Fulltext search in archive
Results 931 to 960 of 7442:
Reflections over the Transformation of Czech ArmyNonreviewedPhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 29-37 The basic question of Army transformation was the fact that it was not constituted upon the statehood principle that gives precedence to politicking individual parties. The ultimate goal of this transformation was to build forces loyal to democratic republic, but during the last ten years the top personnel at the Ministry of Defence changed several times, leaving the Army with restricted means, without precise laid down tasks and goals. Uncontrolled interventions into forces structure, reducing numbers of military personnel, lead to balance on the verge of collapse. The basic goal to develop Czech national security and defence policies did not fell short. Army was transforming itself, initially under the management of former generals and later under civilian control, especially after 1991. The division of the armed forces after the split-up of the state at the turn of 1992 went very smoothly, with good discipline. The transformation has been influenced above all by the newly adopted legislation, accession to NATO and to the European Union, participation in missions abroad and professionalization of the Czech armed forces. The whole process has been facilitated by the acceptance and implementation of a broader concept of security. |
Colonel (ret.) JUDr. Otto Klíma - Veteran of World War II, the LawyerPersonal dataPlk. v.v. Petr MajerVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 185-186 After forming Czechoslovak military units abroad he served in Egypt, where he was engaged in the battle of Tobruk, a lengthy confrontation between Axis and Allied forces in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II. He went through higher training in Scotland, after the Allied invasion of Normandy he took part in the siege of Dunkerque harbour where 12,000 German soldiers of Wehrmacht were concentrated. In 1945, in the rank of Staff Captain, he became career soldier in military judicial service. After communist coup d'etat he was suspended, stripped of honours, degraded from the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to the rank of retired Private. The Velvet Revolution brought him rehabilitation, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. Among others, in 2005 he was awarded the French Legion of Honour. |
Cataclysm Scenario 2050-Imagining the UnthinkableNonreviewed - OtherProf. Ing. Josef Říha, DrSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 3-10 The purpose of this report is to imagine the unthinkable of the worst case scenario for the global future post-modern society. The analysis addresses the main features of global risk society, human suffering, and loss of life from natural catastrophes, man-made catastrophes, economic losses, peak-oilcrises impacts, threat of terrorism, radical Islam, fragile states, etc. Important are the consequences of the end of the Vestfal system and global climate change. There is substantial evidence to indicate that significant global warming will occur during the 21st century. The research suggests that once temperature rises above some threshold, adverse weather conditions could develop relatively abruptly. Drought persists for most of the decade in critical agricultural regions and in the water resource regions for major population centres in Europe. As fertility shrivels, societies get older-and much of Europe are set to get older than any functioning societies have ever been. To avoid collapse, European nations will need to take immigrants at a rate no stable society ever attempted. Europe will be significantly more Islamic. |
Wild Cards in the Future Development of Word's Security (Trends till the Year 2040)Nonreviewed - OtherPhDr. Miloš Balabán, Ph.D., PhD. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 3-17 This opening study is written by two authors, members of Centre for Social and Economic Strategies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University Prague, which is an interdisciplinary research and education unit engaged in the development of theory, methodology and practice of exploring possible futures, and the application of analyses and forecasts in decision making. The authors propose to supplement prognostic scenarios by the so-called wild cards that represent something unpredictable, extra players or actors taking part in a global politics. They compare wild cards of 2001 with the present-day situation, and then predict state of affairs till 2040, among others, the islamisation of Europe and hispanisation of the United States. The purpose of this is to promote dialogues between military and security experts, politicians, civil servants, civil sector activists, as well as individual citizens. |
Missions and Tasks of ACR Logistics Since its Establishment till PresentMilitary professionalProf. Ing. Petr Hajna, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 142-148 The author discusses the issues surrounding the construction of modern logistic support for the Czech Army as it transforms from a conscript to an all professional force of agile, light forces, with high reliability and low support requirements. The basic philosophy is to create comprehensive system that would offer complex service for a commander in the field of materiel, technology and medical services. The logistics reform must be supported by enhancing communication systems (Information Logistics System) and by seeking the ways of rationale savings, to reach the highest level of compatibility with logistics systems of other NATO nations. "Time Based Competition" and "Time Compression" must be accepted at all levels of logistics system both in peace and field conditions. In the future, the security problems will be managed more by civilian means than by hard force. The goals will be political, economical and cultural. Those changing threats will ask logistic support to be more flexible, mobile, integrated, compact and precise. |
