Aruba Threat Causes Security Concerns: Impacts Holloway Investigation

If I drank, I'd need one right now. This is either breaking news, or I've been played. This post warrants a qualifier.

The vast majority of my reporting here has been based upon identified sources. I've adhered to that standard in every case, except one. Occasionally, one source has provided me quality information and always remained anonymous.

To date they haven't been wrong, sometimes putting me hours - and once or twice - a day or more ahead of large media. This source has not been responsible for the preponderance of reporting I have done on the Natalee Holloway disappearance. But their contribution has been significant for its content, just the same.

I was contacted today and told I would have a breaking development tonight not directly related to the resolution of this case and that it would break in Aruban media tomorrow. Given this qualifier, I've decided to go ahead and make the post. If I die on the vine, so be it. But at least I have given as full a disclosure as I possibly can.

Reports suggest that over a week ago a letter came into a government office in Aruba postmarked from the United States, it is alleged that the letter threatened the government of Aruba that "If they didn't give Natalee back," an as yet unidentified group behind the letter would take action against the island.

According to a source, those actions included contaminating water and meat imports flowing to the island from the United States. I did verify that the US is the largest importer of those and other products and goods onto the island. I am unclear as to what, if any other threats may have been made at that time.

According to this uncorroborated report, it was this which precipitated Prosecutor Karen Janssen being dispatched to Holland and Dutch investigators taking over on the ground in Aruba.

Additionally, a prosecutor was also dispatched to FBI headquarters in Washington to share information and to work with the FBI. I've been told that this matter was kept extremely secret within a tight circle around the Prime Minister; the Minister of Justice and the Head of the Intelligence Office.

End note: That said, I realize that politics in Aruba are somewhat volatile and there is an election coming soon. It could serve the best interests of some if any seeming change in the approach to the Natalee Hollway investigation were the result of something other than an unacceptable investigation, which focused negative attention on certain political figures right now.

As I am unaware of the political affiliations of my source, I felt it best to add this end note to the post.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Comments

[JL]

seems totally believable

[Gale]

Hope it's not true. If it is...holy crap batman!

[proudredneck]

That is a huge heads-up! I was contemplating organizing a Granada or Falkland Islands type scenario. LOL.

Dan, I hope you made that visit you promised you would.

Take your vitamins and run off to bed. I cannot imagine how you stay up as much as you do! but thank you nonetheless!!!!!

[caseyschenkofsky]

Too flipped out for words.

We are living in the Bizzaroworld of our youth.

Thanks for the post.

[RealPotential]

OMG.

Talk about throwing a really big twist into this mess.

[chance]

Wow. American terrorists? Whatever it takes I guess. This is getting ridiculous........

[just_lurking]

What made them think this was a legitimate threat rather than just some kook? They have probably gotten a lot of threats I would think.

[little C]

Sorry I don't get it, surely they've had a lot of threatening calls and letters about the case not being solved-why is this signifcant? Because it's so threatening?

[bhm mom too]

surely the US would not contaminate food and meat to Aruba, over a case. That would be a low act that I cannot fathom t his country would do.

[((((elan))))]

i'm not surprised. we have our share of home grown crackpots. i wouldn't take it very seriously if i were them.

[Jojo]

Dan,
I too heard about a letter of this type but the source didn't put much into the threat. It makes sense though. The coverage this case has gotten has some folks off kilter. It is imperative that this case be solved expeditiously but not at the expense of truth. I hope this too is pushed to the back drawers.

[letsbefair]

The "unidentified group" is "Scared Monkeys" ! lol

[bamaguy11]

great....the dutch are really gonna love us now.

probably just another attempt by aruba to smear the dirty american cowboys.

[Jojo]

Someone in the US knows what buttons to push obviously.

[letsbefair]

Was the letter signed "Sincerely, Island Hopper"?

[Gale]

surely the US would not contaminate food and meat to Aruba, over a case. That would be a low act that I cannot fathom t his country would do.

Posted by: bhm mom too | July 29, 2005 02:14 AM

Not the US per se, but a terrorist group in this country. :0

[((((elan))))]

it could be from our "friend", lol. jimi knows the one.

[GRLFMBAMA]

well, who do yall think made this threat?

[sleuth]

On one hand, this new development would explain some of Aruba's behavior lately, allowing the FBI in, and being more friendly and less snooty about their system.

On the other hand, so what?

[wysiwig]

@bhm mom too: I don't think anyone is suggesting that "the US" as a whole is involved in this threat. Even though in this respect not much would surprise me with the current government being what it is, I don't think Junior or his minions would come up with anything this creative. "Send in the marines!" would be more their style.

[007Scarlett]

Oh I have no doubt that some extremist group would do such a thing. I have lived in Alabama all of my life, and I know how angry rednecks react. BUT...this could also be an attempt to further demonize the U.S. in the eyes of the world, and bring empathy to the Aruban government, i.e. the big, bad U.S. is bullying tiny, innocent, little Aruba.
If this is true, is that the REAL reason that the FBI was finally brought into the case?
How pathetic, all the way around.

