content and programming copyright 2006 NBC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Transcription Copyright 2006 Voxant, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Thanks, Shebacal. I love it! Those empty beaches are the best posts of the day! Even the employees gave up posing.

www.aruba-bb.com/

Posted by Eddy: Thu Jan 19, 2006 5:11 pm

Natalee Holloway Book

ORANJESTAD-Father of Natalee Holloway, Dave Holloway is writing a book on the disappearance of his aughter. "Aruba: The Tragic Untold Story of Natalee Holloway and Corruption in Paradise" is the title of the book.

According to Dave the book tells the complete story on the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The book gives details on the different investigation paths that led the case to possible rape, murder and even sex slavery.

Dave Holloway did not write the book completely by himself, co-authors are R. Stephanie Good and Larry Garrison. Garrison is also producer of different television programs. Women between the ages of 28 and 56 that often view Greta van Susteren, Rita Cosby and Inside Edition are the target market for the book.

The publisher will generate much attention for the book by using talk radio and television shows. Dave Holloway is scheduled to appear on different talk shows, including that of CNN's Larry King a day prior to the release date of the book. The book will be released on April 11th at a price of US$ 26. The money will be used to help in the search for Natalee Holloway.