Intelligence Failure in TSK Rings Alarm Bells, Experts Caution
Experts are interpreting the Turkish military's denial of knowing about a recently discovered document allegedly showing a plot to defame the democratically elected government and the Gülen movement, a faith-based social movement working to help establish global peace, as a tremendous intelligence failure for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
The notorious plot was unearthed during an April police raid as part of the investigation into Ergenekon ― a criminal clandestine network charged with undermining stability and creating havoc in the country to ultimately stage a coup and topple the government. It was, however, first published and revealed to the public by the Taraf daily on Friday. According to this action plan, colluding with marginal groups, manipulating media and staging setups to influence and shape public perceptions of both the government and the movement are the primary means of this group of people within the TSK.
The General Staff released a written statement on Monday saying that, in principle, such people cannot serve in the TSK and that an investigation has been launched by military authorities to find those responsible; if the allegations prove true, they will then be penalized accordingly. However, experts question how such a large scandal could remain unknown to the higher echelons of the TSK and point to what they call a "tremendous intelligence failure" there. The investigation is currently being carried out by a military prosecutor working at the General Staff.
'Resignation very honorable'
Speaking to Today's Zaman, Sedat Laçiner, the chairman of the International Strategic Research Organization (ISRO-USAK), said not being knowledgeable about an extensive plan of high-ranking officers is a sign of a great intelligence failure within the TSK. "The General Staff learned about this from newspapers. I wonder how such a military, one incapable of collecting information even from within itself, is able to defend this country," he said with disappointment.
Laçiner elaborated on his argument and said that the military has seen perpetrating coups as its right ever since the first takeover on May 27, 1960. He further asserted that this mentality is widespread within the military and even held by top generals. It is a situation, he said, that is completely unacceptable. "Such people constitute a considerable group in the TSK and are tolerated for very long," he said.
Turkey faced three military coups between 1960 and 1980; however, military influence in civil authority continues to persistent in the country. The government was last toppled on Feb. 28, 1997 by pressure coming from the military; this has been termed a post-modern coup. Two years ago, on Apr. 27, then Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Büyükanit issued a memorandum that was posted on the General Staff's Web site, lambasting initiatives taken by the government. The undemocratic nature of Turkey's civil-military relations has been criticized by many, including the European Union, which Turkey aspires to join.
Önder Aytaç, a senior security analyst, agrees with Laçiner's comments, adding that several examples lead experts closely following the TSK to worries much about the quality of the TSK's intelligence services. "Its attitude about an attack on the Aktütün outpost, the discovery of heavy arms under ground and this latest plot are certainly signs of a lack of intelligence within the TSK," he said, adding that there must at least be a chain of responsibility for the military's failure to have required knowledge of such incidents in the first place and that those responsible should be held accountable. "When such problems appear, resignation is very honorable," he concluded.
Turkey is now focused on what will happen next since it is not clear what will come out of the investigation or if some high-ranking generals will resign following the developments.
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