Turning a true Turkish hero into a commodity
Since the July 15 coup attempt, opportunists have been exploiting emotions and cashing in on others' memories.
Apparently nothing is safe from the clutches of commercialism, even the cherished memory of a military hero.
One of the most critical moments that led to the collapse of the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey involved Senior Master Sgt. Omer Halisdemir, who was killed in the line of duty that night.
Brig. Gen. Semih Terzi, consequently found to be a key coup plotter, accompanied by some 30 special forces personnel, attempted to take over the operations center of the Special Forces Command at Golbasi just outside Ankara. If Terzi had succeeded, he could have issued orders as if he were operating in the chain of command. He could have mobilized special forces units in various parts of the country, ordered the arrests of political leaders and senior commanders and seized critical buildings.
Terzi, who flew in on a helicopter with his unit from Bingol, was just about to enter the headquarters when someone came from behind and shot him twice in the head.
