Fulltext search in archive
Results 571 to 600 of 8061:
1st Lieutenant (ret.) Česlav Valošek, War Veteran, Member of Czechoslovak Independent Armoured BrigadePersonal dataDr. Petr MajerVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 198-201 He was born in 1925 in Cieszyn Silesia Region of the former Czechoslovakia, where three nationalities lived together: Czechs, Gemans and Poles. His family was forced to adopt the so-called Volksliste No. 3 and therefore in 1944 he had to joint the German army. He became an artillerist and was transferred to France, where he deserted toether with his two friends, also from his native MoravianSilesina Region. After detention in a POWs camp in Scotland he volunteered for the Czechoslovak Independent Armour Brigade. He fought in France, later even in Czech lands. In civil life he graduated as a teacher and started to teach at the school for junior officers, but as a member of western armies was not allowed to teach in military school. But is was possible for him to work in civil schools till 1957, when he was found politically incompetent and began to work as a coal miner. In the period of liberalization in 1968 he returned to school. |
The New Role of IntelligenceMilitary artPlk. Ing. Miroslav Šuhaj, Ph.D., doc. Ing. Oldřich Horák, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 37-42 The article points out the altered role of intelligence and counterintelligence under the conditions of new security threats and relevant problems of intelligence analysis. Authors compare the theories of the orthodox and revisionist intelligence schools dealing with the detection of surprise attacks and finally outlines solutions related to the training of intelligence analytics. Orthodox views are as follows: surprising attacks are inevitable, such attacks will succeed as they are unpredictable, complex and sophisticated; reformists say that too much attention is paid to various failures, there are many cases in which intelligence prevention was successful. Threat analyses are very complicated; hints are not clear, ambiguous. New threats must be examined and eliminated with cooperation with other force branches, police, integrated rescue system, and others. Last but not least, there is indispensable role of preparation and schooling of intelligence officers. |
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. |
Security in the year 2020 with the Prospects to 2050 (Summary of Security Community Views) - Part Two-the EndMilitary sociologyPhDr. Antonín RašekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 120-138 This second and closing part of this security study covers decades before the half of this century. The leading role in prevention and fight against armed conflicts will rest namely upon intelligence services. It is also expected the mass use of nonlethal weapons. The US will stay as the only leading superpower, minority expects a plurality model, i.e. the US will be only first among the equals. Some predicts the collapse of the EU. The Army of the Czech Republic ought to achieve full operational potential around the year 2012. It will take part in multinational missions. The Alliance armies should have 8 per cent of their capacities fully operable abroad. Under the preventive strategy, the regions of their prospective deployment will be in bordering countries around Europe, areas around the Eastern Mediterranean, or in the Far East. More or less, one problem remains still open: whether foreign deployments of the ACR really correspond to the interests and needs of the Czech Republic. |
The Research "Army and Public" (Trend Analysis)Military sociologyMgr. Nataša BallováVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 206-213 After 1989 public opinion polls have become inseparable part of examining our society. By analysing aggregate response data over time, we can see trajectories into the future. This might help MoD officials in decision-making processes, planning long-term developments. The "Army and Public" poll is concentrated on the attitudes of Czech population to topics such as the prestige of a professional soldier, military profession, NATO membership, confidence in public administration, last but not least, the Czech missions abroad. Positive mindsets appeared namely after 1996-97, when Czech army helped during catastrophic flood. In assessing period 2006-2009 most of respondents agreed with the statement that foreign missions proved the qualities of our army, their approval with our engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq rose significantly (by 33,1 per cent), attitudes against Kosovo were unbalanced. |
Education in the Field of SecurityInformational pagesIng. Miroslav JurenkaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 110-114 In the Czech Republic, the schooling of security experts is broken into fragments, i.e. into many fields of study, which go beyond security politics. The state of affairs can't be regarded as satisfactory. The first step is the Resolution of Czech Security Council No. 32/2007, Common Minimum for Security Experts, which put a proposal to introduce security issues into teaching programmes in universities and institutions of further education, so that such institutions could obtain accreditation in this field. This minimum is specified namely for undergraduate study; graduated security studies ought to be more specialized. Political scientists involved in the study of security policy should attempt to devise solutions for problems of public concern. Security study covers issues such as non-military threats and risks, proliferation, pollution, natural disasters, mass migration, economy risks. It is tied with international relations, foreign policy and national security strategies. |
Scientific Support of Strategical Decision-Making not only in Department of DefenceOpinions, controversyIng. Vlastimil Galatík, CSc., doc. Ing. Milan Kubeša, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 82-87 The article is a polemical expression of authors' opinion over this problem. It is related to the orientation of society, political coalitions, and single states towards higher goals. If we admit that the sustainable development of society is the base for securing a peace and stability, then we can state that the question of security or consecutively country defence cover problems of the whole social system, subsystems and system elements. Strategical decision-making ought to be the highest priority in our society. It is indisputable that such decisionmaking deserves scientifi c support. At the end of this article the authors propose a short algorithmic program for Czech military strategy that is planned for the year 2014 and the concept of Czech army development planned for 2015. |
