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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. |
Major General in Memoriam František SkokanPersonal datadr. Zdeněk VališVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 168-172 After graduating from Military Academy Hranice, Lt. Skokan was stationed in Slovakia. When the former Czechoslovakia was divided, he returned to his native Czech lands. The Czech army was dissolved, so he left for France and then he moved to England. He was transferred to Soviet Russia, to Czech Field Brigade. He took part in battles of o Kiev, Vasilkov, White Cerkev, Zhashkov, and even Dukla battlefield. He was decorated by two Czechoslovak War Crosses 1939, Bravery Medal, and the Russian Order of Patriotic War. After WWII he was excluded from Soviet military academy, mustered out, later arrested and executed. After 18 years he was partially rehabilitated, in 1998 he was promoted to the rank of Major General and granted the Medal for Courage in memoriam. |
NATO Common Funding as a Tool for Cohesion Enhancement and Ability to ActMilitary artIng. Josef Procházka, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2012, Vol. XXI. (LIII.): 25-34 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.21.2012.04.025-034 In the past, the Common Funding played only marginal role in the NATO strategic decision-making. However, this situation changed significantly when the global economic crisis challenged the national public expenditures and NATO defence policy became a matter of serious reflections. NATO should balance its requirements with limited resources and adjust its future activities within shrinking budgets. NATO must make hard decisions and implement reforms in order to ensure its ability to fulfil its mission and priority tasks in the long run. The reconfiguration of Common Funding is an inherent part of this process. The aim of this article is to introduce Common Funding as a management-supporting tool of the international organisation under currently mounting resource constrains. |
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. |
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 | DOI: 10.3849/2336-2995.21.2012.03.003-016 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. |
The Czech Republic and Its Participation in European Military Transport OrganizationsInformational pagespplk. Ing. Martin Rejzek, Ph.D., pplk. Ing. Luděk HradeckýVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 83-93 The NATO Washington Summit in 1999 discussed Defence Capability Initiatives to increase Alliance defence potential together with capacities for accelerated deployability and mobility of NATO forces. This fact was underlined during Prague Summit 2002. One of Prague Capabilities Commitments is the requirement of deployability and sustainability in operations. Among others, this requirement is met by Memorandum of Understanding and bilateral agreements. The Czech Republic is involved in activities of international organizations, enumerated in this article. We support a principle of specialization, the concentration to limited, part-time scale of transport capacities operating for Czech peacekeeping missions. Active participation in the Movement Coordination Centre Europe could be the leading pattern for synergic cooperation in the field of strategic transport. |
Emerging New Threats in Unstable WorldReviewedPhDr. Miloš Balabán, Ph.D., prof. PhDr. Martin Potůček, CSc., MSc., PhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 3-21 The article identifies new threats of global character influencing global security and quality of life. The inspiration is drawn from the debate over proposed updated Czech security strategy 2011, where several security scenarios were drafted. It is a free sequel to the study "Wild Cards in Future Development of World Security" published in this review in No. 2, 2008. The titles of some chapters are as follows: The Collapse of World's Monetary System and Global Economic Warfare, Crisis of Global Government, The Shortage of Key Commodities (oil, gas, coal, raw materials, water, foodstuffs), Migration, Organized Crime, European Union prior to Disintegration, The Crisis of NATO, New Religions, Will Rich People Live Longer?, etc. |
Does China Conquer Also Europe? (Reflections over Security Analyses and Prognoses)Informational pagesPhDr. Miloš Balabán, Ph.D., PhDr.Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 94-102 The gravity of this article is laid down on the present-day state of affairs. China bought Spanish, Portuguese, and Greek obligations, i.e. China lent a hand to those countries (so did the European Union). In this way, China increased its influence in Europe. Stabilized Europe is necessary for Chinese export, it was not mere charity. Defence expenditures of People's China has reached 100 billions USED a year. Supposing the Chinese are intended to reach world's domination, they should stick to this kind of policy and they should not try to acquire the dominance by armed force. China behaves like an asymmetric power, knowing well that it can't surpass the U.S. by arms. China does not want to repent Russian mistake to be "over-armed" by America in futile arms race. Still, there is plenty of free space to compete with the U.S., e.g. cosmic or space competition, computer and Internet technologies. |
