As with politics in most countries, it pays to have friends in high places in Turkey.
Turkey held its first Supreme Military Council meeting under the new presidential regime Aug. 4. In accordance with the new constitution, the ministers of treasury and finance and education attended the meeting for the first time. The council, which comes together twice a year, decides on the promotions and retirements of colonels and generals in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). This year, civilian members of the council outnumbered military members for the first time because of the new participation of the two ministers.
