Now it is the Turkish Armed Force’s turn

The TSK in return showed brisk reaction to the press in favor of the administration and broad criticism from press members defending adverse views in respect of the Kurdish issue. The public saw some moves by the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, administration as a campaign basically to show the armed forces "interfere in politics" if necessary, that changes its traditional function and subjugates the country’s political authority. Thus each criticism directed toward the TSK was perceived as an "attempt to erode their power."

This distress has constantly escalated in a mutual way. Some circles of society have deliberately fanned the flames of these tense politics. An Islamic administration has been confronted with a TSK defending secularism. Within time the gap between the AKP and the TSK drifted further. Confrontation has continuously deepened. The public couldn’t know which of the freestanding allegations are true and which are false. They would make up their minds according to their own viewpoint. Those who view the TSK as the insurance for the country’s secular-democratic system will applaud each of their word but those who have a different opinion will look at them critically.

There have been such allegations since 2003 that in general people’s minds got confused. Nobody knows for sure which ones are right and which ones are wrong. Despite the fact it is not known, rumors have shaken TSK’s traditional position to a certain extent... 

* Names of some military personnel being involved in thousands of unsolved murders in the 1990sÉ 

* TSK not sending any of its generals to the parliamentary committee during the Susurluk investigationÉ completely closing the doors to this investigationÉ 

* Preparations for a military coup in the period of 2003 to 2004 and the publication of diaries that allegedly belonged to a retired CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) in the Nokta magazineÉ 

* An attitude that gave the impression of an external intervention in the presidential elections in 2007É 

* The protection of generals and officers taken into custody within the frame of the Ergenekon investigationÉ 

* Expressions used among generals in some telephone conversationsÉ

All these (I repeat, without knowing how much of it is true or false) have created a public perception of the "TSK, including some retired and some personnel on active duty, interfering in politics and treating the administration badly." But we also need to accept that some circles in society have taken action in order to destroy the armed forces’ social and political weight in life. They anticipated a destabilization by discrediting the TSK. In fact for the first time in the Republic’s history a never before seen amount of telephone conversations and cosmic information is posted on YouTube.

In the end suspicion has grown. No matter how much the TSK says, "There is a campaign to erode the power of the armed forces," this image could not be erased. You might have frequently read in my articles about unfavorable law enforcement and mistakes in conducting the investigation during the trial. We exercised the hardest criticism. But whatever might happen these criticisms do not eliminate the existence of the organization called Ergenekon.

The Ergenekon investigation has deepened the impression of "certain things have been done in Turkey in the name of the state, in the name of protecting the secular state, and in the name of preventing a split of the country. Laws have been broken."

This is exactly how an important part of the public perceives it. The other part might applaud this action by saying, "Good thing they did it. It was necessary for protecting our homeland." But eventually there is an illegality present. Now there is a public that values the TSK and does not want it to wear out. They are waiting for the TSK to take a step. They are awaiting the TSK to form a research commission that takes a proactive approach and conducts broad research instead of being uneasy about criticism and showing reaction to smear campaigns. This is an extremely difficult step that needs much courage.

But this step cannot be taken by any general other than Gen. Başbuğ and it is difficult for him to take this step from now on. Başbuğ has never participated in any illegal activity and he is a Chief of General Staff of whom there has never been the slightest rumor in this matter. He behaves according to democratic practices and prefers to share his annoyance and approaches face to face instead of fighting in front of the public.

Be assured that a step taken in this manner by the General Staff will increase TSK’s already strong prestige immensely. Instead of appearing like an institution that suffers from injustice, trying to remove suspicion from the minds of people and showing reaction, choosing transparency and a "We dare you" attitude will further magnify the TSK. I know that some will feel uncomfortable about this.

Some parts of society will show reaction and attempt to derange their headquarters. The other part will show reaction by saying, "No way. They will fake an investigation, say nothing was found and escape." But we are living in such a period of time where this one and only institution that we entrust with the country and our own security is worn out by news, telephone conversations posted in the Internet and documents reflected in papers. The TSK’s dignity is our country’s dignity. Therefore, it is foremost the duty of the command hierarchy and then our, the citizen’s, duty to protect this dignity. Now it’s the TSK’s turn to make a leap forward.