https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/turkeys-president-reforms-military-after-failed-coup/2016/07/31/766e3f26-56fe-11e6-8b48-0cb344221131_story.html
https://news.vice.com/article/erdogan-is-taking-full-control-of-the-military-himself
http://news.sky.com/story/turkey-erdogan-takes-charge-of-military-10518487
following the july 15 coup in turkey, sweeping changes were applied to crack down on political, social, and religious opponents of erdogan. secular judges, teachers, and entire universities were shut down and seized by the government. a state of emergency was declared to give additional powers to erdogan, in which he established a curfew, subjugated pro-west journalists, news networks, radio shows, etc., and revoked travel privileges of millions of citizens.
the one thing he didn't touch--or rather, couldn't--was the military. the military in turkey has a constitutional duty to overthrow the government if it is becoming non-secular or overly islamist. the government of turkey has little power over the chain of command in the military, leaving the two often at odds and on different pages. in order to prevent the military from taking him down, erdogan has issued a presidential decree discharging hostile commanders and placing military organs under direct control of government ministries. additionally, the chiefs of army, air force, and navy now have a man above them--erdogan. they must act by his word. among those discharged, by the way, was the chief of the army, so erdogan has complete control over it for the time being.
fun times in turkey
