Is This the Kind of Soldier They Want?!

Five days ago, the Ministry of National Defense announced that an investigation had been launched into the lieutenants who, following the official graduation ceremony at the Military Academy, recited the officer's oath—which had been abolished last year—and drew their swords, declaring, “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal.”

It seemed as though things were calming down.

But 8 days later, speaking on this issue for the first time at the Imam Hatip Graduates Assembly, Erdoğan effectively executed the lieutenants in advance.

He called them “exploiters”... He asked, “Against whom are you drawing these swords?”... And he announced that “there may be 30 or 50 of them” and that they would “clean them out.”

After these words, one would have expected commanders or police to show up at the lieutenants' doors, strip them of their ranks, or even take them into custody.

But fortunately, the party spokesperson, Ömer Çelik, who spoke after Erdoğan, tried to explain that “democratic mechanisms are functioning” and that “the outcome of the investigation should be awaited.”

The order came from on high, from the “Commander-in-Chief,” and the verdict has been rendered; are we really to believe that the Ministry of National Defense and the commanders will conduct an objective investigation?!

CLAIM THAT THEIR ASSIGNMENT TO UNITS MAY BE MOVED UP

First, let us explain why no action has been taken against the lieutenants yet, or more accurately, why it could not be taken.

Because they are currently on leave. Since they have not yet joined their branch schools, proceedings cannot be initiated. Normally, they are scheduled to be at their new units on September 15.

The claim is that there is consideration to move up their branch school attendance dates to expedite the process.

Secondly, it is said that they are waiting for the identification of those who participated in those ceremonies and those who corresponded about this in WhatsApp groups to be completed.

WHO ASKED “AGAINST WHOM WERE THE SWORDS DRAWN” BEFORE ERDOĞAN?

Erdoğan’s harsh words regarding the lieutenants must be evaluated in conjunction with his other statements at the Imam Hatip Graduates Assembly.

Before getting to that, let us look at the approach to the lieutenants' incident by the team of the late retired general Adnan Tanrıverdi, the founder of SADAT and the architect of the “new TSK” (Turkish Armed Forces) of the “new Turkey.”

For example, the title of an article written a few days after the incident by a figure who was revealed to have served on the Military Academy examination commissions established at the Ministry of National Defense after July 15 was exactly this:

“Against whom were the swords drawn?”

Whether it is a coincidence that Erdoğan used the same expression days later is unknown; in that article, it was demanded that not only the lieutenants but also their chain of command be questioned, stating, “If a different structure is detected, the Minister of National Defense, the Chief of General Staff, the Force Commanders, and the Rector and Dean of the Ministry of National Defense must be held accountable,” and it continued:

“Mr. President, against whom were these swords drawn? For what purpose, and what message was intended to be sent? If you are not curious, we, as a nation, are... Justice requires courage!”

“SHOUTING, CONSECRATION, SANCTIFICATION” ANALOGY

Another figure from the same team used the following expressions one day before Erdoğan’s speech:

“By drawing swords and shouting ‘We are the soldiers of M. Kemal,’ the lieutenants sent a message to certain places... This message is not a cry from innocent, clean, sincere-hearted young lieutenants; the matter must be investigated in depth, and the snake must be crushed before it grows, regardless of the cost.”

The individual in question noted that whenever they hear the slogans “Peace at Home, Peace in the World, How Happy is the One Who Says I am a Turk, We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal,” they are reminded of the coups and memorandums of May 27, March 12, September 12, February 28, and July 15.

At the end of the article, they addressed the authorities as follows:

“If we want our winter to be fruitful and our spring to be a rose garden, let us not refrain from clearing the thorns and weeds within the state (including the TSK)... What do Istanbul, Izmir, Adana, Diyarbakir, Trabzon, Edirne, Van, Sirnak, Konya, etc., say... Please, for heaven's sake, take the messages given into account and listen to the Nation, won't you?”

The final voice from this group came on the day before Erdoğan’s speech, around noon. ASDER (Association of Justice Defenders), which includes names we are familiar with from the Balyoz and February 28 conspiracy cases, issued a press release warning that remaining silent on the lieutenants' incident “would set a precedent for similar gatherings.”

THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY

AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik said that the investigation was not opened because the lieutenants said “Atatürk”; but the state of affairs among circles influential within the party is clear.

Add to this the sword held by Diyanet Affairs President Ali Erbaş at the opening of Hagia Sophia, and the cursing of Atatürk by the Deputy Head of the Reisül-Kurra, Mustafa Demirkan, at the graduation ceremony again at Hagia Sophia...

Let us share a small secret (!) with those who think they are the only ones in the country and that those who uphold the values of the Republic and Atatürk are being destroyed, and who are shocked by the lieutenants saying “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal.”

In the “Our Mission/Our Vision” section of the National Defense University, to which the Military Academies are affiliated and which was established during their tenure, the following is written:

“Our mission is to train and develop elite officers and non-commissioned officers who are needed by the Turkish Armed Forces, who are committed to the principles of a democratic, secular, and social state of law, loyal to their homeland, nation, and state, equipped with the values of duty consciousness, honor, loyalty, and responsibility, and who adopt Atatürk’s Principles and Revolutions, think analytically, and are well-equipped and self-confident.”

IF ATATÜRK IS REMOVED FROM THE HEART OF THE TSK

We said, “Erdoğan’s words regarding the lieutenants must be evaluated in conjunction with his other statements at the Imam Hatip Graduates Assembly.” Now let us come to that.

Again, targeting the “old TSK” over “headscarves, dress codes, and meddling with Imam Hatips,” he claimed that “FETÖ traitorous villains had embedded themselves into the capillaries of our army during the tutelage periods.”

Those who did not let a hair on the heads of FETÖ members be touched under the motto “no harm comes from those whose foreheads touch the ground in prayer,” who considered the MGK (National Security Council) reports about them “null and void” and “shelved them,” who turned a blind eye to conspiracies to “pit the coup-plotting Kemalist tradition against FETÖ” and “made headway,” and who let “FETÖ” members into the cosmic room of the TSK and promoted “FETÖ” members like clockwork, were, it turns out, others!...

Another part of Erdoğan’s speech.

Speaking again of “this cause,” whatever that “cause” may be, he addressed the Imam Hatip students as follows:

“Never forget this, dear young people. If you take away Islam, the call to prayer, the minaret, the mosque, and the Quran from these lands, believe me, nothing, absolutely nothing will remain. There will be no nation left behind, no homeland left behind... The Imam Hatip struggle is a defense of the homeland. The Imam Hatip struggle is a struggle of faith. The Imam Hatip struggle is a struggle of existence or non-existence... The Turkish Armed Forces means the hearth of the prophet. If you take faith from the heart of the Turkish Armed Forces, nothing remains. We saw painful examples of this in the recent past... You will take over the flag. You are Imam Hatip students, you have a heavy burden on your shoulders... Your path is long, your duty is arduous...”

The values that make this nation a nation and this homeland a homeland are not limited to these!...

If you eliminate the unitary and national structure and the values of the Republic, will the Turkish Nation, the Republic of Turkey, and Turkey remain?.. If you take Mete Han and Atatürk from its heart, what becomes of the TSK?!

THEY LINED UP TO KISS THE PRIEST'S HAND

After these messages from Erdoğan, let us bring a remarkable visit to your attention.

Bartholomeos, the Archbishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople—a Turkish institution according to the Treaty of Lausanne—and a Turkish citizen, went to the Greek island of Chios from Çeşme by boat on Thursday. Of course, again with the title “Ecumenical,” contrary to Lausanne...

The Greek flag was hoisted on the boat, where Greek Naval Academy students were assigned as crew...

Upon arrival at Chios, “in accordance with the protocol for the reception of a Head of State,” a military unit met Bartholomeos and rendered a salute. The Greek national anthem was played...

Afterward, not only priests and civilians but also Greek soldiers lined up to kiss Bartholomeos’s hand.

Some might think, “This happens in EU member Greece. Why shouldn't it happen here?”

That is true; but the Greek Constitution states that it is an “Orthodox state.”

Since the new constitution, which will be the cure for all our troubles (!), is on the agenda: you too can implement Adnan Tanrıverdi’s “Constitution of the Confederation of Islamic Countries,” and that will be that!...