New ASALA?

[Mher]

American Armenians are forming new ASALA – Turkish daily

September 19, 2011 | 11:58

ISTANBUL. – The American Armenians are forming an ASALA (Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia)-like organization, which will combat enemies of the Armenians and protect the US against foreign danger, the Turkish Sabah daily writes. According to the paper, this organization, called “The American-Armenian Legion,” is very active in the Internet, including Facebook and other social networks.

“According to information received by Sabah, this organization formed by the Armenians has military discipline and they are undergoing military training. There are 2-to-5-member groups that will carry out assassinations and other military operations,” the Turkish daily writes, underscoring that the Turkish National Intelligence Service has gathered information on this organization and the foreign ministry has warned the US about this organization.

The daily also writes that Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will head for US to attend UN’s convention, will raise this issue, too. The Turkish daily also alleges that, aside from the US, this Armenian organization also operates in Russia and Lebanon. “As a result of the very tense Turkish-Israeli relations in recent periods, Israel is also assisting this Armenian organization. If Turkey is able to eliminate the PKK (Kurdish Workers’ Party), certain external forces intend to implement Plan B, and bring forth the new ASALA formed by the Armenians,” the Turkish Sabah writes, alluding to Turkish National Intelligence Service data

http://news.am/eng/news/74622.html

[Mher]

Re: New ASALA?

Any Legitimacy to this? or is it the usual Turkish propaganda

[Mher]

Re: New ASALA?

Armenians revitalize ASALA?

11:28 • 19.09.11

"Founded in the United States, the organization known as the American-Armenians Legion has launched an active campaign on the Internet, particularly on the social networking site Facebook. Its declared goal is to fight all the countries and organization which are the enemies of Armenia," the paper said.

Citing its intelligegnce sources, the Turkish publication claims that it has come in possession of photos and documents proving that the legion attend military trainings.

"The organization, which has around 1,000 members, is governed by military discipline. Its members learn how to release gunshots from revolvers, rifles, and sniper and heavy guns. In addition, the organization operates special mission units consisting of 2-5 people who are trained for special operations, including death attempts," the paper says, adding that the Turkish authorities are preparing to take appropriate countermeasures.

It further says that the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has started collecting information about the organization's activities.

"Besides, the Turkish foreign office has warned the US officials about the illegal armed organization. And if no measure is taken against suspending the activities of the American-Armenians' legion, Ankara will send a protest note to Washington. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will be attending the UN General Assembly's session, is expected to raise the topic in the United States," says the paper.

It further claims that similar organizations operate in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon.
"Israel has been recently aiding those organizations, particularly in the light of the Turkish Israeli crisis," the paper comments.

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2011/09/19/asala/

[Mher]

Re: New ASALA?

There is also this

http://www.americanarmenianmilitia.com/

[bell-the-cat]

Re: New ASALA?

Any Legitimacy to this? or is it the usual Turkish propaganda

This answers your question

According to the paper, this organization, called “The American-Armenian Legion,” is very active in the Internet, including Facebook and other social networks.

MIT must be getting tired of hunting down their Ergenekon buddies and are trying to make up some reasons to stop doing it and go and do something else.

[Eddo211]

Re: New ASALA?

There is also this

http://www.americanarmenianmilitia.com/

This is their response to the Turkish acusations from the Website.

***IN REGARDS TO THE****
"American Armenians are forming new ASALA" of the Turkish daily

We are not terrorists and don't support any terrorist groups. We also state on our website and facebook that we are not a terrorist, Terrorist hide there faces and we don't because we don't do anything unlawful. We are here to prepare for the worst such as disaster preparation, search and rescue, survival and security for Armenia and the US and we don't and will not threaten any country not even Turkey or Azerbaijan or there nationalities, We are not killers, we are all family men that volunteer for the best of life all around the world. We are not like ASALA, PKK, or Israelis and don't work or deal with no terrorist groups.

Last Updated ( Monday, 19 September 2011 )

I like their mission statement.

Mission Statement
Written by Administrator
Saturday, 19 May 2007
A well-regulated legion being necessary to the security of a free state , the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." - 2nd Amendment, Bill of Rights
The members of the American Armenian Legion shall ever stand, as have our Forefathers before us, first to God, from Whom we acknowledge the Authority of all Rights, and all the blessings of governments and to our native soil. We therefore pledge:
To promote and defend the unalienable God-given rights of all citizens, regardless of race, sex or national origin, as is expressed in the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.

To promote and defend the principles of just government bequeathed to us by our forefathers to whit, That the principle of the Tenth Amendment shall stand inviolate, as history has shown that the greatest system of checks and balances exists with the people and their States to check the powers accrued by the federal government.

