Ahmet Hakan’s criticism of CHP regarding the ‘lieutenants’: 'Is the issue really that simple?'

Ahmet Hakan’s criticism of CHP regarding the ‘lieutenants’!

‘All three said the same thing…’

It was revealed that in the investigation launched following the sword-oath ceremony at the Military Academy, notification was served to Lieutenant Ebru Eroğlu and Lieutenant İzzet Talip Akarsu regarding their referral to the High Disciplinary Board 'with the aim of dismissal from the Turkish Armed Forces'.

Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Hakan, known for his proximity to the government, addressed the statements made by the CHP wing regarding the development in his column.

“Özgür Özel, Ekrem İmamoğlu and Mansur Yavaş… All three said the same thing: ‘The only crime of our lieutenants is being soldiers of Mustafa Kemal’” wrote Ahmet Hakan, arguing that this rhetoric serves no purpose, and noted the following:

“Yet, Özel, İmamoğlu and Yavaş could have moved the issue to a plane that would benefit the lieutenants instead of turning it into a subject of political polemics.

How could they have done this? For example, by making a statement like this:

‘Yes, when one thinks of military service, rules, discipline and hierarchy come to mind. Yes, the military hates disorder, acting on one's own accord, unauthorized demonstrations, and so on. We agree with all of this. However, let us not forget that these children's message is good, their intentions are good. Let the indiscipline they committed be attributed to the excitement of their first day as lieutenants. Let the disciplinary mechanism not be operated ruthlessly, and let punishments that would darken these children's lives be avoided. Let us not lose them, let us win them over.’”

Ahmet Hakan stated that this rhetoric might not receive applause, but it would allow them to achieve three things:

“ONE: They would have shown that they do not approach the issue from a single dimension.

TWO: They would not have created a subject of political polemics for themselves over the lives of the lieutenants.

THREE: They would have taken a much more beneficial stance for the future of the lieutenants.”

The relevant section from Ahmet Hakan’s article titled ‘How should the opposition’s approach that would benefit the lieutenants be’ is as follows:

Özgür Özel, Ekrem İmamoğlu and Mansur Yavaş...

All three said the same thing:

“The only crime of our lieutenants is being soldiers of Mustafa Kemal.”

- Is this statement correct and realistic from beginning to end? No, it is not.

- Is the issue really that simple? Of course not.

- Would this approach have any benefit for the lieutenants? It would not.

Yet, Özel, İmamoğlu and Yavaş, instead of turning the issue into a subject of political polemics...

They could have moved it to a plane that would benefit the lieutenants.

How could they have done this?

For example, by making a statement like this:

“Yes, when one thinks of military service, rules, discipline and hierarchy come to mind. Yes, the military hates disorder, acting on one's own accord, unauthorized demonstrations, and so on. We agree with all of this. However, let us not forget that these children's message is good, their intentions are good. Let the indiscipline they committed be attributed to the excitement of their first day as lieutenants. Let the disciplinary mechanism not be operated ruthlessly, and let punishments that would darken these children's lives be avoided. Let us not lose them, let us win them over.”

Özgür Özel, Ekrem İmamoğlu and Mansur Yavaş...

When they said these things, they might not have received applause from their extremist supporters.

However, they would have achieved these three things:

- ONE: They would have shown that they do not approach the issue from a single dimension.

- TWO: They would not have created a subject of political polemics for themselves over the lives of the lieutenants.

- THREE: They would have taken a much more beneficial stance for the future of the lieutenants.”