Erdoğan’s Poem and the Lieutenants’ Oath

Following the official graduation ceremony held at the Military Academy on August 30, the questioning of the lieutenants has begun. The lieutenants had celebrated by drawing their swords and chanting, “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal,” while reciting the officer’s oath—a tradition practiced for approximately 28 years but abolished last year.

Even before an investigation was launched, Erdoğan had already delivered his verdict: “Exploiters... Who are you drawing these swords against?.. There might be 30 people, there might be 50... We will purge them.” If he has already decided, what was the point of taking the lieutenants’ statements anyway!..

While the country and the nation are overwhelmed with problems, we saw last week that Erdoğan and the media did not let the issue of the lieutenants go even on the return flight from the US.

This time, Erdoğan spoke as follows:

“The sword issue was, unfortunately, a chaos created by a few self-important individuals. Currently, the National Defense University, the Land Forces Command, and our Minister of National Defense are continuing their joint efforts, and we will ensure that whoever is involved in this receives the punishment they deserve. This is not a playground where self-important individuals can run wild. We certainly cannot leave our country to a field where these self-important individuals run wild. We will take our steps accordingly. We met with our Minister of Defense and the head of our Defense University, held our discussions, and hopefully, we will bring this matter to a conclusion as soon as possible.”

What is understood from this statement is that, contrary to what was alleged, no “FETÖ/METÖ mindset” was found behind the lieutenants... No “attempted coup” was made against the government... It is merely a case of “chaos,” meaning a lack of discipline.

What is the Measure of Indiscipline?

Erdoğan’s words, “We met with our Minister of Defense and the heads of our Defense University, held our discussions,” are interesting and significant.

Why, you ask?

As is known, Minister of Defense Yaşar Güler has been in this position since June 3, 2023.

Prof. Erhan Afyoncu has been the Rector of the National Defense University since October 4, 2016.

The Officer’s Oath has not been recited since last year.

Now, let’s go back to last year’s graduation ceremony and explain it with the footage.

The night before the graduation ceremony on August 30, the lieutenants celebrated by reciting the İzmir March, the officer’s oath, and the Student Oath. You know, the Student Oath that was banned from being recited in primary schools in 2013 due to the negotiation process with the PKK...

After the official graduation ceremony on August 30, just like this year, they drew their swords and recited the “We Are Atatürk’s Youth” March, which is still available on the National Defense University’s website.

Presumably, the Minister of Defense and the Rector of the National Defense University were aware of these celebrations.

What we are saying is; how is it that those who did not consider these as “indiscipline” last year are now consenting to the opening of an investigation into the lieutenants?

Fine, these celebrations last year did not come to the public’s attention. Then let us ask this:

Is the measure of indiscipline whether or not the public is aware of it? Is it that simple to play with the fate of hundreds of lieutenants?

You listen to Ferhat Göçer at the August 30 celebration ceremony at the Palace, get saddened by the lines of the Çanakkale folk song, “Mother, I am going against the enemy, oh my youth, alas,” and then you deem this treatment appropriate for the lieutenants.

It is beyond comprehension!..

As is known, Erdoğan has an endless sense of victimization regarding a poem. He frequently complains, saying, “They wanted to end my political life by throwing me in jail because of a poem I read in Siirt.”

What can be said about Erdoğan, who experienced these things because of a poem, wanting to end the military careers of lieutenants 27 years later just because they recited an officer’s oath?!

And a sincerity test question for everyone: if those lieutenants had chanted “We are the soldiers of Tayyip Erdoğan” during or after the ceremony, would they still have caused such an uproar?