Generals’ speeches

Although we have become inured to these military shows of force, a tradition in totalitarian countries such as the former USSR and today's China, it is not easy to become accustomed to listening to political speeches delivered over and over in these hot days each year. The generals' insistence on delivering manifesto-like speeches to the nation and the political sphere despite the fact that whatever the military wished to see in the political sphere has always been rejected strongly by the nation is not understandable.

However, the Turkish people's primary expectation from the army, which they see as the most reliable institution in the country, is nothing but to provide security from external threats to the country. When the army goes beyond this role and makes a move in this respect, the people react democratically. Turkey's recent history is full of clear examples of such reactions. Although they are supposed to correctly analyze this clear message from the nation and draw lessons from it, the armed and unarmed bureaucracy still cannot save itself from the desire to engineer the society and politics.

When we take a close look at the political speeches delivered by the military officers during the ceremonies held in general during the last week of August for handing over military titles, particularly the one concerning the handing over of the title of chief of general staff, we surprisingly find that those parts of their speeches that related to external threats are considerably small. On the other hand, with respect to such issues as activities of nongovernmental organizations, the political agenda, globalization, individual freedoms, human rights and democratization, our generals cannot hold their tongues.

Of course, like every mature citizen of this country, our generals may have their own opinions about developments in this country. Moreover, they may feel obliged to share these profound opinions. However, the fact that one is appointed to lead an armed force should not be sufficient to make judgments without restraint about any issue. More so, this position should prevent them from making such speeches. If our generals want to speak, their speeches should never be about who is more religious and who is not or who is more democratic or secular and who is not or what lifestyles the people should lead, etc. The boundaries of their speeches should start and end with external threats to the country and the security agenda.

If they still insist on talking about other issues, what we, as civilians, expect our respected commanders to do is talk about Ergenekon-like gangs which have penetrated into the military and which are involved in every dark event, as this directly relates to them. They should explain to the public how they will clean the military of these organizations, which use public resources, but employ terrorism as their method.

The foregoing sentences should be taken to mean that we are completely against what new Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ and other commanders have said. Of course, there is more that we agree on than disagree in their speeches, but this is not the point. What we disagree on is not the content of their speeches, but the fact that they make such speeches. In other words, what we disapprove of is the military personnel's unrestricted desire to express opinions about political issues and, what's more, to manipulate the course of disputes. Actually, I do think that any public servant or bureaucrat has such a right -- whether he wears a military uniform or civilian clothing. If some generals or bureaucrats are so eager to express their opinions about these issues, then they must resign from office and start their political career to strongly defend their ideas. They may even be able to find an opportunity to implement their projects by securing popular support as politicians. But, no public office, be it military or civilian, is a position to engaging in politics.