The government here is entirely in the hands of the army. The Grand Signor [Ottoman Sultan], with all his absolute power, is as much a slave as any of his subjects, and trembles at a janissary's frown.

Throughout history; the Turks' political organization has developed in step with their military organization. Their hearts dedicated to soldiering, the Turks have proved to the world that their nation is an army.

If we have an administration in this country [Turkey], it's the army. But a big percentage of so-called public 'confidence' in the army is just fear. Civilians are not yet conscious of their power.

As far as concerns the army, I don't know which people among us can claim to be more disciplined and closer to the order of the Romans than the Turks.

I once tried to take the army unit here [Kurdish village] back to the barracks, but the village chief came and said he would resign if I did.
Soldiers [Turks] here help with irrigation, painting walls, building carpet workshops, and so on. When there's an army unit here, the villagers even have a doctor and free medicine.

The more we offer the villagers, the more they want. And if I can give it, I will.
The terrorists had the support of the local people [Kurds], but it was at gunpoint. In the past the terrorists would burn the government bulldozers. Now people see that if you don't have bulldozers, you'll get no road.