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Security Preconditions and Threats (Economy, Religious and Cybernetic Menaces)PhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 38-52 One of main task while preparing new security documents is to identify, analyze and evaluate newly emerging, self-generating security threats. They menace cybernetic, economy, bank, and religious security. The special menace, as for inner security it is lobbyism. Cybernetic threat is today regarded as more dangerous than nuclear strike. The American lived through those experiences in Iraq. Another example is cyber attacks on Estonia in 2007 that swamped websites of Estonian organizations, including Estonian parliament, banks, ministries, newspapers and broadcasters.The attacks triggered a number of military organisations around the world (including NATO) to reconsider the importance of network security to modern military doctrine. There is a paradigm: the more modern country, the more risks are opened. The situation is complicated by the fact that in sophisticated society there is hard to identify attacking enemy. The author underlines that we are the last member nation in the EU that has no official CSIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Team) to react cyber /terrorist attracts. |
Nine Memories for the Czech Future (Illustrations Instead of Critiques)Book reviewVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 175-183 The book consists of papers by eleven authors, members and fellow members of the Centre for Social and Economy Strategy, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University Prague. At present, we must prepare to face socially unwelcome phenomena. We must arrange preventive projects, so that we could solve prospective crises. The authors therefore pay their attention to methodology of crisis scenarios, or how they are to be prepared. Predicted nine worst-case scenarios anticipate prolonged crises, failure in education policy, rise of extremism, climate changes, energy collapse, lack of international balance, and separation of the Czech Republic from Europe. |
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. |
The Strategic Control of Czech Republic Defence: a Part of National SecurityReviewedIng. Vladimír KrulíkVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 3-22 One of most discussed themes in this field is also a critique of unfinished, non-stable structure of master documents, e.g. Security Strategy of the Czech Republic. They are often told to be obsolete. The latest document, the White Paper on Defence, Critical responses are not quite justified. There are a lot of good ideas, innovations. Many things have been done, many set tasks have been met at the level of Defence Ministry. Positive effects of results reached are obvious. They are summarized in the White Paper mentioned above. The only danger lies in arbitrary decisions by political management, including employing variable means of their implementation, wanton interpretation of leading defence principles, low respect to approved strategical decisions. We must name mentioned handicaps as a first step towards the real and true remedy. |
Bedřich Reicin: Criminal and VictimBook reviewVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 167-171 The new book by historian František Hanzlík "Without Mercy and Compassion" deals with a prominent actor of the Czechoslovak People's Army and the Communist Party. His personality unites anti-Nazi fight in Soviet Russia, communist coup d'état in February 1948, monstrous political trials. He reached the height of career when he became Deputy Defence Minister and aspired to the position of Defence Minister. But in 1950, when Czech president's son-in-law Alexej Čepička held this office, his rapid decline began. In a sense, it was the start of his end. |
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. |
Clarifying the Notion of Direct Participation in Hostilities (The Protection of Civilians)Military lawRNDr. Marek Jukl, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 168-180 International humanitarian law hinges on the principle of the distinction between combatants, whose function is to conduct hostilities during armed confl ict, and civilians, who are presumed not to be directly participating in the hostilities and, therefore, entitled to full protection from attack. They lose this protection only if, and for as long as they "directly participate in hostilities". After several years of expert discussions and research, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has published the Interpretive Guidance, which aims to clarify the meaning and consequences of direct participation in hostilities under international humanitarian law (IHL). This article is devoted to the explanation of this notion. The presented interpretation follows the Interpretative Guidance published this year. |
