The TSK faced severe criticism after a deadly attack by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on a military outpost in the Aktütün area of eastern Hakkari province on Oct. 3 resulted in the deaths of 17 Turkish soldiers and injury of 21 others. Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Hasan Iğsız claimed that the soldiers were killed because of security weaknesses of a poorly constructed outpost, saying military outposts had not been renovated because of financial difficulties.
An investigation into military expenses, however, revealed that the TSK has for the last couple of years spent a large amount of money on the construction of recreational facilities, whereas it has allocated almost no money for the relocation or renovation of military outposts.

Gen. Iğsız allocated millions of lira for the construction of facilities such as pubs and clubs while serving as commander of the 2nd Army. He spent around YTL 800,000 for the renovation of a recreational facility at the 2nd Army Command in August 2008. More than YTL 700,000 went to the construction of a pub within the same command in the same month. Nearly YTL 250,000 was spent on renovating the barracks at Iğsız's former base.

There are 72 ongoing construction projects within the TSK, and 164 others are in the planning phase. However, none of these projects are related to the relocation or renovation of military outposts, which are most frequently targeted in terrorist attacks.

The TSK has also returned around YTL 1.6 million over the last two years to the Turkish Treasury, saying the amount exceeded its needs.

In the meantime, military spokesman Gen. Metin Gürak stated yesterday at a weekly briefing organized by the General Staff that the TSK has no financial problems.

"There have been no financial problems within the TSK in meeting important security needs. Work is ongoing for the construction and renovation of 18 military outposts, including the one in Aktütün. We will start construction of 162 other outposts in 2009, and we will coordinate this with the Ministry of Finance," he said.

Father of wounded soldier proposes funding outpost construction

The father of Osman Timuçin, who was wounded in the terrorist assault on the Aktütün outpost, said he was ready to sell his house and contribute to the construction of a new and safe outpost so as to prevent further deadly attacks on security forces.

"I am proud of my son. But the deaths of several soldiers saddened me deeply. I visited all the soldiers wounded in the Aktütün attack in the hospital. I want officials to take necessary precautions to prevent further assaults on outposts. The generals say that the military doesn't have the financial means to do so. If that's true, I am ready to sell my house and give the money to the military to contribute to the construction of safe outposts," he stated.

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