Colonel in memoriam Jakub KoutnýPersonal dataPhDr. Zdeněk VališVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 163-171 Mr. Koutný belonged among those who went through the fire of World War II and lately became victims of despotism of the so-called "class laws". In fact, Col. Koutný was not a soldier, but the journalist. At the beginning of war, Mr. Koutný was sent to Poland to inform about Polish practices to return Czechoslovak refugees back to the "Protectorate Bohemia and Moravia". At Poland he joined the Czechoslovak Military Group; lately he experienced Soviet labour camps. In a small city of Buzuluk, where the first Czechoslovak Field Battalion was formed, he became the chief of recruiting commission. There he met people returning from the NKVD's camps (i.e. Soviet Secret Police's detention camps). Many his reports to the Chief of Czechoslovak Military Mission Heliodor Pika were preserved in archives. Nowadays they bear witness on those fearful camps. As a press officer he laid down the foundation of the Czech army daily "Our Army in the USSR". He worked at the Czechoslovak Headquarters in Russia, as a liaison officer at the Command of the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps in the USSR, as a political and military advisor to the commander of armour brigade Lt.Col. Janko. In his liberated country he helped to establish the military publishing house Our Army (Naše vojsko). Shortly after the communist coup d'etat, in 1949, he was imprisoned. He died in a communist jail in 1960. |
The Current Automated Fire Control System of Artillery Regt ASPRO and the Concept of its Further DevelopmentMilitary professionalNpor. Ing. Michal Sobarňa, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 182-186 Michal Sorbaňa, Ph.D. The article deals with contemporary conditions of automated Fire Control System called ASPRO which was introduced into the ACR in the late 90s. It is a classical computer network of enforced computers with commercial operational system Windows 95, with special applications for command, control, communication, intelligence at the level of artillery regiment. It is the so-called C3I system that is divided into three program modifications designated for individual components ASPRO system: Artillery Tactical Computer, FO Tactical Computer, Gun Tactical Computer, and Meteo Tactical Computer. The connections and ties among individual elements of system are depicted on several detailed charts and schemes. The issue was discussed at the Artillery Conference in January 2007; the visions of ASPRO support to mechanized units were presented by the Chief of Joint Force Artillery. This essay covers only the main elements (procedures) of above mentioned problems. |
Vojenske operace a operacni umeniPlk. doc. Ing. Petr Němec, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. ZC/2001, Vol. X. (XLII.): 43-51 |
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. |
Financial Standards in the ACRNonreviewed - Researchpor. Ing. Michal IngrVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 148-152 This essay is practically the first public essay concerning the system of financial standards within the scope of the Czech Ministry of Defence. The author describes current system of financial standards in short-term a medium-term planning. He clarifies their creation, points at some absences and outlines areas suitable for further research. The document is based upon data collected in the specific research project SV05-VVŠ-K02-10-ING. The article is accompanied by several tablets of financial items and cost sheets for individual financial standards. |
Rizika spojena s akvizici a provozem
|
The Analysis of Economic Indicators of Manning in the Armed ForcesNonreviewed - OtherPrap. Martina Chemišincová, Ing. Rudolf Rak, dr. Luboš Štancl, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. ZC/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 30-37 The problem of allocation of defence sources and their effective spending during recruiting is analyzed by means of modelling and simulation of economic indicators to support of decisional processes of defence planning and arising effectiveness of defence sources in Czech environment. The authors present an example that illustrates the monitoring costs in recruiting. At present, we have no accomplished internally tied system of economic indicators, the article therefore proposes such indicators which could describe continuance in recruiting process, by means of which we shall be able to calculate its financial costs. |
Colonel Bohumír Nitsch-NyčPersonal dataPhDr. Zdeněk VališVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 205-211 Mr. Nitsch-Nyč belongs also among those who were sentenced to jail in the 50s. Nevertheless, as a member of the notorious Military Counterintelligence, headed by ill-famed Gen. Reicin, he belongs among persons who participated in the so-called "unlawfulness", that is to say: provocation, disposal of "unsuitable" officers from the army, in a close cooperation with Soviet intelligence officers. He started his military career in old AustroHungarian monarchy, than he was enlisted as a volunteer in the pre-war Czechoslovak Army. During WWII he was arrested and sentenced to the concentration camp. In May 1945 he became a member of the Communist Party. After that he was appointed as an intelligence officer. He was arrested in 1952, accused and sentenced for deeds he did not commit. He was rehabilitated in the 60s, whereas people that were sentenced in political trials he helped to prepare were still in jails. |
