“The TSK is the protector of the secular system and the principles of Atatürk.  The republic is too important to leave in the hands of politicians and electors who vote for them... The TSK is under the obligation to guard and protect the republic against the internal enemies of the secular system, in the same way that it has to protect the our territorial integrity against external enemies.”

  This is the kind of mentality that has implicated the TSK in internal politics throughout the years. Civilian circles have provoked military coups. The latest examples of this attitude were seen between the years of 2004 and 2007. The April 27, 2007 memorandum backfired and the military have been careful to stay out of politics since then. The statements they made on subjects like internal politics and North Iraq were not as direct and harsh as they used to be. It is not certain if this attitude will remain constant or will once more be replaced with the former behavior; however, the current picture shows that they are trying to establish a new balance in military-civilian relations.

  My general expectations say that the TSK will not give up fundamental beliefs and principles, but will also try to restore and improve its public image of trustworthiness by keeping out of politics and refraining from verbal or physical interventions.

  It is also time for us to get off the TSK's back. The changing domestic and world conditions require us to do that. This society does not wish its army to get involved in debates or politics.

  The TSK constitutes Turkey's highest trump card within this chaotic region. To keep it out of daily politics will not mean making it less effective. To the contrary, it means better and more healthy protection of the basic principles of our republic...

   Modernization the biggest issue 

  I examined all that was written on the TSK during the last 5-6 years and was amazed by what I found. Out of the hundreds of news reports or articles about the TSK, there are only 3-5 that mention topics like the modernization or the restructuring of the TSK. Yet, modernization is the most vital current issue of the TSK. A giant institution and a giant budget, but nobody's interested. All anybody is interested in are politics, the general staff's rebukes in favor of laicism, operations to northern Iraq ...

  That is also the biggest issue that faces the new high command. Media reports indicate that modernization attempts have been at a stand still for almost seven years. There is either a lack of sufficient communication or there really is no progress to speak of.

  The renewal of the M60 is like a never-ending story. Even America stopped producing spare parts for them five years ago. They make do with the parts of junked M60's.

  The helicopter project is another story that refuses to end. Producing armed vehicles is not enough to achieve modernization.

  On the other hand, the regional situation requires Turkey to throw away the old modernization plans drawn up 15 years ago and to start new work on restructuring.

  The situation in Caucasus is plain to see ...

  We all follow the developments in northern Iraq and especially their connection to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK ...

  Finally, there is the ever-growing possibility of a conflict between United States and Iran.

  All we do, on the other hand, is talk internal politics instead of discussing how and where to find new resources to further strengthen the TSK.

  Changing world conditions knock on the TSK doors in this respect, too. We have to form a brand new and well-balanced TSK with higher mobility and  firing force and fewer encumbrances.

  That is why I believe that the new high command has important duties to perform.

On retired officers 

  Another issue to be settled by the new high command is that of retired officers...

  I don't mean all retired soldiers, but those who fail to leave their uniforms behind once they retire.

  The majority of retired officers remain solemn and dignified. They either retire to their corners or share their experience with the public in a positive way. 

  However, there is another group of retired officers, who continue their military career in civilian life and sometimes go as far as to establish special units in line with their ideologies.

  That is why the Ergenekon investigation has astonished everyone. Parts of it may be exaggerated, but there is another part that clearly shows the danger that retired officer organizations constitute to this country.

  We are in the presence of a big organization or a huge lobby of retired soldiers, who hid arsenals at their homes or hoarded tons of confidential or non-confidential documents that they had taken away with them as they retired from their jobs at the general staff or the headquarters of various forces or at state of emergency regions, and others, who made it their duty to keep files on and/or to punish people.

  These people are doing great harm to the general staff and the TSK in general. They damage the trustworthiness, the gravity and the prestige of the military. They have no right or authority to wear out the patriotic feelings of the people.

  Once upon a time, the general staff used to employ their retired staff to ‘direct' some universities and NGO's. However, this practice later got out hand and could not be put back on track. The Ergenekon investigation seems to have started a change in this old approach.

  This is another of the most  important issues that the new high command has to consider and find a long-term solution for ...