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The Relative Leverage of Combat PowersMilitary artIng. Jaroslav KulíšekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 74-85 The overall purpose of this paper is to describe the way the Alliance and the also the Czech Army is going to apply the leverage of powers while conducting operations in the future. The article shows in details that the relative combat power analysis requires an assessment of factors either directly or indirectly affecting the potential outcome of the operation. In order to improve military knowledge and operational thinking within the Czech Army it is recommended to improve the quality of officers' military training and personnel preparation in accordance with Czech MoD White Paper on Defence. The views expressed in this assessment are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of Alliance or the Czech Ministry of Defence. |
Public Procurements: Themes for Further Developing backed by White Paper on Defence in Connection with Governmental Assessment of Public ProcurementsInformational pagesProf. PhDr. František Ochrana, DrSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 105-117 The White Paper on Defence is a frame document that only points out main directions of military activities that further must be worked up in detail at all levels of defence department. This study presents all possible themes in the field of public procurements. As he set principles in the Whiter Paper correspond to those set in governmental document Public Procurements, it depends only on MoD experts to what measure they meet governmental requirements and implement them into drafted concept materials, incorporating rules for placing, assignment, rating, examination and audit. |
Islamism as a Security Threat to the Czech RepublicInformational pagesDoc. PhDr. JUDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 118-128 This paper deals with various forms of Islamist threats to the Czech Republic, with specific attention paid to military issues. It defines the basic terms and describes the role of the Czech Republic in Islamist strategies. Threats of terrorism and jihadism, extremism and riots, violation of women's rights, including the so-called "honour crimes", and internal clashes within the Muslim community are analyzed. Contemporary situation of the Czech Republic can be characterized mostly as "logistic area" to Islamism. Even thought there is not an eminent danger, the intensity of several Islamist threats could be higher in the future. The primary purpose of this article is to form a basic frame for identification of prospective terrorist attacks by means of extrapolation. |
Discovering Future as a ChallengeBook reviewVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 195-200 The identification of security threats and subsequent risks is the base on which we form security and military strategies. It is also the core of all security scenarios. That's why we must welcome all books dealing with futurology predictions, like The Cognition of Future as a Challenge by Martin Potůček at al, Karolinum, Charles University. He summarizes knowledge and experiences done by CESES, the only scholarly lab dealing systematically with drafting up visions and strategies the Czech state might be confronted with. The CESES is a Czech acronym, which stands for the Centre for Social and Economic Strategies, at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague. |
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. |
New Approaches to Long-term Defence Planning: Scenarios and Operational Concepts in the Future Security EnvironmentReviewed - ReviewIng. Vlastimil Galatík, CSc., pplk. gšt. Ing. Ivo Pikner, Ph.D., pplk. Ing. Miroslav KrčmářVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 23-28 The article explains defence planning of armed forces deployment that ought to by the base for all long haul visions and concept texts for army development and its operational employment. Operational scenarios and concepts form together key elements of defence planning process, both factors enable to military organizations not only to identify future security challenges but also to react to challenges in being. It is not contrary to the so-called capability planning process as this is a manly armed force potential backing our ability to face threads and risks in the future. The example of the United States involved in three asymmetric conflicts is a warning example showing the necessity of the complex and coordinated strategical approaches. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Private Military Companies (New Elements in Operational Environment)Military artIng. Jaroslav KulíšekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 71-96 This article deals with PMSCs as a relatively new phenomenon in warfare areas. It is open to discussion whether private military companies and the private contractors that they employ, should be treated just like any other transnational industry, or whether they should be treated like mercenaries under international law. As it happened in many countries, private companies and private contractors operate in a legal vacuum. From a strictly legal point of view individuals employed by private military companies are not to be considered as mercenaries. The private military industry offers a wide range of services. Procurement of military services by individuals and private firms has developed in a direction that had probably not been anticipated in previous years. Some military analysts say that the exclusive role of the state in the domain of defence and security is outdated and should be re-examined. |