That the integrity of the courts, be they local, State or federal, shall remain uncontemptable providing that they shall respect and uphold the rights of the citizens of [state], including but not limited to, upholding the due process of law, and to preserve the right of trial by jury and to obtain immediate judicial review of cases wherein abuse of basic [Constitutional] rights are questioned.

That all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their Life, Liberty, and Property; for the advancement of those ends they have at all times an unalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.

That government being instituted for the common benefit, the doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.

That all just government is servant of the people who have instituted it, that the people of America & Armenia should never by force nor coercion be obliged to anything styled as "law" which has not been promulgated by their duly elected representatives, nor any as may be promulgated by them to bear conflict to the rights of the people, so that no government shall be made master of the people of America and Armenia.

To promote and propagate the legion of USA and Armenia as a well regulated, (trained and prepared) organization knowledgeable in historical precedent and current affairs, that is composed of common citizens.

To develop a cohesive and competent command structure.

To train our members in the many disciplines necessary to the function of the legion as a whole and to the members individually.

To educate our members in areas of history, law and principle as compiled in the experience and records of our forefathers.

To keep informed our members, and all citizens of events Local, State, National and global that threaten to imperil our traditional Constitutional rights, or such as may imperil the sovereignty of our Nation by the undue influence of those who have forsaken their loyalty to our Nation, and to the principles upon which it was founded.

To repel foreign aggression and invasions, by preparing and training for defense and by our encouraging and showing reason why all citizens should stand stoutly against socialism, fascism, communism, humanism, and all forms of tyranny.

To suppress domestic insurrections and violence, by supporting and assisting the appropriate Officers of the Law in upholding and maintaining law and order in accordance with such Local, State, and Federal statutes and laws that do not present jeopardy to our God given rights as acknowledged in the U.S. Constitutions.

Last Updated ( Monday, 05 April 2010 )

I am not on face book so I haven't heard about them until now.

[LadyLazarus]

Re: New ASALA?

Mher jan, I wish the Turkish propaganda was accurate and there actually was an attempt to organize a new ASALA. I believe there is a resurgence of Armenian nationalistic sentiment among our youth--mainly males age 18-25-- that can and should be properly organized and channeled. There should be a well trained volunteer corp dedicated to our country that can be called upon when Armenia's territorial integrity, national security, and other interests within Armenia and/or elsewhere are threatened, in addition to the defense provided by the Armenian Defense Forces.

As I type this I'm also logged onto facebook and looking at the American Armenian Militia page. I'm not sure if this is what you were pointing out earlier, (and someone correct me if I'm wrong), but it looks to me like the Militia is one and the same as the Legion. Here is the insignia posted on the Militia facebook page.. The following phrase appears in several places on the page: "we are not a GANG or a TERROR group". They provide the following description of their organization: "A well-armed citizenery is the best Homeland Security, and can better deter crime, invasion, terrorism, or tyranny...The intention of the American Armenian Legion is to inform, promote and facilitate the development and training of the legion. Everyone is welcome, regardless of your political affiliation (or lack thereof); regardless of anything else: if you are an American Armenian, who is capable of bearing arms, or wishes to support someone doing so, then you ARE the legionare..." According to their description, I should join Heh.

Eddo mentioned liking their mission statement--I agree, I like the idealistic and pricipled nature of it, nevermind that it's actually a compilation of various other documents. I wonder what their actual membership is like, there were only maybe a dozen or so members in the pics. There are 444 people "liking" their page on FB. If this is, in fact, a seriously minded organization, I do hope it grows and becomes better trained, and with any luck, becomes the organization the Turks are saying it is!

By way of post-script: I'm actually a little insulted the Turks equate this organization with ASALA. ASALA was a deeply flawed organization, but it was a true organization nonetheless. It takes more than a few men with weapons to build another ASALA: it takes vision, purpose, committment, courage, funding, funding, and more funding, leadership, leadership, and more leadership! (among other things). I'd be curious to know what everyone thinks are the pre-requisites, the conditions and factors necessary for building another ASALA! (but let's not put any of you guys on any FBI watchlist by eliciting a written response to this question)

[Mos]

Re: New ASALA?

Well this is of course Turkish propaganda, but that's not to say that having some sort of volunteer military group of diasporan Armenians wouldn't be a good idea. Though I would also envision maybe an organisation to be similar to a private army (like Blackwater) where members would get paid, receive high quality training with high quality weapons, instructors, and in the end serve as a support to the Armenian Armed Forces and other issues regarding Republic of Armenia. You might even have non-Armenians signing up because of the money or ones who support Armenia's cause (e.g. Orthodox mercenaries supported Serbia). Of course, such a thing would take good deal of money to get started...

[Avalyan]

Re: New ASALA?

The combat is continuing... no surrender! LONG LIVE ARMENIAN NATION!