Military Decision-making Process and Advanced Methods of Managerial DecisionsMilitary artIng. Pavel Zůna, MSSVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 22-37 The problem of forming military decisions lies in the very core of this article. Among others, there are a lot of highly unpredictable impact factors; there are many assessment criteria for individual variants of solving problems. Criteria of qualitative characters, and various interpretations of data information demand quality decisions; they are sometimes difficult to understand and even contradictory. The commanders and their staffs must be well educated, trained and experienced. To meet this precondition we must ensure quality of career training, supported by practical experiences. The staff work must be practiced regularly, with the use of various scenarios, supplemented by historical studies of past or recent fi ghts and battles. |
Decision-making and Planning in Defence DepartmentMilitary artPplk. Ing. Radek DubecVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 38-46 The article familiarizes readers with theoretical assumptions of planning and strategical decisionmaking in Defence Department and Czech armed forces. The author finds connections and similarities among others with public sector and civilian structures tied with budget spending. The strategical level of planning is a highly complicated and expert procedure. At present, planning process in defence department, within MoD sector, is specifi ed by the Order of Defence Minister No. 33, 2004. In this document, there are highly elaborated principles and rules of planning of activities and development implemented in defence sector. The article is based upon papers and reports presented at the Defence Sources Course, MIDMC 2001-06, Resources Management Institute, USA, held at the Military Academy Brno in 2001, and documents dealing with managerial problems. |
General Podhajský: Cruel History of the Romanticized Period of Pre-war Czech Army Build-upBook reviewB. PernicaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 168-170 It is a review of the book by Col. Ing. Josef Fučík (ret.), the former member of advisory board to this magazine. Pre-war Czechoslovakia was a parliamentary republic, typical for its instability. In 1918-1938 a total of 18 governmental administrations superseded, there were 11 defence ministers. Sometimes this position was hold by the prime minister. The same was with the position of Chief of the Main Staff of Czech forces. In 19191939 five generals were replaced, two French and three Czechoslovak. One of them was Alois Vácslav Podhajský, who held this position only for a short time, from September 1 to October 14, 1926. As an "old Austrian soldier", he went through many nuisances and sorrows both in pre-war army and namely after World War II. |
Predictive Methodology in Intelligence ServicesReviewedBc. Petr ZelinkaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 29-39 This article aims at building a bridge upon a gap, which separates academic sphere and intelligence community in the issue of predictive methodology. The author tries to accomplish this objective by presenting intelligence predictive methods based on open-source literature research. First, the question of uncertainty and probability in prediction is introduced (Cynefin template). Then follows basic introduction to predictive methods in civil and military intelligences, so that the reader might grasp the fundamentals of early warning systems. The academics and above all journalists should know the risks and perils in forming intelligence forecasts, estimates, foresight and warning scenarios, e.g. the so-called Black Swan scenario, the author explains potentials failures of the Delphi method. This study ought to be regarded as an introductory to predictive intelligence concurrently done by governmental agencies for purposes of national security and defence. |
Main Methods of Intelligence Analysis and Ways of its EvaluatingMilitary artMgr. Miroslav KalousVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 24-32 The article presents six more or less structured analytical methods that are or could be employed in intelligence analysis. This type of analysis, one part of the intelligence cycle, is understood as "the process of evaluating data for reliability, validity, and relevance; integrating and analysing it; converting the product of this effort into a meaningful whole, which includes assessment of events and implications of the information collected". The set of presented methods includes: link analysis, opportunity analysis, analogy, linchpin analysis, analysis of competing hypothesis and alternative scenarios. The study doesn't stop with presenting those methods; it also explains which type of reasoning (inductive, deductive or abductive) is used when working with each particular method. In broad terms, the article tries to shed light on intelligence analysis and its specifics. The reader should obtain better understanding their usefulness in the daily work of intelligence analyst. |