[((((elan))))]

we averaged three threats a day on exams days. it's a crack pot, probably hopper.

[observer]

Well Im a little surprised..But not much..People are outraged and many feel that there was collusion involved..I figured there would be threats against the suspects,there familys and the commisioner not the good people of aruba....This is gettin way out of control..A couple of dirtbags are ruining relations and costing tens of millions in search efforts...

[letsbefair]

we averaged three threats a day on exams days. it's a crack pot, probably hopper.

Posted by: ((((elan)))) | July 29, 2005 02:23 AM

Yeah, something this insane has got to have "Island Hopper" behind it.

[GRLFMBAMA]

now i am sure there will have to be an investigation into this letter/threat, like the one ongoing wasnt enough. how ugly would it be of me to say i am suprised the aruban goverment figured where the letter was post marked from?

[Jojo]

A Natalee Holloway conspiracy? Is Natalee alive and well and back in MB? Someone suggested a political plot and Natalee may have been the bait. I thought it was some crack pot, but how much do we really know about this case? Beth did say to JVDS when she arrived at his home the first night, I want my daughter back. And 'I know she was kidnapped'.

The next John Grisham plot or a Tom Clancy novel?

The threat could have been someone at the FBI. Letters from any of us can get to Aruba.

Maybe (gulp) 'Jug' was right; there is stuff that they can't release but the world would gasp if they did release all they know? They have been sworn to secrecy..

[sleuth]

How is this new info going to sit with all those gung ho Arubians who are already completely pissed at Americans? This may get interesting.

[observer]

Scarlett,

You are absolutely correct!!!!!

[Sly2SmoothieNJUN]

I think it's the best thing ever....pressure on Joran.he's gonna bust.....or those two bros..I know it

[bamaguy11]

jojo,

i'm with you if this any indication of things to come...we will be shocked.

[Jojo]

It's already being debunked just like any real threat; lets not alarm the American people!

[007Scarlett]

Anyone remember this? Riehl World View, 06/05/05:

U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, said Saturday there were circumstances surrounding Holloway's disappearance that warranted the FBI being heavily involved. He declined to give details.

"The circumstances were disturbing," said Bachus, who formally requested the FBI's involvement. "I can't get into it, but it's something the family is aware of. There was an immediate recognition that this was not simply a teen who wandered off."

Anyone else want to hide in a bunker somewhere?

[chance]

I am bunkering myself in now until this is solved.......

[observer]

Not only should they go after this terror group but also van der rotten..If he wasnt involved this woulda been over and done with...

[complex brian]

this could be the strangest mystery ive ever seen.

[Dan]

Just had a thought - this would be a good way to get the FBI involved dirtectly - wouldn't it? or act as cover to justify it and preserve their integrity iternationality??

many threads ... many threads to this thing ...

[Cindi in PA]

The "unidentified group" is "Scared Monkeys" ! lol

Posted by: letsbefair | July 29, 2005 02:15 AM

lol, something like that.

[sleuth]

Exactly, Dan, exactly. Actually, this opens up a whole lotta doors.

[observer]

Dan,

Your absolutely right..This may have been the only way to get the fbi involved..

[Phantom]

It's going to get REAL nasty later today.

[chance]

Oy, solve this already!

[fried]

aurba today friday edition is online and says both witness' credibility is under question.

http://www.arubatoday.com/week/friday/

[Cindi in PA]

Hope it's not true. If it is...holy crap batman!

Posted by: Gale | July 29, 2005 02:10 AM

Yep, my last visit to Gotham City lol

[sleuth]

Dan, are you going to be investigated for leaking this news? Will we see you on the cover of Newsweek? Hell, you will probably be on O'Reilly by Monday night.

[charlotte]

This does not seem to make any sense in the scheme of things. It could just be a letter written by a group of white extremists living in the southern part of the US, but other than that it seems to be an exaggeration.

[007Scarlett]

That reminds me of this old joke: (I know this is no joking matter, but brevity can be a good thing.)

The Italian Tomato Garden

An old Italian man lived alone in the country.

He wanted to dig his tomato garden,
but it was very hard work as the ground was hard.
His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison.

The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament.

Dear Vincent,

I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my
tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a
garden plot. If you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would
dig the plot for me.

Love Dad

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Dad,

Not for nothing, but don't dig up that garden.
That's where I buried the BODIES.

Love Vinnie

At 4 a.m. the next morning,
FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without
finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.

That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Dad,

Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now.
That's the best I could do under the circumstances.

Love Vinnie

[Phantom]

You just can't take these things lightly these days

[bamaguy11]

charlotte,

what makes you classify them as "white" extremists?

what makes you think they live in the "southern" part of the us?

i'm sick of this South bashing

last i checked timothy mcvay wasn't southerner

[((((elan))))]

it's some lonely bored 50ish white chick, eating bon bons while she types.

phatom, you are so right, i'm outta this one. lol.

[charlotte]

I wonder why you think saying southern and white is bashing.
Interesting that you did not relate in a negative manner to the word "extremist".