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Security Threats from Inside: Scenario "Extremism in Being and Coexistence with Romany Ethnic Group and Migrants"Military sociologyPhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 143-154 At first, we are familiarised with terms of extremism, Romanies (Gypsies), anarchists, neo-Nazis, then the author introduces possible picture of security situation at the turn of second and third decades of 21st century. He believes that in every country there is a limited ability to integrate ethnic groups by majority. As soon as the limits are exceeded, problems begin. His scenario ends with a pessimistic vision: increasing tensions will ask army deployment, but even local armed forces are not able to enforce law and order, therefore the government must ask for help neighbouring states. |
A History of the Use of Private Military ForcesInformational pagesDoc. Mgr. Oldřich Bureš, M.A., Ph.D., PhDr. Vendula NedvědickáVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 76-93 Although private military companies like the former Blackwater were regarded as a relatively new phenomenon in international security, their history is not new. The participation of private individuals, and /or groups of private individuals, soldiers of fortune, in "foreign" armed conflicts is at least as old as the history of wars by itself. It is impossible to open a debate about the scope and possible impact of the current use of private military and security companies without knowing and evaluating their long-term historical developments. The goal of this study is therefore to map the history of the use of private military forces, their involvement in various conflicts, services they offer, among others, from the point of international law. |
Armed Forces and Ethnic Riots in Central EuropeReviewed - ReviewDoc. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2013, Vol. XXII. (LIV.): 132-142 The article deals with particularly topical problem, the riots with ethnic background. The present situation is compared with history illustrations and with similar recent events abroad. Author's reflections and scenarios outline a variant of state failure and its institutions, with the exception of army. He identifies respective incoming risks, among others tied with the so-called Roma question. Actually, his hypothetical solutions are not backed by the current laws of the Czech Republic. The author comes to the conclusion that army deployment might be used only as an instrument of last resort, "ultima ratio". |
The White Paper and my Alliance ExperienceNonreviewed - OtherJiří ŠedivýVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2013, Vol. XXII. (LIV.): 15-22 At the time of forming the team around a designated defence minister Alexander Vondra, in the early summer 2010, there was no doubt that we need a complex concept document, able to analyze and describe the then situation, to readjust directions and goals for defence department, so that it could stimulate the follow-up transformation of Czech Army. The author, who used to be one of the leading Defence Ministry officials, thus made use of his experiences he gained in NATO structures. He gives an apt, well-founded, and first hand description of key points of this very fresh military history. |
The Recapitulation of Obama's Security and Defence Policy (The End of his First Presidential Term)Reviewed - ResearchPhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 3-16 The results of American foreign, security, defence and military policies are ambiguous. The war in Iraq ends, troops are going to leave both Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama was held up in Arab spring. He tried to improve relations with Russia. The centre of gravity was moved to the Pacific area, which got complicated ties with People's China. He didn't succeed in solving troubles with nuclear programme in Iran. His moderate success in foreign policy was the consequence of his concentration on home politics, health care reform, economy and financial crises. At the end the essay evaluates the Chicago summit that among others officially affirmed that NATO activities in Afghanistan would be concluded by 2014 and declared the so-called smart defence. |
NATO Defence Planning Process in (Permanent) TransitionReviewed - ReviewPhDr. Jan StejskalVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2013, Vol. XXII. (LIV.): 71-80 NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP) is a subject of quite frequent reviews and amendments in order to meet the needs of NATO as an organization and of each Ally. The current initiative, based on a tasking from the Chicago summit in May 2012, is referred to as "Enhancing the NDPP". It particularly aims at making the NDPP more relevant to national defence planning and more visible at political level. More emphasis is also placed on timely consultations among Allies whenever they intend to make significant changes in their defence inventories and capabilities. Recently approved NATO Defence Planning Capability Targets (June 2013) previously known as Force Goals, are for the first time affected by application of the so-called "50% planning assumption" which aims to redress the burden-sharing imbalance between the US and other Allies. |