Criminalization and Religious Radicalization in Chechnya as Two Main Streams of Development after 1996 and their Influence on Terrorism in Subsequent ConflictInformational pagesBc. Martin JankůVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 123-137 The article deals with the disintegration and erosion of originally cohesive Chechen resistance movement during the First Chechen War and following inter-war period. According to the author, the main reasons of this process are criminality and religious fundamental radicalisation. They together produced inner confl icts between fi eld commanders; some of them attacked Russian security forces in neighbouring regions (Dagestan, Ingushetia), even after war had ended. Disintegration processes were encouraged by social deprivation after the first war, by strategical position of Chechnya in relation to smuggling drugs and weapons, stealing rude oil, and fi nally activities of foreign Islamic solidarity fi ghters. All those factors signifi cantly contributed to the outbreak of the Second Chechnya War. |
The New Role of IntelligenceMilitary artPlk. Ing. Miroslav Šuhaj, Ph.D., doc. Ing. Oldřich Horák, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 37-42 The article points out the altered role of intelligence and counterintelligence under the conditions of new security threats and relevant problems of intelligence analysis. Authors compare the theories of the orthodox and revisionist intelligence schools dealing with the detection of surprise attacks and finally outlines solutions related to the training of intelligence analytics. Orthodox views are as follows: surprising attacks are inevitable, such attacks will succeed as they are unpredictable, complex and sophisticated; reformists say that too much attention is paid to various failures, there are many cases in which intelligence prevention was successful. Threat analyses are very complicated; hints are not clear, ambiguous. New threats must be examined and eliminated with cooperation with other force branches, police, integrated rescue system, and others. Last but not least, there is indispensable role of preparation and schooling of intelligence officers. |
Is Building a Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone in the Near East Feasible?Informational pagesJUDr. Miroslav TůmaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 65-72 The establishment of nuclear-free zones in various regions covers roughly 110 countries and thus helps to the final aim--freeing of the world of nuclear, biological and chemical arms. Nuclear-free zones are suitable counterpart to other institutions to stop proliferation of nuclear weapons and the threat of its usage: Non-Proliferation Treaty, Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, Chemical Weapons Convention, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Near East is high, the main obstacle lies in different attitudes of key actors to the successive operations: whether to create peaceful arrangement among all involved states as a first step (proposed by Israel), or preferably to renounce atomic weapons (proposed by Arabic countries). The author suggests rethinking security interests in the Near East, to remove deployment of nuclear weapons from military doctrines, to concentrate on soft security to bolster up mutual trust, to create security guarantees and transparency in the region. |
Teaching Listening Comprehension: Its Implications for Foreign Languages AcquisitionLanguage preparationKpt. Ing. Petra Vráblíková, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 90-100 The authoress surveys recent research into how people acquire languages and considers its relevance for language teaching. She describes the most important studies and ideas about language acquisition. The method mentioned above is element. If we compare it with other language skills, i.e. reading, writing, speaking, it is above all listening that is used most. But to acquire sufficient proficiency, learners must cover a long way. Language teaches should do it for students the most pleasant as possible. Listening in language classrooms is being assessed, according to levels of students' understanding contents. The authoress familiarizes readers with several ways of teaching by principles that are in fact interactive approaches to learning foreign languages. We may use forecasts, news, listen radios, watch films in target language, be in touch with native speakers. It is reccomended to write down new word power, according to set context. |
A European Way of "Humane Security"ReviewedIng. Vladimír Karaffa, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 3-10 Many people in the world lead intolerably insecure lives. In many cases insecurity is the consequence of armed conflicts in which civilians are deliberately targeted, sometimes, their insecurity has natural causes, like earthquakes, hurricane, tsunami or disease, they suffer from famine. Security is a broader term, covering not only military threats. Human rather than nation-state security should be at the heart of European policy. Instead of defeating enemies or pacifying warring parties, EU missions should focus on protecting civilians, through law enforcement with the occasional use of force. EU member states ought to support a new framework for the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). The following seven principles are underlined: (i) the primacy of Human Rights, (ii) clear political authority, (iii) multilateralism, (iv) a bottom-approach, (v) regional focus; (vi) the use of legal instruments, (vii) the appropriate use of force. In fact, underlines Mr. Karaffa, humane security concept forms the very base of common European culture and identity. |