The Participation of Civilians in Military Activities: Military-Governmental and Military-Industrial ComplexInformational pagesPodplukovník Ing. Bohuslav Pernica, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 101-113 The article deals with the problem of a certain militarization of a society, supposing country's military establishment is expanding its scope of activities to government or economy. From this point of view, the military and their civilian counterparts could be seen as "imperium in imperio" and such a model of military as a state within a state. There are a military-governmental complex and a military-industrial one in each state and both ought to be under civilian authorities' control, in order to prevent the democratic state from being fallen under influence of this complex. Although the notion was sketched more than fifty years ago, the military-industrial complex theory has been still living, and author gives some examples of the evolution of military-governmental and military-industrial complex. |
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. |
The Command Post Exercise "Good Neighbourhood 2010" (CPX GN 2010): Lessons and ExperiencesMilitary artIng. Ladislav Koláček, Ing. Petr RypVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 50-59 The exercise was a continuation of series of exercises that were conducted in previous years. Among others, participants of the CPX were representatives of Defence University Brno, National Defence Academy Vienna, Austria, and the Armed Forces Academy, Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia. During the exercise, in imaginary region POPRADLAND, there were practiced various basis aspects of forces preparations and engagement that focus on EU Battle Group in Area of Responsibility, explaining forming commander and staff's decision-making process at the level of Battalion Task Force, during operational planning and its engagement in action. At the end the Officer Conducting the Exercise certified that participants in the CPX fulfilled set goals and aims of this exercise sucessfully. The exercise was designated maily for members of Higher and Basic Command and Staff Courses. |
What Type of University Education for Military Professionals is Necessary?Opinions, controversyDoc. RNDr. Ladislav Halberštát, CSc., plk. Ing. Vladan Holcner, Ph.D, mjr. Ing. Pavel Foltin, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 60-70 The paper is a contribution to the ongoing discussion regarding training, drills and education of military personnel. It indicates a comprehensive solution of the issue both in national and international connection of the current approach to military vocations, life-long learning Vojenské rozhledy 1/2011 and expected deployment of the present-day armed forces. Using results of a research conducted within the Czech Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces, authors specify roles of individual stakeholders in the process of training and education in the military and define prerequisites of an effective military educational and training system. The authors treat this problem in context of the so-called National Qualification Framework, multinational project of EU member states Military Erasmus, activities conducted by European Security and Defence College (ESDC) and others. |
The Creation of Lowest Army Rank CorpsMilitary professionalPodplukovník Ing. Bohuslav Pernica, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 114-118 Army personnel are ranked according to level, from the lowest (privates, sergeants, WOs) to the highest (officers, generals). A total of 80 per cent of professional soldiers, in lowest ranks, are hired at labour market. They form the core of our military personnel, so that they have to be properly taken care of. But in ours, we have still the mentality of mass armies of cold-war period. There have been professional armed forces in the Czech Republic for more than five years, nevertheless the question how to build up the other rank corps is still opened. This article deals with this problem and the method how to cope with the need to form more professionalized NCOs. Broadly speaking, it is the question of the quality overpassing the quantity. Author insists that the British model of NCO's career path should be easily applied into the Czech Armed Forces to get rid of the obsolete recruiting related more to a model of conscription forces. |
Water Purification Done by Special Logistics Troops of Bundeswehr in AfghanistanMilitary professionalIng. Vladislav Vincenec, Ph.D., doc. Ing. Miroslav Cempírek, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2011, Vol. XX. (LII.): 119-127 The paper offers data on the water supply to Federal German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) combat units in the frame of ISAF operations. It explains new concept and technology of water purification and the exploration of natural water sources for BW water filling stations. Experiences have shown that clean water is of top priority especially in field missions such as that in Afghanistan. The systems of WTC 500, WTC 1600, WTC HS (High Salinity) and WTC container systems are able to prepare up to 15.000 litres of water supply every day. They are highly mobile, of friendly use, capable to work under rough climatic conditions. Built-in recycle systems could save as much as 60 per cent of operating costs. The water prepared by German purification stations is of high quality and meet both norms STANAG 2136 and WHO standards |
