Translation of Leaked Recording:
A leaked conversation between Turkey’s intelligence chief and the war room reveals plot to
create a casus belli for war with Syria by using ISIL, an al-Qaeda offshoot, to threaten a Turkish
shrine Suleiman Shah Tomb. Turkey has blocked YouTube in order to cover up the leaks. Turkish
Foreign Ministry confirmed the recording of planning for a military incursion into Syria adding
that a ’network of treason’ was responsible for leak. Part two of the leaked conversation
implicates John Kerry US secretary of state in the plot.
In the leaked tape:
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudo
A leaked conversation between Turkey’s intelligence chief and the war room reveals plot to
create a casus belli for war with Syria by using ISIL, an al-Qaeda offshoot, to threaten a Turkish
shrine Suleiman Shah Tomb. Turkey has blocked YouTube in order to cover up the leaks. Turkish
Foreign Ministry confirmed the recording of planning for a military incursion into Syria adding
that a ’network of treason’ was responsible for leak. Part two of the leaked conversation
implicates John Kerry US secretary of state in the plot.
In the leaked tape:
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudo
Head of Turkish Intelligence MIT Hakan Fidan
Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry Feridun Sinirlio
Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry Feridun Sinirlio
General Yasar Güler
Ahmet Davutoglu: I couldn’t entirely understand the other thing; what exactly does our foreign
ministry supposed to do? No, I ’m not talking about the thing. There are other things we ’re
supposed to do. If we decide on this, we are to notify the United Nations, the Istanbul Consulate
of the Syrian regime, right?
Ahmet Davutoglu: I couldn’t entirely understand the other thing; what exactly does our foreign
ministry supposed to do? No, I ’m not talking about the thing. There are other things we ’re
supposed to do. If we decide on this, we are to notify the United Nations, the Istanbul Consulate
of the Syrian regime, right?
Feridun Sinirlioglu: But if we decide on an operation in there, it should create a shocking effect.
I mean, if we are going to do so. I don’t know what we’re going to do, but regardless of what we
decide, I don’t think it’d be appropriate to notify anyone beforehand.
I mean, if we are going to do so. I don’t know what we’re going to do, but regardless of what we
decide, I don’t think it’d be appropriate to notify anyone beforehand.
Ahmet Davutoglu: OK, but we’re gonna have to prepare somehow. To avoid any shorts on
regarding international law. I just realized when I was talking to the president (Abdullah Gül), if
the Turkish tanks go in there, it means we’re in there in any case, right?
regarding international law. I just realized when I was talking to the president (Abdullah Gül), if
the Turkish tanks go in there, it means we’re in there in any case, right?
Yasar Güler: It means we’re in, yes.
Ahmet Davutoglu: Yeah, but there’s a difference between going in with aircraft and going in
with tanks…
with tanks…
Yasar Güler: Maybe we can tell the Syrian consulate general that, ISIL is currently working
alongside the regime, and that place is Turkish land. We should definitely…
alongside the regime, and that place is Turkish land. We should definitely…
Ahmet Davutoglu: But we have already said that, sent them several diplomatic notes.
Yasar Güler: To Syria…
Feridun Sinirlioglu: That’s right.
Ahmet Davutoglu: Yes, we’ve sent them countless times. Therefore, I ’d like to know what our
Chief of Staff’s expectations from our ministry.
Chief of Staff’s expectations from our ministry.
Yasar Güler: Maybe his intent was to say that, I don’t really know, he met with Mr. Fidan.
Hakan Fidan: Well, he did mention that part but we didn’t go into any further details.
Yasar Güler: Maybe that was what he meant… A diplomatic note to Syria?
Hakan Fidan: Maybe the Foreign Ministry is assigned with coordination…
Ahmet Davutoglu: I mean, I could coordinate the diplomacy but civil war, the military…
Feridun Sinirlioglu: That’s what I told back there. For one thing, the situation is different. An
operation on ISIL has solid ground on international law. We’re going to portray this is Al-Qaeda,
there’s no distress there if it ’s a matter regarding Al-Qaeda. And if it comes to defending
Suleiman Shah Tomb, that ’s a matter of protecting our land.
operation on ISIL has solid ground on international law. We’re going to portray this is Al-Qaeda,
there’s no distress there if it ’s a matter regarding Al-Qaeda. And if it comes to defending
Suleiman Shah Tomb, that ’s a matter of protecting our land.
Yasar Güler: We don’t have any problems with that.