Actors of World's Security (New Mid-Term Security Theory)Nonreviewed - OtherPhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 12-28 The author summarizes and consequently generalizes security histories of war, peace, military, based upon the events of the last century. Recent moves towards a common European defence and security policy and European defence capabilities have sparked off considerable debate. Concerns have been voiced that this could lead to a decoupling of Europe's security from that of its other NATO allies, or a duplication of effort or capabilities. Above all, there is an urgent need for Europe to boost its capabilities, if it is not to be confined in future to a useful, but limited, reactive defence and security role. It is expected that the US, in a medium-term outlook, to say in the 2020 horizont, will be in a position of the only world's superpower; the People's China will remain only a regional power. All prognostic considerations must be therefore deduced from the position of the United States in the world. The American policy of multilateralism has proved to be most successful in history. As far as the position of our republic is concerned, to improve our defence capabilities we must use the EU as a framework ...242 |
Brigadier-General František MoravecPersonal dataPhDr. Zdeněk VališVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 233-241 His professional career was amazing. After the WWI, as a former legionnaire with war experiences, he fought in Slovakia against invading Hungarian forces. Then he decided to reenlist, he was a company commander, regiment aide, and after graduating from War College (High War School) he was appointed as the head of intelligence department of the 2nd Division Plzeň, the chief of intelligence department of Prague District Military Command, and finally the deputy chief of intelligence department of the Main Staff. At that time, the Czech Military Intelligence hired a member of German Abwehr, Paul Thummel, the famous agent A-54. After the German occupation, he and his eleven colleagues flew to Britain, with the most important documents. There he organized intelligence operations in occupied Czech and Moravian lands, in 1944 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier. Soon after the end of WWII, the Communist Party started to prepare coup d'etat. The first step was to take over defence intelligence. Brigadier Moravec was accused of many offences before the war, and although they were not proved, he was released from the army. In 1948 he fled abroad and began to run intelligence activities under American patronage. After the Velvet Revolution in 1989 he was rehabilitated and posthumously decorated by the Order of M. R. Stefanik, one of the highest Czechoslovak orders. |
Creation of the Foundations of Security ScienceNonreviewed - OtherPhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 21-31 Both in our country and the world the wider concept of security is on its way. It influences wide variety of various subjects and objects that create national and coalition strategies. There are many academic branches dealing with various individual aspects of security, but the present day calls for more complex and sophisticated access to security problems. The author proposes to establish a new academy discipline, the so-called security science or securitology, to respond adequately to current security challenges. It would be an interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, problems oriented "meta-science", associating history, philosophy, social sciences, international politics, axiology, the Arts, law studies, psychology (namely military psychology), demographics, criminology, ethics, environmentalism, geography and so on. To tell the truth, in practice, complex security system is accepted. The author enumerated all relevant institutions in our society, civilian or armed, bodies, authorities, legislative and executive powers that are being involved in predictions, analyses, assessments and responses to possible threats, dangers or perils. |
Recruitment Process in Time of Impending Danger or WarMilitary professionalMjr. Ing. Milan ŽilínekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 136-144 One of most important tasks of the Army of the Czech Republic is the preparation for country defence, be prepared to defend the republic against attacks from outside, with the use of Allied defence system. The core of manning in time of danger or war is recruitment of all people coming under compulsory conscription and those with the duty of extra service. Even though the compulsory military service (national service) was abolished in 2004 and the ACR became fully professionalized, Czech population is obliged to conscription/draft. All men/women over the age of 18 till 60 could be conscripted. The difference is that this legal obligation is realized only after the government has proclaimed the state of danger or declares war. This selection, namely the activities of recruiting boards, must be prepared well ahead, in time of peace, in cooperation with municipal authorities, state and regional administration. The author also deals with ?extra service?, which might come into existence in case we are short of conscripts. |