EU Battle Groups' Deployability in ESDP OperationsMilitary artIng. Jaroslav KulíšekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 31-58 Factors such as distance, destination, deployment demands, duration, represent key elements to determine logistics requirements. The EU BG concept necessitates considerable strategic air/sea lift and combat support capabilities, since EU battle groups are to be able to be deployed almost anywhere in the world, primarily in Africa. They have to deploy both troops and materiel simultaneously to its mission areas. Strategic airlift is the fastest way of deploying troops over long distance. The main challenge for the EU is therefore availability giant airplanes. A lack of suitable European transport crafts in EBalabáuropean airlift fleet is the Achilles heel to the EU BG Concept. The problem is that all aircraft available have only limited payload capacities and flying range. Although deploying by sea is more time consuming than deploying by air, EU member states have more ships available for strategic sea transport. The strict deployment deadline set down in the EU BG Concept means that ships and crews will have to be held at very high readiness. |
NATO and Russia at the End of First Decade of 21st Century: Mistrust, Common Interests, Co-operation?Informational pagesPhDr. Miloš Balabán, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 89-99 Relations between NATO and the Russian Federation are one of key factors influencing overall policy of the whole North Atlantic Alliance. They are complicated and sophisticated questions still predisposed by the heritage of the Cold War.But there are mutual fears, common security problems they both have to counter. NATO policy must be established upon present-day reality. It is self-evident that there are common fields of common interests in which mutual balance must be reached. There are among others: armament, preventing arms proliferation, halting proliferation of nuclear, biological and chemical agents, antimissiles defence, counter-terrorism, drugs smuggling, open sea security, common peace operations. After two years the Russian-Georgia war started, military cooperation between Russia and NATO was re-established. Separate problem in midterm prospects presents the solving of conflict in Afghanistan. |
The War Hero Has Gone Away: Major General (ret.) Ing. Antonín PetrákPersonal dataVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 158-161 As a young army lieutenant he left for France to fight against hated German invaders. In Great Britain, he spontaneously enrol for the fight behind the front lines, but because of his pedagogical capabilities he became an instructor of airborne troops in the so-called Special Training Schools organized by British SOE. In Scottish Traigh House, the main training facility of Czechoslovak paratroopers, he worked as a translator, combat instructor, and even the commander of combat course. In 1944 he took over the position of brigade company commander of supporting arms, Czech Armoured Division. After landing in Northern France, he took part in many fights and was decorated by several Czech and British medals and orders. After war he started to study at the High War School designated for the future high-ranking officers. After coup d'etat in 1948 he was discharged from the army and sentenced to Working Camp for the former army officers Mírov. In 1959 he was arrested again for the letter informing Czechoslovak authorities about conditions in this working camp. After November 1989 he was rehabilitated and gradually promoted to the rank of Major General. After the division of Czechoslovakia he became the chairman of Legionary Community in Slovakia. |
Economic Aspects of the Acquisition in Defence DepartmentInformational pagesIng. Aleš OlejníčekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 88-99 This essay depicts he alternative approach to investments in public sector. Author expresses his belief on evaluating and rating investments in public sector in the same way as in private sector. The simple theoretical analysis and foreign experiences give enough evidence about feasibility of such approach even in defence sector. Nowadays, in governments across the world, public-sector financial systems are being transformed more fundamentally than at any time in decades. The changes are taking place to respond to a number of deficiencies of government accounting and financial-management system. Foreign experience has proved that a system of output appropriation provides a workable alternative to the traditional input-based system and can yield substantial advantages for both departmental management and government decision makers. |
Ten Years Since We Joined NATONonreviewedPhDr. Zdeněk BorkovecVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 23-28 This year we marked the 10th anniversary of our full membership in NATO. We've verified that the nation can become a "full fledged member" in eight or ten years at earliest. Signing the treaty, you became "only" a freshman. You must learn everything, from "consensus building" to forming informal coalition. The author of this article, Deputy of the Czech Permanent Representative to NATO, summarizes the history of fulfilling the membership's prerequisites and following difficult process of implementation of fundamentals and requirements, e.g. the so-called NATO legal acquis (Status of Forces Agreement), Planning and Review Process, setting Force Goals, fixing Identification Friend or Foe on Mi-21 aircraft assigned for Air Policing, problems with developing home infrastructure for Host Nation Support. We joined common security planning, took part in NATO Security Investment Programme and Conference of National Armaments Directors. But today's organization is quite different that used to be, the role and missions have changed. We must be prepared to meet them too. |
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. |