Hakan Fidan: Second after it happens, it ’ll cause a great internal commotion (several bombing
events is bound to happen within). The border is not under control…
events is bound to happen within). The border is not under control…
Feridun Sinirlioglu: I mean, yes, the bombings are of course going to happen. But I remember
our talk from 3 years ago…
our talk from 3 years ago…
Yasar Güler: Mr. Fidan should urgently receive back-up and we need to help him supply guns
and ammo to rebels. We need to speak with the minister. Our Interior Minister, our Defense
Minister. We need to talk about this and reach a resolution sir.
and ammo to rebels. We need to speak with the minister. Our Interior Minister, our Defense
Minister. We need to talk about this and reach a resolution sir.
Ahmet Davutoglu: How did we get specials forces into action when there was a threat in
Northern Iraq? We should have done so in there, too. We should have trained those men. We
should have sent men. Anyway, we can’t do that, we can only do what diplomacy…
Northern Iraq? We should have done so in there, too. We should have trained those men. We
should have sent men. Anyway, we can’t do that, we can only do what diplomacy…
Feridun Sinirlioglu: I told you back then, for God ’s sake, general, you know how we managed
to get those tanks in, you were there.
to get those tanks in, you were there.
Yasar Güler: What, you mean our stuff?
Feridun Sinirlioglu: Yes, how do you think we’ve managed to rally our tanks into Iraq? How?
How did manage to get special forces, the battalions in? I was involved in that. Let me be clear,
there was no government decision on that, we have managed that just with a single order.
How did manage to get special forces, the battalions in? I was involved in that. Let me be clear,
there was no government decision on that, we have managed that just with a single order.
Yasar Güler: Well, I agree with you. For one thing, we’re not even discussing that. But there are
different things that Syria can do right now.
different things that Syria can do right now.
Ahmet Davutoglu: General, the reason we’re saying no this operation is because we know about
the capacity of those men.
the capacity of those men.
Yasar Güler: Look, sir, isn’t MKE (Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation) at
minister’s bidding? Sir, I mean, Qatar is looking for ammo to buy in cash. Ready cash. So, why
don’t they just get it done? It ’s at Mr. Minister’s command.
minister’s bidding? Sir, I mean, Qatar is looking for ammo to buy in cash. Ready cash. So, why
don’t they just get it done? It ’s at Mr. Minister’s command.
Ahmet Davutoglu: But there’s the spot we can’t act integrally, we can’t coordinate.
Yasar Güler: Then, our Prime Minister can summon both Mr. Defense Minister and Mr.
Minister at the same time. Then he can directly talk to them.
Minister at the same time. Then he can directly talk to them.
Ahmet Davutoglu: We, Mr. Siniroglu and I, have literally begged Mr. Prime Minster for a
private meeting, we said that things were not looking so bright.
private meeting, we said that things were not looking so bright.
Yasar Güler: Also, it doesn’t have to be crowded meeting. Yourself, Mr. Defense Minister, Mr.
Interior Minister and our Chief of Staff, the four of you are enough. There ’s no need for a crowd.
Because, sir, the main need there is guns and ammo. Not even guns, mainly ammo. We’ve just
talked about this, sir. Let ’s say we’re building an army down there, 1000 strong. If we get them
into that war without previously storing a minimum of 6-months worth of ammo, these men will
return to us after two months.
Interior Minister and our Chief of Staff, the four of you are enough. There ’s no need for a crowd.
Because, sir, the main need there is guns and ammo. Not even guns, mainly ammo. We’ve just
talked about this, sir. Let ’s say we’re building an army down there, 1000 strong. If we get them
into that war without previously storing a minimum of 6-months worth of ammo, these men will
return to us after two months.
Ahmet Davutoglu: They’re back already.
Yasar Güler: They’ll return to us, sir.
Ahmet Davutoglu: They’ve came back from… What was it? Çobanbey.
Yasar Güler: Yes, indeed, sir. This matter can’t be just a burden on Mr. Fidan’s shoulders as it
is now. It’s unacceptable. I mean, we can ’t understand this. Why?
is now. It’s unacceptable. I mean, we can ’t understand this. Why?
Ahmet Davutoglu: That evening we’d reached a resolution. And I thought that things were
taking a turn for the good. Our…
taking a turn for the good. Our…
Feridun Sinirlioglu: We issued the MGK (National Security Council) resolution the day after.
Then we talked with the general…
Then we talked with the general…
Ahmet Davutoglu: And the other forces really do a good follow up on this weakness of ours.
You say that you’re going to capture this place, and that men being there constitutes a risk factor.
You pull them back. You capture the place. You reinforce it and send in your troops again.
You say that you’re going to capture this place, and that men being there constitutes a risk factor.
You pull them back. You capture the place. You reinforce it and send in your troops again.
Yasar Güler: Exactly, sir. You’re absolutely right.
