Didim Today

A statement made on Thursday by Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ accusing intellectuals and writers of falsely associating the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) with illegal schemes that allegedly cost the lives of many privates serving in the army has drawn strong criticism from intellectuals.

In televised remarks, Başbuğ said there was a psychological war being waged against the TSK. Gen. Başbuğ said, “What hurts and offends us most is that some think and claim that there is a possibility that there are people inside the TSK who can make bloody calculations involving the Mehmetçik [Turkish soldiers], whose lives are entrusted to our hands.” Analysts who slammed the army chief’s harsh and politician-like discourse said Başbuğ speaking in such a way does not befit a democracy and that he is damaging the image of the military.

Yeni Şafak’s Ali Bayramoğlu said -- in the wake of Başbuğ’s Thursday speech, which was full of political messages -- that it is unacceptable for members of the military to speak like politicians. In his view, Başbuğ’s latest speech and similar speeches he delivered earlier show that the basic problem of the General Staff is the wearing down of the military and that its main policy is to repair this image.

He thinks all the things the military regards as psychological warfare against it is actually the military wearing itself down by assuming a political role. “The ongoing process is nothing more than the military being thrown from the political stage and being sent to the barracks. Başbuğ assumed his position at a tough time. He has to ensure the compliance of military policies and has to maintain the political role of the military.

The news conference he held is an indication of this. This news conference is evidence that the military avoids interference in political issues because it is very much obsessed with itself. “Look at the glass as half full,” suggests Bayramoğlu. “Başbuğ is forgetting something when he voices his displeasure with the media; what is really disturbing is his style,” says Bugün’s Adem Yavuz Arslan, who explains that the job of the media is not to wage war but to report news.

He says all the news uncovered by the media about the documents concerning things going wrong in the ranks of the military were correct. “If the Taraf daily had not revealed it, we would have thought that four soldiers killed in Elazığ in August, when a gendarmerie officer handed a live hand grenade to one of them as punishment for sleeping during his night watch, were non-combat casualties.

What about the military’s Cage Operation Action Plan, again exposed by Taraf? Is it the press that placed this plan in the computers of Ergenekon suspects? Was it the press that made up the Action Plan to Fight Reactionaryism, which Başbuğ termed a ‘piece of paper’? Was it a reporter who undersigned it, or a military colonel? If I try to mention all such news, it would take pages,” says Arslan.

He notes that the harsh discourse adopted by Başbuğ and his rebuke of the press by holding news conferences will be of no benefit to anyone and will not repair the prestige of the military. “The duty of the military is not to threaten the press, the judiciary or politicians but to ensure the safe and sound return of the young soldiers entrusted to their care,” contends Arslan.

Although it does not much befit a democracy, chiefs of General Staff have a right to speak on condition that they pay attention to the tone and content of their discourse, says Zaman’s Mustafa Ünal. “The style Başbuğ adopted in his speech is not befitting of a democratic country. He has only six to seven months to retire; I wish he wouldn’t speak,” he says.

About the Author - Fatma D Zibak f.zibak@todayszaman.com  Today`s Zaman http://www.todayszaman.com