Legal Aspects of "Consciousness and Religion" Institute in Czech and Greek Law LegislaturesInformational pagesMjr. Ing. Bohuslav Vlček, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 118-124 Manning Czech armed forces in peace, in time of danger or war, are backed by law regulations and DoD internal normative acts. In fact, Czech legislature is still insufficient, so the author advises its revision. Laws concerning defence ought to be timeless, further amendments beg the questions concerning their correctness. When the institute of ?Conscientious Objector? was established in 1990, the figures of soldiers in their compulsory service were reduced by 15-20 % of planned numbers. The membership in an established sect, background as an active pacifist was not required for an objector to be eligible for exemption from military service. Greece (the Hellenic Republic) is one of a few European countries still preserving the compulsory military service for all Greek young men even in time of peace. As conscientious objectors are not regarded those who served in armed forces in the past, who are legally entitled to own a deadly weapon, or were prosecuted or sentenced for an offence tied with arms. The author suggests adopting similar arrangements like in Greece. |
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. |
Rationales behind the Development of Anti-Ballistic DefenceOpinions, controversyBc. Tomáš KučeraVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 76-85 Anti-ballistic missiles are missiles designed to counter enemy's ballistic missiles. First, the author compares strategic patterns reflecting various eras of the former bipolar world. Their mutual balance of that time could be described as Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD). As long as MAD was a fact of life, the ABM Treaty fulfilled its important function as a cornerstone of strategic stability. Keeping nuclear arsenals at a level which is not even justifiable is selfcontradictory, as the military strategy and targeting policy is based on the capability of the other side, not on its intentions. Today's Russian policy is shaped by the status-driven desire to deal with the United States from a position of power-related symmetry and strategic parity, by negating the unique position of the United States. The American ballistic missile defence policy used to be also a central element of their containment strategy towards China. However, at present, Ballistic Missile Defence (BDM) sets as a top-priory the defence against the so-called rough states, rather than against Moscow or Beijing. |
Forces of the 21st Century: from Notion to Reality (Force XXI)Military artIng. Jan KotalaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 29-34 This article deals with the birth of a new concept in the field of the warfare-FORCE XXI, the long-terms vision that influenced all advanced militaries, among others the author introduces a list with names of programmes: USA (Land Warrior), Great Britain (FIST - Future Integrated Soldier Technology), Canada (ISSP - Integrated Soldier System Platform), Germany (IdZ - Infanterist der Zukunft), France (FELIN - Fantssin a Equipement et Liaison Intégrés), the Netherlands (SMP - Soldier Modernisation Programme), Norway (NORMANS - Norwegian Modular Artic Network Soldier), Denmark (Danish Soldier Modernisation), Belgium (BEST - Belgium Soldier Technology), Italy (Soldato Futuro), Portugal (Sodado do Futuro), Slovakia (PIBS - advanced combat individual system) Poland (Tytan). The author underlines fundamental changes within this course of study, both technical-implementation of new technologies and weaponry-and doctrinal. He also describes current situation within the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. |
1st Part: Topical Problems of Theory and Practice of State Defence Economy Topical Problems of the Theory of Economy of State Defence at the Beginning of the 21st CenturyNonreviewed - ResearchDr. Luboš Štancl, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 5-24 The author follows the mainstream economics, i.e. leading economics of defence policy, ranging from economics of defence in the nuclear age, via economics of Iraq conflict, to current fight against terrorism. New paradigm must be drawn, taking into account source management, the distribution of economics weight of individual national economies of all countries participating in the fight against global terrorism. |
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. |
The Application of Quantitative Methods in Practice: Procedures of Transparent Placing Small OrdersInformational pagesMgr. Ing. Jitka Janová, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 103-110 At present, we are going through army transformation, represented among others by lowering military expenditures. One of many questions accompanying this process is a purposeful and functional spending money for military purchases. The authoress, the former teacher at Defence University Brno, explains her method of multicriteria decisionmaking during shaping the algorithmic program eliminating non-optimal behaviour, suitable for all, military and state, officials, who are in contact with external providers (suppliers). Introduced method is transparent one and could be used namely for small public orders, explicitly during concluding contracts without legally fixed terms. The proposed method is demonstrated upon a concrete example of realized contract. |
The Development of Society and Forces Build-upNonreviewed - OtherPplk. Ing. Ivan Němec, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 11-13 The philosophers describing the growth of humane society outline concepts that are not yet verified but if true, they would explain certain facts or phenomena. As those concepts are supported by various traditions, different criteria, different hypotheses are drawn from them. Among others, most influential political thinkers are Samuel P. Huntington, Francis Fukuyama, or Mr. and Mrs. Tofflers. Every level of civilisation corresponds to respective technology, knowledge of warfare. Current trends reflect the development of security situation, to which our state responds by respective army development. Although the current "Concept of Mobilization of Armed Forces of the Czech Republic" reacts to the newest trends of general development, the raise in military spending is anticipated only time of danger. The author warns against such idea. The forces must be constantly prepared, ready not to be struck by unexpected state of affairs; e.g. similar to that of the US in 1917. |
