Turkish Intelligence ChiefBoth Iconoclast and Target
Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s highly intellectual and pro-West intelligence chief, has drawn a lot of attention and criticism as the architect of the peace process with the PKK.
The name of Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s intelligence chief, is appearing in reputable American newspapers in extremely negative contexts.
Before going into those negative comments in the Western media, it would be best to convey some information and my personal views about the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) official.
Fidan's impressive intellect is well known. The son of a Turkish family with extremely limited means, Fidan served as a noncommissioned officer in the Turkish armed forces for 15 years. Realizing that what he was doing was not suited to his intellectual capacity, he resigned from the armed forces in 2001.
Fidan completed master's and doctoral studies on intelligence and international relations at Turkey’s prestigious Bilkent University. He paid the utmost attention to bringing up his two sons as intellectuals. He is known to enter bookstores and not come out for 10 hours. While completing his doctorate, he worked in a bureaucratic post that enabled him to visit many countries of the world. That experience contributed immensely to the development of his intellectual and organizational abilities.