The Report by Madeleine Albright's Team and Its Wide-ranging Contexts ("Council of Wise Men" and Drawing up the Alliance's New Strategic Concept)ReviewedPhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 15-30 This concept has been preparing since the early 2009. In short, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation must be increasingly prepared to intervene far beyond its borders. In the coming decade, NATO will have four central inter-related military missions. The first requirement is to "deter, prevent and defend" against aggression, so as to ensure the political independence and territorial integrity of NATO member states. The report insists on the need to send out military missions beyond the treaty area "when required to prevent an attack on the treaty area or to protect the legal rights and other vital interests of Alliance members". Any expeditionary mission must be based on the principles of the UN charter. Another key item is to cooperate better with those partners, and others worldwide, in order to tackle the new threats posed by cyber attacks, piracy, arms proliferation and energy supply insecurity and climate change. However, in order to achieve the new goals, NATO "must halt the precipitous decline in national defence spending", and to introduce reforms to make spending more efficient. |
Evaluation and Certification CZE/SVK Battle Group EUMilitary artIng. Jaroslav KulíšekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 11-40 To fulfil Czech obligation as an EU Battle Group Framework Nation according to the regulating document EU BG Training and Certification, the Czech Army is to certify that the CZE/SVK Battle Group EU meet the standards and criteria stated in Standards and Criteria for EU BG. It is recommended that the CZE/SVK Battle Group EU certification process should be analogous with NATO Response Force (NRF) certification procedure and practical methods. Further it is suggested that the CZE/SVK Battle Group EU certification procedure is divided into several evaluation procedures: preparation planning evaluation, war-fighting evaluation, and technical evaluation. Each procedure will be developed by specialized teams with representatives in the sub-working group to ensure that the different procedures harmonize. 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 Ministry of Defence. All information and data for this paper were drawn from unclassified sources. The written sources are listed in the matrix above. |
Development and Preparation of Battle Groups EUMilitary artPplk. Ing. Jaroslav KulíšekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 30-50 The CPX Battle Group 2007 was the Strategic and Operational Studies Institute key exercise in the field of CZe/sVK Battle Group EU. It was aimed at increasing operational capability of the Higher Officers Courses attendants in conducting integrated expeditionary and network centric operations in asymmetric environment, in a rapid, mobile, flexible and versatile manner. The exercise was held in May and June, 2007, at the University of Defence Campus, Brno. The aim of this article is to present the latest developments of the rapidly deployable EU Battle Groups and provide better understanding to the complexities of setting up a multinational high-readiness unit for peace-support and crisis management. The author discusses some issues and problem of the concept, similarities and differences between the Battle Group Concept and the NRF, Headline Goal 2010, and some tactical issues related to the operations. Some alternative options on how to further develop this Battle Group Concept are proposed at the end of the study. |
Active Reserve of the Armed Forces of the Czech RepublicMilitary artMjr. Ing. Bohuslav VlčekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 67-73 The Active Reserve is part of the Reserves of the ACR and is formed according to provisions of the Czech Code of Law No. 585/2004, 220/1999 and regulations enumerated in this article. In 2005 the term "active reserve" was legally established. The numbers of soldiers was stabilized, in 2007, between 1087 to 1092 soldiers. Manning is the most successful in armour company (main battle tanks), where the numbers are met nearly by 100 per cent. The same is true about Recce Comp or MP units. There are differences among individual regions (Regional Military Commands) and military occupations: some units have zero increase in numbers. The author recommends concentrating more on younger age groups. Older age-groups should be used for more specialized activities, occupations, and proposes to analyze behaviour of those soldiers who finished active or reserve services, in case they would be call up under a state of emergency, as it might be very helpful for further development of the Active Reserve. |
The Foreign Legion and Teaching French for ForeignersInformational pagesPhDr. Jana Tomšů, plk. Ing. Pavel VobůrkaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 128-133 "Légion étrangere" is a unique elite unit within the French Army established in 1831. It was created as a unit for foreign volunteers. It is known as an elite military unit whose training focuses not only on traditional military skills, but also its strong esprit de corps, including learning French, as its men come from different countries with different cultures. Consequently, training is often described as not only physically hard, but also extremely psychologically stressful. Particular attention is given to the integration of the young recruits. Teaching of the French language occupies a central part of the training, and it is helped by the original training methods of the Legion, the Képi Blanc method, the authors describe in this in this article. They collected data on it during their visit to France (Fort de Nogent) in March 2007. During the four months of training, the Legionnaires work in small groups of two or three, composed of one French speaker and two foreigners. The French speaker helps his comrades when they have trouble understanding something, and part of his accomplishments in this training is assessed by the success of those he was tasked to help. |