Tactical Vehicles without Crew PersonnelMilitary professionalIng. Josef NastoupilVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 172-176 In this article the author explores the potential roles for unmanned ground vehicles (tactical UGVs) in the modern battle space as pack mules, fighting scouts and perimeter sentries as new concepts of operation, designs and products emerge. Remote control vehicles could be also used in explosive ordnance disposal operations. Urban warfare looks set to become a particularly rich field for this sort of robots. The article discusses the challenges in developing and deploying cost-effective UGVs on the battlefield. There are still many problems, namely technological. The price for a UGV is comparable to price for four or five wheeled armoured vehicles. The article is based upon materials from RUSI Defence Systems (No. 2/2007), studies by Myron E. Mills, Kevin Ivison, James Masey. Ulf Stremmel; and Andy Simms: Robot Wars. Soldier, No. 12, 2007. |
Some Aspects of Command and Control of Bde TFin NEC SurroundingsMilitary artPplk. Ing. Jiří Černý, doc. Ing. Vítězslav Stodůlka, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 44-51 This article deals with the present state of command and control dilemma in brigade battle groups. It outlines the resources of the rationalization of organizational structures at HQs and it shows their impact on modular design of the command posts. The gradual introduction of NATO Network Enabled Capability (NEC) into Czech armed forces (Bde TF-Brigade Task Force), requires first, changes in the structure of individual components of command and control system; secondly, initiating basic changes oriented towards optimalization command and control structures; third, the preparation of commanders and staffs in the field of information technology, so that they could achieve knowledge and control dominance. At the same time organizational changes raise modification within command chains of separate groups. |
Reciprocal Teaching and its Importance for Improving Reading ComprehensionLanguage preparationKpt. Ing. Petra Vráblíková, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 155-164 At present, we pay great attention to alternative methods of teaching and learning foreign languages. Actually, it is difficult for language instructor to choose from among them. This article is a sort of hint to help teachers to pick up the most suitable one. Reciprocal teaching has its prominent position, namely in the field of reading with understanding. There four basic strategies: prediction, questioning, clarification, summarizing. During socio-cognitive conflict, in discussion, the language knowledge of learners (students) is pushed up and higher, learners are mutually influenced in social interaction. This learning process is sometimes recorded, monitored. The role of a teacher is multifaceted, indispensable and very demanding. New security threats ask for the transformation of NATO alliance, in the background of political Islam or the recent Russian-Georgian conflict. The contents analysis of presented papers points to main hidden problem lying behind all security questions: whether the U.S. would be able to continue in its role as a world leader, explicitly owing to American economy difficulties, e.g. today's financial and mortgage crisis. |
The Debate on Compulsory Military Service Keeps Going (at least in German-speaking countries)Military professionalPplk. Ing. Bohuslav Pernica, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 145-147 After the end of Cold War, all Europe abandons the system of obligatory conscription in time of peace. Advancing European integration changes the configuration of threats, which is reflected in changed structure of armed forces. As Charles de Gaulle said in 1934 (which is also the motto of German book Wehrpflicht oder Freiwilligenarmee? Wehrstrukturentscheidungen im europäischen Vergleich, 2006): "We should not maintain an army we are used to, but we should build the army we really need." They are the structural changes in defence sector that could provide necessary means for common security and defence policy in being. The supporters of professional/obligatory military service differ according to their political beliefs. Surprisingly, in Germany, liberal, green or communist oriented parties prefer voluntary/ professional military service. The same discussions took place in our country after 1990. |
The Centre of Gravity is a Cause, "Matter", not the PeopleInformational pagesVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 125-128 As the military's current fight against terrorists and insurgents does not follow the templates of the past, it requires innovative, adaptive thinking. This article summarises the main ideas of the essay "We the People are not the Center of Gravity in an Insurgency" by Maj. Mark P. Krieger, published in Military Review No. 4, 2007. A COG could be characterized as a source of power from which a military force derives its freedom of action, physical strength, will to act. The definition is important namely when military planners try to identify enemy COGs. There is a single COG at the operational level; the tactical level of war has decisive points. COGs organize and direct critical capabilities, physical or psychological. An insurgency's case is its strategic COG, its organization is operational COG, and the people are a decisive point at the tactical level. The population is important in an insurgency, because the people are a tangible to target, but it is not a COG. Attacking an insurgency?s organization will weaken the strategic COG that becomes vulnerable to attack and destruction. |

