An angry Başbuğ strongly rejected allegations about the plot, which includes subversive plans such as bombing two of the most-frequented mosques in İstanbul, while directing heavy criticism at those who treat the plot, which is defined as a “scenario” by the military, as real. Analysts who disagree with most parts of Başbuğ’s speech say there is good reason to believe in the authenticity of this plot because the many attempts of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to meddle in politics in the past place the military in a suspicious position.The General Staff has a credibility problem says Zaman’s Mustafa Ünal, who finds Gen. Başbuğ’s statements regarding the Sledgehammer plot far from convincing. He says if there is really no such plan in question, then the General Staff should make a statement that will address all the questions surrounding the Sledgehammer plot. Referring to a statement in which Başbuğ said the era of coups had ended in Turkey, Ünal says this is debatable since it is certain that the era of juntas has not yet ended. Contrary to what Başbuğ said, the necessary lessons were taken from the coups occurring in the past, Ünal says the very military intervention attempts that are still fresh in the minds of the people show that the necessary lessons could not be taken from coups. Referring to Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, who, speaking at the group meeting of his party on Tuesday, mentioned that he found Başbuğ’s statements unconvincing, Ünal says he agrees with Bahçeli while hoping for the investigation into the Sledgehammer plot to be convincing.
Bugün’s Gülay Göktürk is also dissatisfied with Başbuğ’s statement and disagrees with him about remarks regarding the end of the military coups in Turkey. “We would have really liked to believe Başbuğ’s remarks. If the military’s Cage Operation Plan, which includes plots to assassination non-Muslims in the country, had not been revealed in 2009, if the Action Plan Against Reactionaryism, bearing the signature of Col. Dursun Çiçek, had not been revealed, we would have assessed the Sledgehammer plan as an old disease of the military which it is trying to overcome. Perhaps we would still not forgive the military for making such plans, but we would not be so angry. Moreover, we would not be suspicious about some generals making shady plans at the General Staff at the moment. We would not wonder who the new victims of the new plot would be. If all the military coups had been painful incidents that stayed in the past, we would not have faced a threat from Başbuğ, who said the military’s patience has limits,” says Göktürk. She wishes Başbuğ had said what the military would do when its patience is finished so nobody would have to speculate about that.
