Turkey's military chiefs resign over tensions with Erdogan

The head of the Turkish armed forces General Isik Kosaner along with the heads of the ground, naval and air forces have resigned, broadcaster CNN Turk reported on Friday.

The reason for their resignations was not immediately clear.

Tensions between the military and the government of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan have been high in recent years and the Supreme Military Council was due to hold a major meeting next week

 

So who is going to defend the country until new chiefs are appointed?

 

• Gendarme general become has become land forces general in same time he has become head of turkish army by proxy.
  But problem is not that.In Turkey for 9 years cold war between secular people and neo islamo fascist goverment.
  It seems to me that Neo islamo fascist goverment will win this war.

 

I confess I know little on Turkish politics, but I had thought that the country went though a regular cycle of secular and devout periods. Much like the US with Liberal/Conservative political cycles. Is Turkey on a new path?

 

Certainly Turkey on a new path for 9 years.
Turkey is a secular laic rebuplic like France.Not as US.Coz in US even new president swear on holy bible before starting to his new duty? But in Turkey religion rules are not for state.There is no any religious rules or laws in Turkey.But it doesnt block to conservative people.

But for 9 years New goverment try to change somethings slowly slowly.
First they occupied to police department then secret information department and judgment department.
We were thinking that last castle was army.But they occupy to army too.
I think they want to liven up ottoman empire soul again.
Without nationalism and secularism.

 

In the US placing your hand on a Bible to swear an oath is more a tradition rather than a demonstration of your faith, indeed in most areas you can not have a Bible used if it is your wish. Unsure with the case of the Presidency, it may be required, but again at this point it is tradition.

The term "Empire" does tend to imply expansion. Iraq is fragile, Syria is undergoing some unrest, Greece is in economic and political hard times, and Russia still has on going issues with the peoples of its southern border regions so the perception that the time is ripe for pushing the envelope might be felt in Ankara. Still this would not set well with NATO/Russia/Isreal/US.

 

I understand you.But this tradition religious. I just wanted u understand better how hard secular systhem in Turkey. We all know that in alot of countries secularism still works.But most hardly secularism in France and Turkey. For example in Turkey any woman cant be officer with her coverhead.But women can wear coverhead in streets.But they cant go to Turkish assembly with their head cover too. Well, whatever....

Empire means that Goverment want old Ottoman geography under their control.If u follow to New Turkish politica in last 9 years u can see that clearly.For example We have no visa with our neighbours except few countries. When our prime minister visits to some arab countries people who lives there show their love to Turkey with our flags.

But i really dont understand that.U know big middle east project? It planned by US.Aim is that change to goverments with revolutions in that area.Our prime minister said that few times like '' we have a duty, usa gaved to us this duty, i m equalpresident of this huge project, so we have to work more''

As u see that situation is like a puzzle.
I really prefer Russia for being ally...

 

A puzzle indeed, Thank you for the information.

 

it was my pleasure.....

 

This analysis may be of interest to you:

"But the resignations on Friday delivered Mr. Erdogan a perch to reshape a military bound by civilian control, pursue a foreign policy emboldened by the decisive victory of his conservative and populist party in elections in June and pursue constitutional changes that could transform politics here.

"In many ways, the struggle that has posed the most serious danger to Mr. Erdogan — a powerful military willing to act above the law — appears to have come to an end.

“'The days of Turkey’s military calling the shots are over,' said Cengiz Candar, a prominent columnist. 'There’s a new equation in the politics of the country, and anyone depending on the military to score points on a political issue has to forget about it.'"

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/world/asia/31turkey.html?hp

For good or ill, the secular traditions of Kemal Ataturk are waning in Turkey.


Dave

 

It is a tradition that began with George Washington.

There is no requirement in the U.S. Constitution that an incoming President swear his oath
on a Bible.

"Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:

'I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.'"

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#A2Sec1


Dave

 

Thank u for the article and not new things in this article.
Well it looks part of the huge cold war in Turkey and i really dont think that one side of this cold war is just Turkish Goverment.
They cant impossible things without foreign politic helps.
I meant EU and USA.

 

Scary thought when you think Islamists want to infiltrate the army. I hope the soldiers will manage to remain the secular guardians of the laic system in Turkey. Let's hope that those who will replace the leavers will be laic too and protect the constitution against religious factions. Istanbul is one of trendies places I know, keep it this way.

