But it is understood that some are pipes with no shells.” Perhaps he is supporting Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ, who also held an empty pipe in his hand during a speech, denying any link between the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the caches of weapons uncovered in the Ergenekon investigation. But on land belonging to Bedrettin Dalan’s İstek Foundation in Poyrazköy, 15 loaded LAWs were discovered.At one point, Başbuğ had said these weapons have a range of 200 meters and can penetrate 30 centimeters of armor, making them one of the most effective assault weapons against armored vehicles. We know which state and government authorities have armored vehicles. If, God forbid, LAWs were used against 15 of these vehicles, the chaos that would erupt in the country would be unimaginable.
That said, why are Başbuğ and Baykal focusing so much on empty pipes when there are loaded LAWs? The biggest mistake concerning the alleged Ergenekon terror organization is undermining, diluting and distorting the case. To point at empty pipes instead of loaded weapons and to divert attention toward “respected” names instead of serious coup plans is beyond a simple magician’s trick to divert attention from his twists.
The Taraf daily’s top story the other day was on a very important development. The second Ergenekon indictment included a report by a committee of four experts. According to the report, which provided information on coup plans code-named “Sarıkız” (Blonde Girl) and “Ayışığı” (Moonlight), the coup diaries were clearly retrieved from the computer of former Naval Forces Commander Adm. Özden Örnek. That means the author of the diaries was clearly Örnek. But the Ergenekon solidarity group claims that these diaries do not belong to Örnek.
Then, let me ask, are these official documents true or are they empty pipes?
According to documents compiled by the Vatan daily, the notes retrieved from Cumhuriyet daily Ankara representative Mustafa Balbay suggest that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan berated the generals who raised their voices during a National Security Council (MGK) meeting on Jan. 4, 2006. Erdoğan asked if the opposing generals, who said they didn’t see religion as a basic social dynamic that unites the public, were living on another planet. In response to then-Air Forces Commander Gen. Faruk Çömert’s comment that he was displaying a religious stance, Erdoğan lashed out, saying: “Then listen to me. You are living in a different world. Some people present you with some things, and you speak based on those.”
Is this true or an empty pipe?
On Jan. 15, 2004, Erdoğan was briefed at General Staff headquarters. Records from the meeting were retrieved from retired Gen. Şener Eruygur and were included in folder number 177 of the second Ergenekon indictment. Among the documents is a transcript of a conversation that took place between Gen. Başbuğ and Erdoğan.
Başbuğ: You did not ask us [for our opinion] about the bills on public administration, the Higher Education Board [YÖK] and municipality boundaries.
Erdoğan: We are not against notices and demands. We adhered to your views on the Public Administration bill.
Başbuğ: Encouraging separation should be avoided. A slow course can be followed for European Union membership.
Erdoğan: If we don’t become a member in December 2004, we will put plan B into practice.
Truth or empty pipes?
Were thousands of people killed by unknown assailants? Were Uğur Mumcu, Abdi İpekçi, Ahmet Taner Kışlalı and dozens of academics, writers and journalists killed by dark groups? Was a president [Turgut Özal] killed because some people were simply disturbed by his existence? After Özal’s death, was Dalan promised he would become prime minister by 2023? Is there such a thing as the Ergenekon terror organization?
Are these true or are they empty pipes?
