First unearthed by a daily over the summer, the plot returned to the agenda once again when the original copy of the document was forwarded to the İstanbul Prosecutor’s Office by an unnamed military officer on Friday. Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ, who termed the plot “a piece of paper” when a photocopy was first published by the Taraf daily, is now expected to take action and clear the TSK’s name, reversing the damage dealt by the plot, in line with his promise to take the necessary steps if the plot proves to be authentic.Recalling Gen. Başbuğ’s promise when the document was first uncovered in the summer that the necessary action will be taken if the plot is authentic, Sabah’s Nazlı Iıcak says everyone now wonders what kind of steps Başbuğ will take with the discovery of the original plot document, which details a systematic plan to destroy the reputation of the AK Party and the Gülen movement in the eyes of the public. Although she is horrified by the preparation of such a plot at the General Staff headquarters, Ilıcak finds it promising that there are at least some officers in the military who believe in the rule of law and hence saved the original copy of the plot from destruction.
Bugün’s Erhan Başyurt says he has full confidence that the TSK will not remain indifferent to the military plot, which was forwarded to prosecutors by a member of the TSK. He also finds it promising that there is a group within the TSK that is disturbed by the existence of a junta wishing to wage war against the public and making plans to overthrow the democratically elected government.
Star’s Şamil Tayyar, appealing to Gen. Başbuğ, says: “Let’s speak clearly, esteemed Pasha, without getting angry and offended. If this plot was prepared at the General Staff headquarters, it can be interpreted in two ways: Either the chief of general staff has no knowledge about the preparation of such a plot or it was prepared within the knowledge of the chief of general staff. Both of these assessments are very terrible. The first one indicates the existence of a weak general who has no influence over the military while the other is the picture of a general who committed a crime. If there is a third way, I look forward to hearing it,” says Tayyar.