 

Wish everything could be so easy as u said that but situation looks so bad and complicated.
Army cant do anything anymore, coz people dont want army join to politica in Turkey anymore.
Well, in this time EU thinks same, after that last event EU said that this is a great news for civilian Turkey.I dont understand that coz new head of the Turkish army not civilian.
Forgive me but if EU says this is a good news for me its a bad news. I m really worry when EU make comments about Turkey.
By the way PKK terrorists just today killed a noncommissioned officer.

 

From my understanding, relations between Turkey and Europe hit hard in recent years with France and Germany saying they wont back Turkey for EU since Turkey is not in Europe...

Ps.
Relations between Russia and Turkey are currently excellent. In fact the 2 countries got rid of visas?

 

The visa abandon by Russia was about time Slon. the EU dropped those years ago. I don't even need a passport to fly to Turkey and a national identity card from a EU country will suffice.

This being said it's the paradox of the "I love you, me neither " relation between the EU and Turkey. The EU won't back Turkey's adhession partly because of the presence of Islamists and at the same time wants their army to give up the ways to fight Islamsism and terrorism. As long as they won't understand there is no soft way to deal with religious fundamentalism the EU will bite it's own tail.

Turkey is a strategic ally but most of all it's a young country with a great potential . Some say the EU fears a massive immigration, we already have one, so we may as well get laic immigrants with education from a modern ally, rather than from a possible future islamic republic with weakended institutions and economic refugees with radical ideas because of the incapacity of our politicians.
As to the Kurds, you should see some of the second generation immigrant kids in this country, they think the PKK is some kind of Robin Hood with the Che as their leader and not many will consider the fact they have killed civilians and innocents.

 

Its true.Turkey never become european country for EU.Just like Russia.Except a little land of Turkey we are really not an european country.Our lands in Asia.
Turkey and Russia relations pretty good in last years.But it doesnt mean that Those two countries had no any problem in pass.
Russia wants Turkey leave US and become ally with Russia. If u remember Georgia Russia war, Turkey supported to Georgia coz US wanted that.
For example Georgian Army and Cops had education By Turkish Officers.
Well, If you ask to people in the street, They will say that: No EU, No Us, We are an Asian country and we have to be ally with Russia, China and Other Asian Turk States(turkmenistan, kırgızistan etc)
I m agree with this perspective too, But goverment doesnt think same with society...

 

Problem is that Turkey is not an European Country and Turkey is muslim.Sorry but alot of EU countries have helped to Pkk about money and guns.Its still same.When pkkk terrorists run away to Europe, some of them arrested there and Turkey wants them back but They dont send to Turkey.I remember a killer girl, she has killed 4 people and run away to Belgium,Belgium cops arrested her but not coz of crime in Turkey.Reason was fake passport.She still lives in Belgium.
Well, I can write alot of examples but maybe thats enough.

About Turkish immigrants; In Turkey usually uneducated, villager and uncultured people migrate to Europe.But European people think all Turkish like these immigrants.Its so big mistake.We know that Turkish immigrants destroy our image in Europe and We cant make healthy contact with them too when they come to Turkey for vacation.They are problem here too.So I dont understand that Why do EU wait cultured, educated, polite immigrants from Turkey? If they had these characters they would stay here.

Radical Islam is not strong in Turkey, Turkish Goverment is not clearly Radical Islamist and their voters same too.People vote for them coz of economic stability.I can guarantee that Turkey is last country over the world for radical islamic systhem.But still alot of things are like a puzzle. Prime minister looks enemy of Israel but in same time He gives big business works to Israel.Such a huge contradiction. Right? But no.At Bottom everythings clearly open, He just plays game for Society

In Turkey alot of Kurdish people say that clearly for few years; Pkk is freedom fighters and we want to seperate from Turkey.Can u imagine that?
How can they be so brave? You have any idea? Its impossible to say those words without foreign helping.

Skipper, are u really French?
Your views has surprised me
Its so nice to see an objective european person about Turkey.

 

Hi Turkishwolf, thank you for your kind words .Your nice comments made me smile, let's just say some Europeans have a bit of culture and I humbly think I'm part of those.
To tell you the truth my best friend is maried to a Turkish girl , a middle class person and I often meet Turks. I have been to Izmir as well and enjoyed travelling through your country with the Dolmush.

 

Hahaha, Dolmuş!!!
So nice.
Glad to hear that you have no problem with Turkey.
Have a nice day...