Innocent Soldiers Exploited with Ambiguous Orders on July 15

"the military training is over, there is military exercise now"

The fact that July 15 is a fiction is now voiced by people ranging from foreign intelligence experts to American senators. The most important stage of this fiction was to give the image of armed soldiers in the field with different traps.

Disregarding the reports of terrorist attacks before July 15 and the statements of the public authorities indicating that “the military training is over, there is military exercise now” made it possible not to question the “there will be an exercise” orders. And considering the chain of command, it happened to be inevitable for some innocent soldiers to stay in the middle of this trap. Finally, the ambiguous or unclear orders, given by those who were part of this fiction or by those who did not have the courage to take commander responsibility, took innocent soldiers to uncertainty and despair.

What Should Be Included in the Preliminary Order? Conscious Ambiguity!

The most basic decision-making process, taught in military schools, is the method of “Troops’ Command and Control Procedures." According to this method, the commander considers the following points in order before an operation/activity, prepares his plan, and gives his orders: Taking the Duty, Giving the Preliminary Order, Making the Draft Plan, Starting the Necessary Activities, Reconnaissance and Coordination, Completing the Plan, Giving the Operation Order, Follow-up and Control.

In the framework of a normal military planning, as a minimum, "Who - When - Where - What to do" orders should be given to the personnel in the preliminary order [1]. At least, in issuing the preliminary order, it is essential to have an order containing/explaining these items.

However, in the chaotic environment of July 15, a deliberate "ambiguity" was preferred instead of such orders that were most needed. For example, Hulusi Akar, the owner of the statement, “uncertainty is the greatest power”, set the greatest trap for his comrades in arms by distracting those around him and by giving orders that did not serve to get results.

On July 15 “an order not to leave the barracks could have been given”

Naval Forces Commander Bülent Bostanoğlu threw his subordinates into the middle of an unknown by hiding in a parking lot, cutting off his mobile phone communication, and refusing to give orders. This issue has not been consciously addressed and examined by military experts. As will be remembered, maybe one of the few correct statements of Zekai Aksakallı regarding the July 15, “an order not to leave the barracks could have been given,” caused him to be set aside.

On the same night, while the airspace was closed for all flights (Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım made a statement regarding this issue on TV), it was reopened for cargo aircrafts after a while by the order of the Armed Forces Command Center (SKKHM). It had been left unclear who/what would have been transferred or transported in cargo planes. For example, the cargo plane belonging to the Special Forces Command, which could not move without the order of Special Forces Commander Zekai Aksakallı, was able to take off from Diyarbakır and land in Ankara.

Perhaps, on July 15, if Hulusi Akar, as the Chief of General Staff, had given clear and result-oriented orders when he had the opportunity, not even a person would have a nosebleed, and soldiers and the people would not have come face to face. Although it seems like a possibility, this actually strengthens the idea that Hulusi Akar was one of the biggest actors of the July 15 fiction and consciously wanted uncertainty.

[1] KKT 31-1 (A) Commando Troops Operation, “Preliminary Order Format,” pages 3-9.