Ahmet Davutoglu: Right? That’s how I interpret it. But after the evacuation, this is not a
military necessity. It ’s a whole other thing.
military necessity. It ’s a whole other thing.
Feridun Siniroglu: There are some serious shifts in global and regional geopolitics. It now can
spread to other places. You said it yourself today, and others agreed… We ’re headed to a
different game now. We should be able to see those. That ISIL and all that jazz, all those
organizations are extremely open to manipulation. Having a region made up of organizations of
similar nature will constitute a vital security risk for us. And when we first went into Northern
Iraq, there was always the risk of PKK blowing up the place. If we thoroughly consider the risks
and substantiate… As the general just said…
spread to other places. You said it yourself today, and others agreed… We ’re headed to a
different game now. We should be able to see those. That ISIL and all that jazz, all those
organizations are extremely open to manipulation. Having a region made up of organizations of
similar nature will constitute a vital security risk for us. And when we first went into Northern
Iraq, there was always the risk of PKK blowing up the place. If we thoroughly consider the risks
and substantiate… As the general just said…
Yasar Güler: Sir, when you were inside a moment ago, we were discussing just that. Openly. I
mean, armed forces are a “tool” necessary for you in every turn.
mean, armed forces are a “tool” necessary for you in every turn.
Ahmet Davutoglu: Of course. I always tell the Prime Minister, in your absence, the same thing
in academic jargon, you can ’t stay in those lands without hard power. Without hard power, there
can be no soft power.
in academic jargon, you can ’t stay in those lands without hard power. Without hard power, there
can be no soft power.
Yasar Güler: Sir.
Feridun Sinirlioglu: The national security has been politicized. I don ’t remember anything like
this in Turkish political history. It has become a matter of domestic policy. All talks we’ve done
on defending our lands, our border security, our sovereign lands in there, they’ve all become a
common, cheap domestic policy outfit.
this in Turkish political history. It has become a matter of domestic policy. All talks we’ve done
on defending our lands, our border security, our sovereign lands in there, they’ve all become a
common, cheap domestic policy outfit.
Yasar Güler: Exactly.
Feridun Siniroglu: That has never happened before. Unfortunately but…
Yasar Güler: I mean, do even one of the opposition parties support you in such a high point of
national security? Sir, is this a justifiable sense of national security?
national security? Sir, is this a justifiable sense of national security?
Feridun Sinirlioglu: I don’t even remember such a period.
Yasar Güler: In what matter can we be unified, if not a matter of national security of such
importance? None.
importance? None.
Ahmet Davutoglu: The year 2012, we didn’t do it 2011. If only we ’d took serious action back
then, even in the summer of 2012.
then, even in the summer of 2012.
Feridun Sinirlioglu: They were at their lowest back in 2012.
Ahmet Davutoglu: Internally, they were just like Libya. Who comes in and goes from power is
not of any importance to us. But some things…
not of any importance to us. But some things…
Yasar Güler: Sir, to avoid any confusion, our need in 2011 was guns and ammo. In 2012, 2013
and today also. We’re in the exact same point. We absolutely need to find this and secure that
place.
and today also. We’re in the exact same point. We absolutely need to find this and secure that
place.
Ahmet Davutoglu: Guns and ammo are not a big need for that place. Because we couldn ’t get
the human factor in order…
the human factor in order…
Part 2 of audio (incomplete thus far)
Feridun Sinirlioglu: Let me tell you this, it is a small piece of land, by the international law it is
Turkish soil, so we have all the right to do an operation and if we do this the whole world would
back us, have no doubt about it.
Turkish soil, so we have all the right to do an operation and if we do this the whole world would
back us, have no doubt about it.
Yasar Guler: We have no doubt
Yasar Guler: Those Turkish Special Forces are waiting over there for a year! It is not like we
plan all this just yesterday, They have been waiting for a year.
plan all this just yesterday, They have been waiting for a year.
Ahmet Davutoglu: Kerry told me exactly this: DID YOU MAKE UP YOUR MINDS?
Yasar Guler: Yes we made up our minds 100 times with USA
Feridun Sinirlioglu: 3 days ago Americans came to the military headquarters and they had a
crisis coordination meeting. This is the first time I hear of this
crisis coordination meeting. This is the first time I hear of this
Yasar Guler: No we do it all the time
Ahmet Davutoglu: Everyone must fulfill their duties. If the ambassador tells me “sir if i do this
I will be locked in prison, they lock everyone in prison” then what should we do? We tell him to
step down and we will find someone else to replace him who can do what he needs to do. This is
the way things work in democracy.
I will be locked in prison, they lock everyone in prison” then what should we do? We tell him to
step down and we will find someone else to replace him who can do what he needs to do. This is
the way things work in democracy.