Statistical Data Processing in STAT1 ApplicationReviewed - ReviewMgr. Jiří Neubauer, Ph.D., RNDr. Marek Sedlačík, Ph.D., RNDr. Oldřich KřížVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2013, Vol. XXII. (LIV.): 114-122 Data analyses using methods of exploratory and inductive statistics nowadays form an integral part of many areas of human activities. The paper is focused on the statistical processing of data using a new application STAT1 that works under Microsoft Office Excel. The explanation is given, the source is stated, and the comparison with alternative application software tools is mentioned. Moreover, the examples of practical utilization of STAT1 in the military area are presented. |
Strategic Culture: Concept PresentationReviewed - ReviewIng. Tomáš PospíšilVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 26-33 Studies of the importance of culture have gained greater attention in the post-Cold War era. In present world, there are many fenomena that can't be explained in terms of neorealism. There is the consensus in national security policy studies that culture may significantly affect grand strategy and state behaviour. It limits behavioural choices, from which we could derive predictions about our strategic choice. This study is based among others upon Johnston's strategic culture concept related to three generations. The study is divided into five parts: at first the author introduces general concept of strategic culture, the second, third and fourth parts correspond to individual generations. In closing part the author explains his own understanding to this concept. |
The Problems of Prevention of Socially Undesirable BehaviourNonreviewed - ReviewIng. Michael HrbataVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 42-55 Armed forces, civilian employees, are extremely exposed to unwanted effects of socially undesirable behaviour, as they live and meet their assignments under difficult conditions, e.g. in mission abroad, separated from their relatives, spouses, wives. The best deterrence against socially undesirable behaviour is its prevention. Legally this problem is defined in the Defence Minister Order No 53/2010, The Prevention of Socially Undesirable Behaviour. According to the author M. Hrbata, Deputy Defence Minister for Personnel, we must deal with this problem in a multidisciplinary manner, in the frame of effective organizational structure, run by competent commanders, chiefs, directors, with natural authority. |
European Army: Utopia or Actual Future? ... or better EU Common Armed ForcesNonreviewed - OtherDoc. Ing. Milan Kubeša, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2013, Vol. XXII. (LIV.): 103-108 The article is a polemic reflection over the potential concept and vision of defence and EU combined armed forces, from the military point of view. It recalls previous efforts and present activities to implement common security and defence policy in practice. It is a short analysis of conditions under which the EU is situated, and in general contours it characterizes possible advantages of common European armed forces. It expresses author's opinion that by forming "European Pillar" in NATO, the transatlantic linkage between the EU and the USA will not be weakening, but on the contrary, it will be strengthen. The author uses the terms "European army" and "common armed forces of EU" that he takes as synonyms and therefore he asks the reader to take this fact in account. |
Security and Strategic Culture of USA, EU and CRBook reviewVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 168-174 It is the title of homonymous publication by Jan Eichler from the Institute of Foreign Relations. The author depicts basic characteristics of main features of security and strategic culture of present world. He tries to answer the following three questions: What are historical and political factors of security /strategical culture of respective actors, what are main features of their doctrinal documents, and their impacts on the development of global international relations in the early 21st century? He deduces that the participation of the CR in military interventions in third world countries could generate a risk of terrorist's attacks against not only members of armed forces abroad, but also installations in our state territory. |
The Institutes of Force Ministry Secondary School: 20 Years of Endeavour to Preserve ItNonreviewed - OtherPodplukovník Ing. Bohuslav Pernica, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2013, Vol. XXII. (LIV.): 148-163 As a consequence of shrinking military budget, secondary military schools in the Czech Republic were considerably reduced. Actually, there is only one left nowadays. Its future is rather dim, not only due to the Financial Outlook for 2018. The White Paper on Defence 2011 postulated educational scope offered by any secondary military school. But such mission could be easily transferred on other school institutions, without any impact on the national security. Even other Czech state institutions, dealing with national security, very soon will have to answer such to-be-or-not-to-be question. Namely the Ministry of Interior, struggling to economize, runs two secondary schools of its own. This article is a summary of the evolution of secondary schools needed for national security purposes, since 1993. It challenges the conservative point of view saying that in no case their educational capabilities could be substituted. |