A Look at Our Army Ten Years AgoHistory pagesPhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 173-184 At that time, the base for plural societies in Eastern Europe was founded. Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary joined NATO defence alliance. Serious global threats of economic, military, ecology, social, ethnic, religious, criminal characters were lasting. The important question of proliferation of mass destruction weapons was raised. The analyses of security situations in Europe and the World respectively proved that armed conflicts were mostly internal, in a form of civic wars, but demographically endangering bordering countries. Those threats were only discussed, namely nobody fully realized the threat of terrorism. Defence budgets were reduced, all people wanted to profit from the so-called peace dividends. Czech army was loyal to the state; it was not misused in inner political conflicts, which was regarded as something normal by the majority of Czech public. But there were many problems left, especially the role and engagement of the ACR in the following century. |
EUFOR Starts in Africa the Most Demanding Military Operations in EU History (Operation EUFOR Tchad/RCA)Informational pagesPplk. Ing. Jaroslav PrůchaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 100-107 The situation in Chad, republic in north central Africa, could be characterized by permanent political instability. Its population consists of numerous ethnic groups. Arab peoples are important in the north and east, and black African peoples dominate in the south, estimated population of Chad is nearly 10 million, with 250,000 refugees, 190,000 internally displaced persons, 40,000 persons live in camps. The area of planned operation is three times larger then the area of the Czech Republic. On 25 September 2007, the Security Council, by its resolution 1778, approved the establishment in Chad and the Central African Republic, in concert with the European Union, of a multidimensional presence intended to help create the security conditions conducive to a voluntary, secure and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons. The multidimensional presence shall include a United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). It is going to be the largest military operation of the EU outside European territory. |
Operation EUFOR RD CONGO (Preparation, Planning, and Forming Forces for Operation)Military artPplk. Ing. Jaroslav KulíšekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 35-56 This article covers the EUFOR RD Congo operation preparation phase and provides information on Military Strategic Planning Process, Military Operational Planning, Collaborative Planning, EU OHQ Potsdam activation and Force Generation Process. It describes planning period to highlight a pivotal role of training and education. Operation EUFOR RD CONGO was the EU second military intervention in the RDC, following Operation Artemis in 2003. The EUFOR RD CONGO mission was to support MONUC during running election process, in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1671, authorizing the temporary deployment of an EU force in the RDC. The views expressed in this assessment are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of EU Military Structure or the Czech MoD. All information and data for this paper were drawn from unclassified sources. |
Social Security in Representative NATO Armies and their ComparisonsInformational pagesKpt. Ing. Veronika Mazalová, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 68-85 In NATO, here are many common items in welfare benefits, and there are different ones. Authoress depicts military social welfare in the CR, Slovakia, Germany, France, Poland, Hungary. The final part of this article compares systems of military benefits of mentioned countries. The authoress enumerates various conditions to be fulfilled, so that soldiers were entitled for welfare or retirement benefits. In nearly all countries, veteran?s pensions are regarded as the substitute for deferred, postponed pay. Retirement pays have its source in the last soldier?s salary. In the Czech Republic, retirement pays are based upon serviceman?s average best income in a calendar year, before he leaves the army, the time he served in the army, and its real income. Czech veteran?s social security scheme is separated from general (civil) social security system, as there some special military benefits that can?t be taken over by civil authorities. |
Foreign and Security Policy of the Russian Federation at the End of the First Decade of the XXIst Century and its Anticipated DevelopmentInformational pagesPhDr. Miloš Balabán, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 79-93 The study analyzes the key features of Russian policies in the late 2000s and their prospective developments. It is above all the rise of Russia's economic power, boosted by the favourable rising trend of energy prices (oil and gas) that has helped to resume again the position of one of the key world powers, obsessively pursuing its geopolitical interests in a new emerging multipolar world. This also determines its relations with other major global actors, e.g. the U.S., the EU, and China (outlined in this article). As far as military budget is concerned, it is increasing. Russia has overcome a long period of stagnancy. After 2007, they re-established strategical patrol flights off Russian territory; great effort is aimed at power projection, as a means to secure natural resources beyond Russian boarders. The study is closed by Russia's geopolitical prospects till the year 2020. and its Anticipated Development |