Motivation as an Important Factor in Learning Foreign Languages (Gardner's socio-educational model)Military pedagogyKpt. Ing. Petra Vráblíková, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 168-174 What is motivation? In fact, motivation is the force behind doing something, including the desire, the need, the energy, and the actual doing of it. It is a combination of various factors. Motivations vary so much. In formal descriptions of the socio-educational model of language acquisition (Gardner), we define the whole class of variables as the social milieu. Individual differences regarded as the most eminent are as follows: intelligence, aptitude to learn foreign language, last but not least, and the pressure from social surrounding. Nowadays, the concept of integrative motivation is often referred to (Dorneyi) in discussions about the learning of another language. The present-day concept is drawn from real life, from social interactions that force a man to overcome his language barrier (Finegan). Instrumental motivation means better university/working rating, better financial reward (Sansone, Harackiewicz, Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation: The Search for Optimal Motivation and Performance). In spite of mentioned differences, motivation and successful acquisition of foreign language represent a complex outlet that could be tested and evaluated. |
The Results of Language Poll of Military ProfessionalsLanguage preparationPhDr. Mária Šikolová, PaedDr. Stanislava JonákováVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 150-154 In the last academic year (2005-2006), language instructors at the Defence Univerzity polled 673 respondents in order to find and analyze, among others, the relation between the length of their English studies and the STANAG levels they acquired. Another question they were involved is the age of respondents and the level of Standardized Language Profile. SPL level corresponds to the frequency of usage of English in their military practice. There are also relations among various types of English language: general English, technical English and military English. The latter is the most important for chiefs of staff, whereas technical English is more suitable for soldiers in lower ranks and specialists, less for members of military staffs. Those who took part in foreign missions reached higher level of language proficiency. |
Defence Language Institute Vyškov in 2007Language preparationMgr. Dalibor Cibulka, PhDr. Marie Jandová, CSc., Ing. Dana SzabováVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 155-158 Language instruction is an integral part of the training of military professionals and various experts of the Czech Ministry of Defence. An important contributor to this is the Defence Language Institute (DLI) in Vyškov. This article describes the principles of work being applied, at the present time, in the activities of the fundamental components of the DLI, the language instruction section and the methodics and testing section and the scope of this activity. It presents the volume and the results of language training in the ACR from 2003 to 2006, as well as new commitments that the DLI in Vyškov has for 2007. It acknowledges the significant growth in the number of the students in the language courses, and the specialization of the various courses according to the needs and tasking of the ACR. |
Autonomy and Self-instruction in Learning Foreign LanguagesLanguage preparationKpt. Ing. Petra Vráblíková, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 159-165 There are many methods/ways how to master foreign languages. Dickinson (1987) stresses that self-access learning is using materials in a self-instructed way to facilitate learning. This term is "neutral on how self-directed or other-directed the learners are". Students could choose to be either self-directed or tutor-directed learners. Seen in this light, tutor-guided schemes might be considered to be an appropriate device for students who opt for tutor-directed learning in the self-access learning centre. Among others, Benson (2001) describes selfaccess learning as dealing with the relationship between the self-access system and autonomy in learning which means learners organising the self-access learning resources and environments to interact with the process of their own learning. Despite the variations in defining self-access learning, all educators mentioned by Capt. Vráblíková acknowledge the important role that a learner plays in the language acquisition process in the self-access approach of learning and emphasise the promotion of autonomous learning in each individual through taking responsibility for his/her own learning. |