Reflections over Syrian Conflict in the Czech RepublicReviewed - ResearchDoc. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D., Mgr. Michael MuradVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2013, Vol. XXII. (LIV.): 132-142 This study deals with the responses to recent Syrian conflict in the Czech Republic. The authors introduce particularly activities inside Syrian diaspora, actually formed during the time of communism. Syrians citizens living in the Czech Republic are not homogeneous, which is similar to the situation in Syria. In our country we can find both people loyal to the regime of Ba'ath Party and Bashar al-Assad, and also members of opposition that in fact has divided into two groups, since the mid-2012. The authors introduce reactions of various subjects from the Czech Republic. |
Priorities for 21st Century: U.S. Security Strategy after 2008Reviewed - ReviewDoc. PhDr. Jan Eichler, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2013, Vol. XXII. (LIV.): 29-40 The re-election of Barrack Obama implies that the President preferring political solutions to military ones will have remained for the next four years in the White House. As far U. S. strategy culture is concerned, without doubts American armed forces are going to be prepared to be modern, strong, agile and capable to meet the U.S. National Security strategy goals whatever and wherever they might be. Simultaneously, Obama´s programme for his second term presupposes to close down several military bases all around the world, together with reductions in the size of forces, manpower. Only the most important will be preserved. The further development will be therefore predestined by necessary quantitative reductions, but at the same time by qualitative updating American armed forces, and by the stress on power projection capabilities to take an active approach to counter any threats worldwide. |
The Cyber War ContinuesInformational pagesPhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 73-89 The author summarizes present-day knowledge of this problem. Worms and viruses have transformed to serious security challenges and perfect instruments of cyber espionage. They have become a tool in information warfare. Cyberattacks transformed to risks calling only for technical responses. The growing awareness of the seriousness of the cyber-threat is enhanced by incidents, e.g. the malware "Stuxnet" attacking the Iranian nuclear programme. Actually, cyber space is regarded as a fifth dimension of military deployment, apart for land, air, water, and cosmos. Some nations are already investing massively in cyber capabilities that can be used for military purposes. Most Western nations have considerably stepped up their defences in recent years and are forming special units for cyber warfare. |
Starting Points for the Preparation of Updated Security Strategy of the Czech Republic 2011ReviewedPhDr. Miloš Balabán, Ph.D., PhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 3-19 In our country, existing strategical documents related to security used to be compiled very carefully, but proved to be not very effective, as they did not fit to practical everyday security policy, they did not comply with day-to-day requirements. The only exception was the 1991 doctrine dealing with the creation of Integrated Rescue System and the implementation of professional armed forces. At present, there is a tendency to rewrite those strategy documents again, namely in the field of security. The preparation of a new version of Czech security strategy is taking place in time marked with new trends in world politics and economy. The main attention is attracted by crisis management, arms control, disarmament, WMD non-proliferation, cooperation with non-NATO nations, and international organizations, last but not least counterterrorism and cyberspace security strategy. In short the study mentions Czech political-military ambitions, defence strategy, defence capacity and resources, it appreciates in value knowledge gained by the Centre of Security Policy, Faculty of Social Science, Charles University Prague, and it contains conclusions and recommendations for the preparation the 2011 Czech National Security Strategy. |
Global Security: System Approach (Barack Obama's First Midterm)PhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 9-37 This extended essay is based upon various sources, among others on May 2010 President Obama's speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where President Obama described his national security objectives. The highest priorities of U.S. national security are the safety of Americans at home and abroad and achieving a peaceful, stable world through global cooperation despite a flawed international system. The Obama's security strategy relies heavily on diplomacy and engagement, economic development and other methods of influence, along with U.S. military capabilities with global reach and unsurpassed resources. As we face multiple threats, from nations, non-state actors and failed states, America will maintain the military superiority that has secured country, and underpinned global security, for decades. The security strategy is global, and identifies an array of real or potential security challenges that include: countering violent extremism and insurgency; stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and securing nuclear materials, resolving and preventing conflict; and reducing destabilizing risks to economic interdependence. |
