Naim Babüroğlu to Minister Güler: Is a Greek soldier setting foot on Turkish soil less important than the lieutenants' oath?

While the lieutenants, whose dismissal is being sought for expressing their gratitude to their country's founder at the Military Academy graduation ceremony, are going through difficult times due to this practice deemed appropriate for them, a very wide audience, especially politicians, is heavily criticizing this expected decision. 

International relations and strategy expert and 12punto columnist Naim Babüroğlu also made a striking comment regarding what happened after the oath ceremony with swords.

Babüroğlu made the following statement on the program titled Nokta Atışı, which is broadcast on Sözcütv:

Anyone who opposes these words, this oath, would be committing a crime at some point... What is the crime here? As far as it is understood, it is saying 'We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal'...

If you recall, commemoration ceremonies have been held at Anıtkabir on November 10th since 2019. Since then, striking images have begun to emerge. The President signs the memorial book for the ceremony, and a group cheers for him on the way out. 

Look, first of all, in Islam, one does not shout in a cemetery; furthermore, Anıtkabir has its own special law, and rallies and similar actions, such as chanting slogans, are prohibited.  

When you look at what happened, there is actually no legal article or law that considers these words of the lieutenants to be prohibited. However, the slogans of the groups gathered at Anıtkabir are not only sinful according to Islam, but also contrary to law and legislation... The Minister of National Defense has not taken a step on this matter so far.

This oath of the lieutenants should be thought of like the cap-tossing ceremony that university students perform at their graduation ceremonies. Our Minister of National Defense should also explain this situation to the President in this way. These are brilliant lieutenants...

The Minister of National Defense says in a live broadcast he attended that 'Israel might attack Turkey,' which is a very big claim. When asked if any preparations have been made regarding this, or how we know if our force structure is planned according to this attack, he uses the phrase "According to what our President said." However, the Minister of National Defense should be the one telling these threats to the President...

I wonder, if the lieutenants had taken the same oath by saying 'We are the soldiers of the President,' would there have been such a trial? If it weren't for Atatürk, there would be neither this homeland nor the positions they occupy. Saying 'We are the soldiers of Atatürk,' our most important national hero who ensured our flag waves, should be rewarded instead.

There is an oath in the preamble of the Constitution stating that one will remain loyal to Atatürk's principles and reforms! So, aren't these lieutenants repeating this oath by saying 'We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal'?

It is remarkable that the Minister of National Defense is not interested in an issue like a Greek soldier setting foot on Turkish soil 102 years later, but is interested in the lieutenants' oath.

The dismissal of the lieutenant who ranked first is a great stain on the history of the Republic of Turkey! If such a thing happens during the Minister's term, he will undoubtedly go down in history. 

My suggestion to the Minister of National Defense is this: He should convince his superiors, he should convince the President that this oath does not pose any problem; these are brilliant children, who knows which of them are on which political spectrum!

If there are officers connected to sects and communities, they should deal with them; I hope nothing happens to the lieutenants.

News Source: 12punto

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