The fateful date for the lieutenants

One of the events we witnessed with sadness during the nightmare-like final weeks of 2023 was what happened at the Tuzla Infantry School. Pro-government media had concocted a "lieutenant junta" narrative following the arguments that broke out when a lieutenant did not pin a photograph of Atatürk to his lapel during the November 10 Atatürk Commemoration Ceremony. It was just like how they fell into a Gezi syndrome and made "coup plotter" insinuations about Ali Koç after the Fenerbahçe-Galatasaray match could not be played in Saudi Arabia due to, again, Atatürk-related controversies.

First, let us share the latest development regarding the lieutenants. You know how the 4 lieutenants who reacted to the failure to wear the Atatürk photograph, as well as the lieutenant who did not wear it and the other 2 lieutenants who stood by him, were referred to the Land Forces Command High Disciplinary Board (YDK) with a request for dismissal from the TSK (Turkish Armed Forces) after being suspended from the school; the date for the YDK to convene has been set. The fate of the lieutenants will be decided on January 18.

You may recall; after the incident at the Tuzla Infantry School, we discussed who was structuring the "New TSK" of the "New Turkey." The leading figures were retired Brigadier General Adnan Tanrıverdi, who also served as Erdoğan's chief security advisor for a time after July 15, and former soldiers, most of whom were dismissed from the TSK for "reactionary activities," who served in NGOs such as SADAT International Defense Consultancy, ASSAM (Center for Strategic Studies for Defenders of Justice), and ASDER (Association of Defenders of Justice), which he founded.

After embracing all the conspiracy cases, especially Balyoz and February 28, as well as the "robed admiral," Tanrıverdi and his team also took the side of the lieutenants who did not wear the Atatürk photograph during the events at the Tuzla Infantry School.

Just as the pro-government media presented the issue as a "lieutenant junta," they not only claimed that "coup preparations were continuing"; they also accused everyone from Erdoğan to Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, Chief of General Staff Metin Gürak, and National Defense University Rector Prof. Erhan Afyoncu. Furthermore, they criticized the education system and curriculum at the Military Academies and signaled that these should be changed.

THEY BECAME "JUNTA MEMBERS" AT SCHOOL

Finally, a name from this team spoke about this issue again a few days ago. This individual, who served as a coordinator in the officer recruitment commission established within the Ministry of National Defense after July 15, argued that absolutely no members of sects or religious communities were admitted to the National Defense University during these recruitments, and said the following regarding the lieutenants he described as "junta members":

"I state very clearly and plainly; I sense a deep-seated structuring within the Military Academy! The children who passed the interviews were bright Anatolian youths. Whatever happened, happened during their education and training process at the Military Academy! The curriculum at the Military Academy must be examined immediately. Specifically, what are the military courses? Who are the retired officers teaching these courses? What was told to the students during these courses?"

SOLUTION: THE CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF SHOULD ALSO PRAY FRIDAY PRAYERS

Continuing, he voiced the following allegations he obtained from a meeting with the lawyer of the lieutenants he called "victims":

"It is said that there are expressions in the WhatsApp correspondence of the junta-member lieutenants indicating that they met with some retired officers and generals outside. It is mentioned that they were in contact with some politicians. Since the matter has been referred to the court, we cannot say more during the trial process. I also heard this from their lawyers; the WhatsApp correspondence published by the Yeni Şafak newspaper was only a small part of what happened; there is more to come... The situation is dire! Who are those poisoning the minds of these children at the Military Academy and sowing seeds of hatred and malice? Who are the junta-member lieutenants in contact with? An investigation must be launched immediately."

In the end, he made this remarkable suggestion:

"I state clearly and plainly: I think these events are a project. It is the first step to reviving military tutelage. The coup-plotting focus that wants to carry out an operation is setting a trap by branding someone as anti-Atatürk to stir up trouble. Lieutenants cannot organize alone without support from higher-ranking officers. They want to revive military tutelage by creating fear to block the path to praying freely. There are plans to reinforce the prejudice that 'those who pray are enemies of Atatürk!' If higher-ranking officers do not take steps to support those who go to pray, this situation will grow. If the Chief of General Staff and Force Commanders perform Friday prayers at the military academies and the infantry school, the game will be spoiled."

COULD IT BE A "PROJECT" IN REVERSE?

The person in question spoke with the lawyer of the lieutenants he calls "victims"—those who did not wear the Atatürk photograph and those who stood by them—and made certain claims; let us also share some information we have obtained.

There are reportedly 900 officers in the mentioned WhatsApp group. About 500 of them have shared posts containing profanity.

Those who made the profane correspondence served to the media also graduated 1 year ago and went to their units.

As for the 4 lieutenants referred to the High Disciplinary Board with a request for dismissal, they were neither involved in the events of wearing the Atatürk photograph and what followed, nor did they engage in profane correspondence.

If what is told is true; in response to calling the event a "project to revive military tutelage," let us ask this:

Could it be that dragging the events of November 10 into another channel through some past correspondence, bringing the issue to the point of "not being allowed to pray"; and furthermore, targeting the entire TSK command echelon and those teaching at the Military Academies to reach a demand for curriculum change, is a preparation project to strike one last blow to the TSK?!