War GameMilitary artIng. Jaroslav KulíšekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 60-82 War game is a simulation of military operations intended to train military commanders or to test a proposed strategy. It is a game in which model soldiers are used to create battles, in order to study tactics. This article illustrates the importance of War Game COAs (course of action). It was tested against opposing force COAs. Such exercise will help to identify advantages and disadvantages and the key elements of execution planning for each COA. The lesson learned during OHQ CZE/SVK BG EU Staff Exercises that took place in Olomouc from January 19th, to January 23rd, and from February 16th, to February 20th, 2009 is that war-gaming (although time consuming) is something closer to "reality" than the "theory" in doctrines. The war-gaming practices teamwork, facilitates team-building and enables to share mental model COA. Commanders and their staff ought to be engaged in simulations and war games more frequently. All information and sources for this paper were drawn from unclassified materials. |
Basic Elements of Modular Force StructuresReviewed - ReviewPodplukovník Ing. Radek Dubec, Ph.D., Ing. Ján SpišákVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2013, Vol. XXII. (LIV.): 27-40 Článek je shrnutím výsledků řešení projektu obranného výzkumu STRUKTURA: Tvorba modulárních struktur úkolových uskupení pro celé spektrum operací a jejich ověřování s využitím tvorby koncepcí a experimentování - CD&E. Je zaměřen na objasnění problematiky definování modulů jako základního prvku modularity a možné přístupy k výběru hodnocení a formování modulárních úkolových uskupení. Cílem článku je pojednat o možnostech tvorby úkolových uskupení a generování sil v podmínkách definovaných a popsaných scénářů. Hlavní části článku vymezují determinanty organizace modulárních struktur a jejich popis. |
Threat of CBRN Agents, Biological ClassMilitary professionalIng. Daniel Maršálek, doc. Mgr. Ing. Radomír Ščurek, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 119-130 This article describes the question of CBRN and their possible abuses in civil aviation. The problem includes security analysis identified by the Civil Aviation as the most significant class of this group-biological agents. The authors pay them special attention. The second part of paper contains model situation in case of emergency: virus variola (smallpox) attack in a terminal of medium-size international airport. Depending on the detailed properties of virus, transport hub and afflicted area, there are two versions of attack- for summer and winter timetable, according to expected progress of virus extension, and follow-up arrangements. |
Arab Word and its Security ConnectionsBook reviewVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 175-179 This article deals with selected security aspects of Israeli maritime border lines. It briefly depicts current organizational structure of the Israeli Navy. It gives an overview of equipment used to safeguard Israeli sovereignty from seaborne threats, including search and secure operations performed against anti-Israeli insurgent organizations and their trafficking lines. In connection to the Gaza Strip blockade, the article examines legitimacy of this controversial approach and its current international consequences. Last but not least, the article looks beyond the security extent of maritime borders and examines Israeli approach as a mean of spreading the national sovereignty over newly explored gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean area. |
United Nations Miliary ObserverNonreviewed - OtherMjr. Ing. Jan DrozdVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2013, Vol. XXII. (LIV.): 143-150 This article deals with the involvement of military members of the Czech Army within peacekeeping operations as military observers. It discusses the core of the command and control of peacekeeping operations under the heading of the United Nations. It is focused on the role of military observers and the peculiarities of their tasks, based on the historical development. The special attention is dedicated to selection criteria and requirements for the selection of military observers. The candidates have to be flexible persons with comprehensive educational background. In the conclusion, the author opens the possibility to continue with the theme of military observers by means of a subsequent article based on personal experiences. |
Biodromal Preparation Concept of Citizens for their Protection during EmergenciesMilitary professionalJUDr. et PhDr. Jaroslav Padrnos, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 99-110 People must be prepared for unexpected anddangerous situations that must be dealt with immediately. The prerequisite of people training for the emergency situations is their overall preparation. The concept ought to be extending over a relatively long time, well elaborated and coherent. The prerequisite of such preparation is the existence of appropriate laws supporting a lifelong, "biodromaly" conceived educational concept. The readers have a chance to familiarise themselves with results from sociological inquiry, being done at the end of 2010, and with several acts tied with civil emergency preparation. |
