Başbuğ gave a lesson on TSK

In general, journalists who criticize the Turkish Armed Forces, or the TSK, are not invited to this type of speech. But this time it was the opposite and even the hardest critics were invited. Başbuğ did not say anything new. It was a repetition of what was said earlier only this time the attitude and mode was different. Those expecting a new page to be opened and a new start between military and civilians were disappointed. I can say that the first chief of the TSK told a lesson to the guest as well as to all of Turkey on air explaining, "What are the Turkish Armed Forces? What are its obligations and duties? What does it think about the country’s two most important problems, the Kurdish issue and secularism?"

By all means, his speech was just like him.

As I said, his mode was different. It was not brisk, he did not show the stick, and he did not adopt an attitude of superiority. On the contrary, he tried to put TSK’s weight, which was lost from society and political life recently, back on the scale. If we look at it from a different perspective, we might say "again he poured his heart out and complained." Başbuğ said it with different words but the following are messages that I received:

w The TSK emerged from the people. It is trusted by this society and its biggest support is the people.

w The TSK serves the civil authority but it should not be perceived to be in a position of doing everything the civil authority wants. The TSK performs its duty in coordination with the civil authority. The military does not take orders from civilians. But we cannot solve all problems by using power on our own.

-Its duty is to protect basic values of the state. Basic values are independence, territorial integrity, the Republic and the secular-democratic nation state.

w The Kurdish problem wants to be transformed into an ethnic fight. But the terror organization has not been successful. Today it is bleeding.

w It’s a pity we could not integrate our Kurdish citizens sufficiently. The rights to be given to our citizens should stay within the frame of personal freedom.

w The PKK should know that it won’t be successful trying to turn this into an ethnic fight.

w In the struggle against terror;

w Participation in the organization should be prevented,

w Necessary legal changes should be made for those in the mountains to leave their hide outs,

w Financial sources of the organization should be blocked,

w The organization’s presence in northern Iraq should be silenced

The most striking part of the chief’s speech was where he talked about how the TSK is doing its job by sacrificing martyrs and veterans but in return is worn down in the name of democracy and viewed as an enemy of religion.

Başbuğ did not say it aloud but implicitly touched on the Ergenekon investigation.

He touched on the fact that with Ergenekon on one side and criticism by the liberals on the other side, TSK’s determination in the struggle against terror has been hurt. He did not mention Ergenekon explicitly but it was obvious what he meant by "judiciary autonomy and legal predominance." Another point Başbuğ exhibited sensibility on was the TSK being constantly characterized by the pious as "opponents of religion." He quoted in another part of his speech national and international scientists to make his point in this regard and talked about people who make up the TSK and their values. From his speech we could immediately tell that his reaction was strong against being labeled "opponents of religion."

After stating that opposing initiatives against secularism should not create a problem he said, "We are not against religion. We are against the use of religion as a means for politics."

After Gen. Başbuğ "described the TSK, its values and obligations, and relationship to civil authority" the only serious warnings to be noticed were the following sentences:

w "We are fulfilling our dutyÉ Don’t play games with our honor and morale. We won’t let it pass unnoticedÉ"

w It is unthinkable that the TSK will remain motionless or ineffective in view of applications against secularismÉ"

If we take a look at the coordination and people invited, then it is understood that Gen. Başbuğ thought, "Let’s tell the public full-fledged who we are and what we do." It was announced that next week there would be a press conference regarding TSK’s attitude in up-to-date issues. I wonder about reactions by those who joined this TSK lesson. Some retired officers said, "Those who read well will understand." Another part said, "It was not a strong speech. He did not mention anything new. The same old story." These speeches always go like that. Everybody understood whatever he wanted. Let’s see what we’ll encounter next week.