Pretesting at the Faculty of Education, Masaryk University (STANAG 6001 Tests)Language preparationMgr. Helena Rýlichová, Mgr. Sonia ŠamalíkováVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 124-127 In October 2008, language knowledge was pretested at the Department of English Language and Literature at the Faculty of Education at the Masaryk University in Brno. The test was developed in accordance with NATO Standardization Agreement 6001 by the examiners of the Defense Language Institute (DLI) of the Czech Army in Vyškov. It covered listening comprehension and reading comprehension tests at SLP 1-2 levels. The tests were organized on behalf of the Department of English Language and Literature by Mgr. Ivana Hrozková and Mgr. Sonia Šamalíková (former Director of DLI Methodology and Testing Department) with a total of 80 students participated in the pretest. The outcomes of such cooperation reiterate the importance of strong ties between both institutions in the field of methodology and testing. |
Will Urgent Appeals of Former US Politicians Raise Support?Opinions, controversyJUDr. Miroslav TůmaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 52-57 Two retired American foreign ministers (state secretaries) G. P. Shultz, Henry Kissinger, former defence secretary William Perry, former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Sam Nunn, signed the proclamation calling for freeing the world of nuclear weapons, eliminating nuclear weapons. The author of this article presents himself as their strong supporter. Among others, for two years, they have been explaining their views on pages Wall Street Journal. Several proclamations were issued in conjunction with the conference remembering Top Summit at Reykjavik where the INF treaty was signed by Mr. Gorbachev and Mr. Reagan. Their appeals contain practical measurements: lowering numbers of atomic warheads, START I prolongation, extended time of atomic warning, revoking plans for mass retaliation, common multilateral antiballistic defence, measures against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, opening dialog between the US and Russia to create a joint alert system and to work together to prevent catastrophic nuclear terrorist attacks. |
Reflective Principles and Teaching Foreign LanguagesLanguage preparationKpt. Ing. Petra Vráblíková, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 121-130 This article deals with the problem of theoretical base of reflective teaching methods and illustrates practical examples and recommendations of experienced language teachers. In detail it explains the structure and principles of this educational concept, and defines differences from regular teaching methods. The authoress explains both teaching and learning through critical reflection practice, how to develop critically engaged learners. She explains how to gather information on students in class in charge, and enumerates questions to be answered. Reflective thinking by means of feedback enriches both students and teachers. "Reflective" teachers are able to monitor, criticize and defend their own activities, planning, implementation and assessment language programmes and instructions. fl |
Do We Really Understand the Current Epidemic of Suicide Terrorist Attacks? (An attempt at systemization of terrorism concept)Nonreviewed - OtherDoc. Ing. Štefan Danics, Ph.D., PaedMgr. et ThMgr. Leoš TučekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 18-30 Terrorism threatens to attack and destroy the open democracy, but what is terrorism? The main aim of this essay is to formulate some proposals of a minimal operational definition tied with terrorism, as well as a definition of terrorist attack with the ambition to surpass a possibility of an ambiguous construction in the field of semantical research. Terrorism is usually described as unlawful violent activism targeted against civilians or against civilian targets with the aim of achieving political, religious, ideological and other goals. It presents wellconsidered ways of production and fructification of fear that are applied on civilian targets. A terrorist attack communicates devastatingly as a pure act of violence inside the psychosomatic structure of its recipients (victims). The new terrorism after 9/11 attacks could be characterized by fanaticism and the impending danger of arms of mass destruction. It is a culture of death. |
Ethic Argumentation Structures Used in Discussion over the War in IraqOpinions, controversyPplk. Mgr. Tomáš HolubVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 79-103 The main theme of this extensive paper is ethical evaluation of the state of affairs in Iraq that would play greater role - directly or indirectly - in the decision-making of foremost politicians, more role then we might think. Although the author quotes various positive or negative attitudes towards the war, he does not intend to prove or refute presented theses. He broadly treats e.g. the so-called just-war, events when imminent threat might be a case for war, moral clarity in a time of war, situations when we consider that our aims might be achieved by peaceful means. Last but not least, he writes about attitudes of church leaders, the Holy See, lines of their reasoning. The armed forces are called upon to do their duty. The greater the threat, the grater is the risk of inaction, the more compelling the case for taking anticipatory actions. In such case, the governments make their final decisions. It is not the responsibility of church-leaders or military commanders. To obey it, it would not be in conflict with the churches teaching. In these circumstances, the troops could regard an order to go to battle as morally decent, in pursuit of a moral good purpose. |