The Position of the Russian Federation to Western Military Interventions in 1999-2011Reviewed - ReviewMgr. et Mgr. Lukáš TichýVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2013, Vol. XXII. (LIV.): 22-41 On the one hand, Russia is among the countries which often criticize the Western-led military intervention. On the other hand, in the last twenty years, Russia has repeatedly approved using military force by the West against an individual state, endorsed by the United National Security Council. The main purpose of this article is therefore to describe and analyse Russian position towards four Western military interventions 1999-2011. Specifically, the article is focused on two military interventions without UN Security Council mandates (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999 and Iraq in 2003), the intervention with the expanded UN Security Council resolution (Afghanistan 2001) and the military intervention that was partially approved by the UN Security Council resolutions (Libya 2011). |
Preparation of School Youth in the Czech Republic for EmergenciesNonreviewed - ReviewMgr. Libor Kirsch, JUDr. et PhDr. Jaroslav Padrnos, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2013, Vol. XXII. (LIV.): 168-181 The prerequisite of effectivity of people training for the emergencies lies on their timely and high-guality preparation. At present, in the Czech Republic, we prepare defence-training concept for school youth protection under normal risks or emergencies. But it was only in the school year 2012-2013 that more conceptually comprehensive preparation has been introduced, of more binding character, at least in elementary schools, because after the abolition of Act on Military Education in 1991, this sort of preparation is not supported by a special law. |
The Fragmentarization of Europe as a Security Threat Europe 2010: Predictions and RealityMilitary sociologyPhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 148-164 Unlike the real state of affairs, the scenarios for Europe 2010 did not presuppose the rise of financial and economy crises. Political scientists did not perceive the series of terrorist attacks, namely in Great Britain, Spain and Russia. Security questions, home security and defence, came to the foreground more then was originally expected. There are hubs of future power blocks of divided Europe. It is impossible to incorporate all the results and consequences of our presuppositions. Since we want to look into individual, particularly interesting developments, the author recommends to create several teams for individual scenarios, instead of drawing several scenarios by one scholarly team. |
Peacetime Application of Some IHL Provisions in Time of PeaceInformational pagesRNDr. Marek Jukl, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 85-88 It is generally known that norms of international humanitarian law are applicable for the protection of selected groups during interstate or domestic conflicts, but this paper is devoted to the chronological scope of application of the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols even in time of peace. The author demonstrates that the Article 3 of the Additional Protocol I implies the peacetime applicability of certain provisions of the Conventions and Additional Protocols. Examples of such provisions of the Additional Protocol I are also brought in this article. Among others, he extents the notion of humanitarian law in peace, which is very often limited only to preparation of personnel and schooling. |
The Accession of the Czech Republic to NATO: On the American RoadOpinions, controversyMgr. Jakub Kašík, Bc. Tomáš KučeraVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 124-128 The Europeans would like to preserve an irreplaceable role of Americans in European security problems. On the other hand, NATO represents for the US a political and military means for American involvement in this region. The whole project of North Atlantic cooperation was drawn according to US demands, not to the contrary. So was the NATO transformation after the Cold War. For the Czech Republic is the bonding with the US the security priority number one. First, we joined the Partnership for Peace, as a primary step, previous to full membership in the Alliance. During wars in the former Yugoslavia in April 1992, we proved our loyalty by sending a joint Czechoslovak battalion for UNPROFOR operation with a total of 500 personnel. At present we've been sending our soldiers abroad to help peace effort of democratic nations headed by the US to stabilize security environment in the frame of international organizations, the UN, OSCE, etc. |
Peculiarities of Shooting and Control Mortar Units, Equipped by 120mm Mortars M82Military professionalProf. Ing. Ladislav Potužák, CSc., pplk. Ing. Josef VondrákVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 89-98 The article is concentrated on explaining the most important provisions during the preparation and control of shooting procedures, targeting, effective fire, namely during shelling with reference to depth and width of target. First, the authors introduce security regulations, followed by main features of fire control: meteorological preparation, ballistic preparation and other elements of fire. Mortar battery uses distributed fire by platoons, sections or lines. The authors offer several fire tables, schemes, and artillery charts. The basic requirement for deployment of artillery is its effectivity, which presupposed flawless knowledge of shooting rules and their masterly implementation in practice. |