Another True Hero Has Gone Away: Major General (ret.) Miloš Knorr, M.B.EPersonal dataVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 180-181 E. Mr. Knorr came from the family with pedagogical background, his father was a principal in a small Moravian town Ivančice. He acquired flawless knowledge of French and German, which was very useful after he emigrated in 1940. In France he became a personal adjutant to Division Commander. After the fall of France, in Britain, apart from other military occupations, he took a position of paratrooper drill instructor. In June 1944, his ship of the second invasion wave was hit by Germans and wrecked. No Czechoslovak soldier took part in invasion; in this second wave he was one of three. In Europe he interviewed captured German soldiers, dressed in English uniforms. He was decorated by the Order of the British Empire (MBE). In his second emigration after in 1948 he joined American CIC agency. In 1954 he left this service and started to work for the Insurance Company of North America. In 1995, by the order of the Czech president, he was promoted to the rank of Major General. |
Capt. Leo Class (ret.) - Veteran of World War IIPersonal dataDr. Petr MajerVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 190-191 As many others, after the break of WWII, in 1940 he fled via Hungary to Yugoslavia. He joined the French Foreign Legion so that he could receive a visa to Alepa, capitol of Syria. But situation quickly changed. France lost war with Nazi Germany and Czechoslovak armed group moved to Gedera (Israel). After several reorganisations and fights in Egypt, his infantry unit was redeployed to England. There he was assigned to tank troops. At the battle of Dunkerque (France) he was injured and it was necessary for him to be hospitalised. He underwent through several hospitals in France and Belgium. After his return to Czechoslovakia he was assigned to unit that took care of UNRRA, they protect and guarded food and deliveries of military surplus. In 1948-1968 he worked in mechanic and engineering industry (ČKD Praha); in 1968, the year of Russian invasion, he left his country and asked for asylum in Austria. With the help of his uncle he found employment in steel works in Chicago (USA). He was decorated by many state/departmental medals, e.g. Czechoslovak War Cross 1939, or Medal for Bravery, etc. |
Location of Antiballistic Base as a Strategic ChoiceOpinions, controversyPhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 48-54 Antiballistic defence systems could be defined as a secondary defensive response to ballistic threats, against existing, projected or planned ballistic military hardware. In a way, it is a sort of deterrence weapon, because such defence discourages opponents form the development of offensive missiles. The author of this article, the former deputy defence minister, Maj-Gen. (ret), specifies three relevant antimissiles system: ALTBM-NATO Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence; NATO MD-NATO Missile Defence; and USA MD-USA Missile Defence. The purpose of American antiballistic defence is to counterbalance potential strokes by limited numbers of ballistic missiles, blasted off from both enemy and rogue states and those launched by accident. Allegedly, the Iranians are developing ballistic missiles with the range of 4,000 km. With the reference to the fact that the distance Prague-Teheran is about 3,400 km, and such missiles could constitute an eminent danger even for the Czech Republic, not only for the continental United States, this issue is widely discussed in Czech mass media. |
Without Guilty Sentence (Military Eliminative Camp Mírov)History pagesPhDr. Vališ ZdeněkVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 165-189 In Czechoslovakia, the "labour camps" came into existence under the Act 247 of October 25, 1948. They were camps for those who had not committed any crime, but ought to have been isolated from other civilian public. The sentences: "... the said person has no positive attitude to current regime" or "shows no interest in joining the Communist Party" constituted the reasons for 10 to 24 months of imprisonment. "Offenders" were not sent to labour camps by courts, but only under the prescription issued by "prescription committee", at the level of local and regional "national authorities". A total of 23,000 people went through those camps, as a cheap labour force, taken from among "class enemies". The special position among those camps had military camp of hard labour Mírov, designated for the former commissioned and warrant officers who fought during WWII not only on western but also on eastern fronts. In 1949-1950, there were six roundups (Action D) in which the former "bourgeois" officers were arrested by mixed teams of State Security and Military Intelligence guards; in fact, many times even in the contradiction with the then effective laws and regulations. |
Vyzbrojovani ozbrojenych sil vybranych evropskych zemi - vyvoj a perspektivykpt. Ing. Jan ValouchVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2004, Vol. XIII. (XLV.): 66-78 |
Ekonomicky management a hodnotove rizeni v ACRIng. Svatopluk KuncVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2005, Vol. XIV. (XLVI.): 15-32 |
Generalmajor v. v. Milos Knorr - veteran druhe svetove valkyPlk. v.v. Petr MajerVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2005, Vol. XIV. (XLVI.): 169-171 |
Reforma verejnych rozpoctu a hospodareni ACRDoc. Ing. Jiří Strnádek, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2004, Vol. XIII. (XLV.): 16-27 |
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