Shared Values of Organization and their Influence on Efficiency and EffectivenessNonreviewed - ResearchIng. Eva Vincencová, prap. Kateřina StrnadováVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 208-221 Thispaperdealswiththeareaof organization values or to say it better, by organisation culture, including its importance for overall efficiency and effectivity. It is a set of values, norms, beliefs, attitudes, assumptions. The authoresses explain those terms, cite their definitions. They underline the fact that highly motivated servicemen are the real assets for our forces. We have to do our best to recruit them, to set up such quality of military life, so that they would like to serve for longer periods. |
Case Study of the Application of Hazard & Impact Index MethodMilitary professionalNpor. Ing. David Řehák, Ph.D., prof. Ing. František Božek, CSc., plk. prof. Ing. Aleš Komár, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 147-153 The primary aim of the method Hazard & Impact Index (H&I Index) is to enable the commander to evaluate possible negative impacts of military exercise on environment, and quickly and in an operative way interpret whether intended military activities can be a threat to the conditions or surroundings, in which the units are employed. The authors propose several tables for the comparison of environmental groups (soils, forests, climates) with forces movements. The method still undergoes the development. The evaluated numbers are set only for a mechanized company of the Army of the Czech Republic in our local surrounding. But in the near future the authors predict its extension to all organic units of NATO stationed in European continent. The article is a sequel to the article by the same authors in Vojenské rozhledy, No 1 /2006. |
The Methods of Preventive Evaluation of Risks in Military Training (Hazard & Impact Index)Military professionalNpor. Ing. David Řehák, Ph.D., plk. prof. Ing. Aleš Komár, CSc., prof. Ing. František Božek, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 150-159 In fact, we have no universal method for evaluating impacts and protection of nature during military exercises and training. Establishing Environmental Training Group (NATOTraining Group/Army-Sub-Group) revolutionized the ways in which hazards were defined and analyzed to help communities protect themselves against these perils. Newly developed Training Impact Matrix/ Hazard & Impact Index methods enable truly to assess environmental dangers of military materials, vehicles, activities, energy consumption, and their impacts on important localities. Many features of above mentioned methods were introduced by Czech representatives in 2000 at Aachen (Germany). The index of environmental acceptability was further elaborated by Czech experts, among others by the authors of this article. It enables set levels of environmental dangers, their impacts, independently from organic structure of national forces, or individual countries. The article is accompanied by tables, mathematical formulas and patterns of calculation risk categories. |
Methodological Comment to the Theory of State Defence EconomicsNonreviewed - ResearchProf. PhDr. František Ochrana, DrSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 40-46 The main aim of this essay is more to open the way for solving methodological problems, point to directions defence economics ought to follow, rather than to find easy answers to all of them. That is the ver y theme of Economy Depar tment of Facult y of Economics and Management, Defence University Brno. It is the base for defence economy, constituted as a science discipline. |
Will the Economy, Effectiveness and Efficiency Get Ahead in Defence Sector?Nonreviewed - ResearchIng. Jiří DušekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 87-103 Those three E are much in use both in official documents and mass media. Dozens of defence officials use them every day, but actual outputs present that they do not know the key essence of 3E, or they are not aware of how to put them into practice. This article would like to help them to make understand the practical application of basic principles of 3E in practise. The reason of this gap, according to the author, lies in insufficient ties between theoretical and executive spheres of defence sector. |
Nekolik poznamek k testovaniPhDr. Vlasta NepivodováVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2005, Vol. XIV. (XLVI.): 121-125 |
Implementace zavazku mezinarodniho prava humanitarniho v dobe miruJUDr. Jiří Fuchs, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2005, Vol. XIV. (XLVI.): 69-76 |
Padesatileti ctvrte svetove valkyPhDr. Miloš Balabán, Ph.D., PhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2005, Vol. XIV. (XLVI.): 127-138 |

