A strange investigation in the TSK!...

Our most critical agenda in foreign policy is the fact that the PKK/YPG/PYD is preparing to hold local elections on June 11 in the regions it occupies in Syria under US protection, which means we have reached a new stage in the plan to establish a “terroristan” right on our doorstep.

Indeed, Erdoğan also stated yesterday at the Efes-2024 Exercise held in İzmir that Turkey would never allow the establishment of a “terroristan,” saying, “We have done what needed to be done in the face of faits accomplis before. We will not hesitate to take action again.”

The headline used by one of the pro-government newspapers regarding this warning from Erdoğan was, “The final warning from Efes: We will not allow a terroristan to be established.”

Normally, warnings are issued to Greece from Efes. The place for a “final warning” to terrorists and their bosses should be the Syrian border, shouldn't it?

Just like in 1998, when the then-Commander of the Land Forces, General Atilla Ateş, went to Hatay and initiated the process of removing the terrorist leader Öcalan from there by saying, “We have no patience left for Syria. If Turkey does not receive the response it expects, it will be entitled to take all kinds of measures.”

IF THE REACTION FROM 7 YEARS AGO HAD BEEN THE STATE'S POLICY

We are all aware of how the terrorist organization reached the position to hold so-called elections in Syria. Our so-called “ally” the US founded, trained, armed, and politicized it... And Ankara was content with just “warning, condemning,” and saying “do not mock our intelligence.”

Of course, there were those who reacted to the course of events.

One of them was Colonel Orkun Özeller, who was serving at Incirlik Air Base in 2017.

The then-US President Trump had approved the provision of heavy weapons to the PKK/YPG. It was precisely during those days that the American commander at Incirlik was going to award Colonel Özeller with a medal and a certificate for his outstanding success in the fight against ISIS.

Özeller not only rejected these awards and left the ceremony, but also said the following to the faces of the Americans:

“Those who give this medal are in cooperation with the YPG, which is my enemy. My honor does not allow me to accept this medal.”

Let us suffice with asking, “If this attitude, loaded with a message shown by a colonel, had been institutionalized, would the US and PKK have been able to act so freely in the region, and would the danger of a 'terroristan' have reached this point?” and continue.

Although his term of duty was extended, Colonel Orkun Özeller retired at his own request in 2021. Afterward, in his book titled “İncirlik Ağacı” (The Incirlik Tree), he described what the Americans were doing there. Then, he entered politics and focused on our country being subjected to an invasion of refugees, conducting inspections at our borders.

Finally, after he shared the situation at the Iranian border, which he visited last September, he was banned from entering TSK social facilities.

WHEN THE BAN WAS BREACHED

There is a recent incident that retired Colonel Orkun Özeller experienced because of this military guesthouse ban; let us tell it.

In recent weeks, a friend he knew from civilian life invited Özeller to a relative's wedding. The wedding was at the Central Military Guesthouse because the groom's side had military relatives. Özeller informed them that he could not attend the wedding, stating that he had been banned from entering the military guesthouse and did not want to be turned away at the gate.

He still asked his military friends; they said that his guests did not have the right to benefit from the military social facility, that this was a right granted entirely to the wedding hosts, and therefore the wedding host would decide who would come and who would not.

Following this information, Özeller decided to attend the wedding, had his name added to the list, and entered by showing his civilian ID to the officer at the gate.

At the end of the wedding, he made the following ironic post regarding the ban on entering military facilities that had been imposed on him:

“I am at the Central Military Guesthouse. Don't panic, we entered with a normal ID card, hiding my military ID card for my friend's wedding invitation. It's like a comedy.”

Immediately afterward, he added a note saying, “By the way, Mr. Border Brigade Commander Y.K., for your information, news came today: 'There is not enough personnel at the border, we don't know which of those trying to cross illegally to stop.' Maybe they want to take measures.” and tagged the Ministry of National Defense.

As we have learned, it was after this post that an investigation was launched into the Guesthouse staff, with the question, “How could you let Orkun Özeller in through the gate?”

We asked Özeller about the allegation in question; he was very surprised, saying, “How could such a thing happen?” and stated that he had no knowledge of it.

Would you laugh or cry when you look at what they are dealing with?

It is a good thing that the project to impose a “screen ban” on retired soldiers was withdrawn. Who knows what other oddities we would have witnessed!..

Müyesser YILDIZ

May 31, 2024