Humane Sources Available for Crisis Situations and DefenceMilitary professionalPplk. Ing. Bohuslav VlčekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 186-200 First, we must define applied terms, such as state of danger, emergency, state of state emergency, state of war, sovereignty, democratic principles. Our national reserve consists of compulsory reserves and active reserves. The author enumerates with the use of vast tablets and charts their numbers, together with numbers of military occupational specialities, and explains terms extraordinary service in time of eminent danger, during military exercises, in time of proclaimed state of emergency. He also cites numbers available for conscription (draft). Last but not least, he quotes arguments and conditions under which a reserve soldier can refuse call up order. Defence Act specifies all conditions of national military service, which also includes calling up women, except for those who are e.g. pregnant or are raising children up to age of 15 years. |
Variants of Manning Czech Armed Forces by Reserve Soldiers in Time of Danger or WarMilitary professionalPplk. Ing. Bohuslav VlčekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 169-174 Event though our forces are all-volunteer forces, in time of danger and war Czech citizens are bound to serve in armed forces, they biased to be drafted. In 1989 the total of 78.2 per cent were able to serve in the forces, in the following years there was a deep decline in numbers; in 2003 only 43.7 per cent of the conscripts (draftees) were able to meet the requirements of medical classification. Proposed numbers were met only by 20 per cent, as large portion of conscripts declared to be conscious objectors (according to the Act adopted after 1989). It is estimated that only 25 per cent of reserve soldiers are able to serve in time of need in the ACR. The only solution, the author proposes, is to amend the Act 585/04 (Defence Act) by several provisions mentioned in this article. At present, the manpower of the Police of the Czech Republic is twofold higher that numbers of Czech military personnel in time of peace. The Police fulfil large proportion of defence and security tasks, so the author proposes to incorporate some paragraphs dealing with the police force into our Defence Act. |
NATO's Strategic Concept: An Important Step Towards Military and Political Qualification of AllianceReviewedKpt. Mgr. Karel Zetocha, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 3-14 The main Alliance mission is to "safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries" and to "deter and defend against any threat of aggression against any of them". Those general tasks are tailored today to changed international security surroundings. In May this year, a report by the experts group was released, forming the basis for further negotiations over the new strategical concept of NATO. The experts produced a document of first-rate quality identifying main tasks NATO is facing today. At the same time this document redefines prospective directions the Alliance should follow in the years to come. Without a broad popular support NATO's engagements namely off European territory couldn't be vindicated and justified. The same is true as far allocation of sources for NATO missions and developing military capabilities are concerned. So, the communication with public thus becomes a further dimension of this highest strategic document. |
Czech White Paper of Defence: Shall We Learn from History?NonreviewedIng. Vlastimil Galatík, CSc., Mgr. Richard Stojar, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 31-37 At the beginning of August, Defence Minister Alexander Vondra announced his intention to give rise to the White Report of Defence as a document constituting clear vision of country's defence. The Paper will constitute a major overhaul of Czech defence and security policy and will set out the path to more modern, compact and reactive security and defence forces. By cutting the overall number of defence personnel, restructuring the defence estate will achieve cost reductions allowing to address more effectively the challenges and threats of the globalized world. It will allocate a substantial budget for defence, in line with the priorities and choices made for her defence capabilities. It will further reflect themes not mentioned before, such as relations between Common European Defence Policy and NATO alliance, new dimensions of civic security in cases of natural disasters, pandemic, or last but not least - terrorist attacks. The Czech White Report is going to make good use of similar documents of Allied nations. |
Al Qai'da Hybridisation in North Africa and its Implication for EuropeMilitary artBc. Martin JankůVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 55-70 The article is focused on issue of hybridisation of Al Qai'da in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), in North Africa, and its implications for European countries. The process of hybridisation is being conceived as growing nexus and convergence between violent non-state actors, while these processes could be in this case identified mainly in issues of use of kidnappings and secondary also reported involvement of AQIM in regional smuggling, mainly drugs, activities through Sahel and Saharan region to Europe. Regarding GSPC background, AQIM could be in long term theoretically able to re-establish its financial and supporting networks in Europe via cooperation with organized crime, which were largely disrupted after major crackdowns by security forces between 2004-2007. Event though a direct Al Qai'da attack in Europe is-according to the author-excluded, the purpose of this article to draw our attention to an eventuality of rebirth of European operation network of AQIM operational predecessor, i.e. GSPC. |

