"Chief of the Turkish Army Redefining the Political Role of the Military
Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 6 Issue: 72
April 15, 2009 01:19 PM Age: 6 hrs
By: Saban Kardas
Turkey's Chief of the General Staff, General Ilker Basbug
Turkey's Chief of the General Staff, General Ilker Basbug, delivered a speech at the War Academies Command in Istanbul on April 14 addressing several issues including civil-military relations, national identity, the role of religion, and the fight against terrorism. In a two-hour speech broadcast live on nine TV stations, Basbug tried to erase the image of the military being opposed to religion. He underlined the need to recognize sub-national cultural identities, reiterated his support for the secular and democratic regime in Turkey, drew a distinction between terrorists and innocent civilians and called for a more healthy civil-military relationship (www.tsk.mil.tr, April 14)."
More:Chief of the Turkish Army Redefining the Political Role of the Military - The Jamestown Foundation
