Emin Colasan: Military service comedy

The National Minister of Defense, Vecdi Gonul, made an unexpected statement the other day: "The military service requirement may be shortened." These are important words. They concern millions of our citizens. Think of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and their families. But right after this statement, the General Military Staff made an announcement: "We have no such plans." Which government makes decisions on the lengthening or shortening of military service on its own? Of course, the General Military Staff must first be consulted. That is the way things are done in Turkey. Every now and then Mr. Vecdi Gonul comes out with other pearls of wisdom. Here is another: "There are 450 million people living in Europe. Of these, %27 are born out of wedlock. Which means that there are about 100 million people born out of wedlock living in Europe. I bet European women wish they were in the place of Turkish women." What a serious and coherent government official! If such a man says one moment that the required military service period will be shortened, he of course knows something. Great, but why doesn't the General Military Staff share his knowledge? Yesterday, the Prime Minister was also asked about this subject, and he said "I know nothing about this." What is happening? How is our country being governed? Is Turkey's direction being decided by off the cuff phrases given by government officials? Is this how far things have gone? Â