In interviews with the Turkish media, Basbug and other senior commanders
have warned of declining morale in the military amid the government
crackdown, Middle East Newsline reported. In February 2010, a naval captain suspected of participating in
the plot was reported to have committed suicide.
Basbug said the military was prepared to release classified information
that would rebut charges that officers had planned to overthrow the
pro-Islamic government. He said the military has been the victim of a
defamation campaign by opponents of a secular Turkey.
"We'll begin to share our own intelligence with the public," Basbug said
on Feb. 12. "We also have much information and we'll be obliged to disclose
it."
The warning came in the wake of a reconciliation effort between Basbug and
Erdogan. The men have been meeting weekly to prevent friction between the
military and government.
"I share everything with the president and the prime minister," Basbug
said. "I share problems with them. I can say this: The state shares the same
opinion on this issue."
Under Erdogan, the military has lost much of its influence on the
government as Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party worked to remove
barriers to Muslim dress and prayer in civil service and universities. Over
the last two years, the military has been portrayed as an enemy of the
Turkish people by Islamist supporters of the party.
"The military has obviously embraced a new way out in its fight against
this campaign," opposition leader Deniz Baykal, a supporter of the military,
said.
Media reports alleged that the military brass planned to bomb mosques in
Istanbul as part of an attempt to overthrow Erdogan. In 2009, two leading
officers were arrested on charges of planning the assassination of Deputy
Prime Minister Bulent Arinc. Other officers were charged with trying to kill
the commander of the navy.
"When I say that our patience has a limit, I mean that we know perfectly
the whole background to this campaign," Basbug said. "We know it, but we
have remained silent. We remain silent in the hope that someone will take
the necessary steps."