A European Way of "Humane Security"ReviewedIng. Vladimír Karaffa, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 3-10 Many people in the world lead intolerably insecure lives. In many cases insecurity is the consequence of armed conflicts in which civilians are deliberately targeted, sometimes, their insecurity has natural causes, like earthquakes, hurricane, tsunami or disease, they suffer from famine. Security is a broader term, covering not only military threats. Human rather than nation-state security should be at the heart of European policy. Instead of defeating enemies or pacifying warring parties, EU missions should focus on protecting civilians, through law enforcement with the occasional use of force. EU member states ought to support a new framework for the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). The following seven principles are underlined: (i) the primacy of Human Rights, (ii) clear political authority, (iii) multilateralism, (iv) a bottom-approach, (v) regional focus; (vi) the use of legal instruments, (vii) the appropriate use of force. In fact, underlines Mr. Karaffa, humane security concept forms the very base of common European culture and identity. |
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. |
"Fog of War" in Pieces of Classical Authors: Clausewitz a Tolstoy (Problems of Uncertainty and Chance Events In War)Military artBc. Tomáš KučeraVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 51-59 The proponents of Revolution in Military Affairs claim that modern military technology will lift a "fog of war". In this article the term "fog of war" is described and illustrated in a work of Carl von Clausewitz who is supposed to introduce this term, used also in the famous novel War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. These classics show us that uncertainty and chance, in other words fogs of war, are essential to human mentality. They will be present as long as war remains within a scope human endeavour. Emphasizing that military technology is equal to lifting the "fog of war" can lead to situation in which only trained commanders are supposed be able perfectly address problems in "chessboard" of war or computer simulators, but they will unable to manage a real world full of chaos, as they not used to count with uncertainties. |
The Legacy of Sammuel Huntington (From the Prevalence ofIdeological Conflicts to the Clash of Cultures)Book reviewPhDr. Antonín Rašek.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 152-155 This essay is based up ideas summarized in Huntington's famous book The Clash of Civilizations. According to Mr. Huntington, there are seven or eight world civilizations. The West is "unique"-but its values are not universal. World politics is entering a new phase, in which the great divisions among humankind and the dominating source of international conflict will be cultural. The decline of the nation state from the conflicting pulls of tribalism and globalism, among others. The author of this essay introduces individual world's cultures and traces prognostic visions both from historical and topical point of view. He warns against intervening into civil wars, as we know very little about their cultural background which must be respected; our interventions might be disserviceable. |
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. |
Fourth Generation Warfare Evolves, Fifth EmergesNonreviewed - OtherJ. NastoupilVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 15-23 The key fact is that changes in the political, economic, social, and technical spheres are making it possible for a small group bound together by a cause to use new technologies to challenge nation-states. 4GW (Fourth Generation Warfare) uses all the shifts from a mechanical to an information/electronic society to maximize the power of insurgency. Fifth-generation warfare (5GW) will result from the continued shift of political and social loyalties to causes rather than nations. It will be marked by the increasing power of smaller and smaller entities and the explosion of biotechnology. The purpose of this article is to widen the discussion on what forms 4GW may take and to offer a possible model for the next generation of war: 5GW. Adapted from Military Review, May-June 2007. |
General Podhajský: Cruel History of the Romanticized Period of Pre-war Czech Army Build-upBook reviewB. PernicaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 168-170 It is a review of the book by Col. Ing. Josef Fučík (ret.), the former member of advisory board to this magazine. Pre-war Czechoslovakia was a parliamentary republic, typical for its instability. In 1918-1938 a total of 18 governmental administrations superseded, there were 11 defence ministers. Sometimes this position was hold by the prime minister. The same was with the position of Chief of the Main Staff of Czech forces. In 19191939 five generals were replaced, two French and three Czechoslovak. One of them was Alois Vácslav Podhajský, who held this position only for a short time, from September 1 to October 14, 1926. As an "old Austrian soldier", he went through many nuisances and sorrows both in pre-war army and namely after World War II. |
Major General Miroslav Kácha (ret.), War Veteran, Political Prisoner - War Veteran, Political PrisonerPersonal dataPlk. v.v. Petr MajerVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 214-217 In 1939-41 Mr. Kácha was involved in Czech home resistance movement. At the beginning of 1948, the year of communist coup d'état, he became a member of illegal group of democratic army officers and military "academics" (officer candidates) at the Military Academy Hranice, headed by Col. Alexandr Korda. They collected intelligence information and prepared plans for the situation of prospective liberation of Czechoslovakia by Western democratic armies, or the Soviet Union?under the pressure of bad economic conditions or under Western pressure?would withdraw from Eastern Europe. They planned to form control authority to prevent chaos and acts of violence. In September 1949 he was sentenced to life imprisonment, after the Velvet Revolution, in May 1995, he was promoted to the rank of Major General. He was awarded the White Lion Order, Military Division. |
Virtual University of Jihad: Training and Schooling Islamic Terrorists in CyberspaceInformational pagesMgr. Jiří HodnýVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 115-120 This article is discussing the role of the Internet in the Islamic terrorist movement. It describes how the nature of the Internet provides the perfect medium for terrorism. Major terrorist organizations now have their own production capability, ranging from video capture, to video editing, to distribution, but, these organizations also have an advanced understanding of the concepts of influence, information warfare, and the power of targeted messages. This is further highlighted by the fact that among al Qaeda's original organizational structure was a committee dedicated to publicity and the media. The internet plays the role as a means of propaganda for recruitment and fund-raising, shaping public opinion in the Muslim world, terrorist training and instruction, operational planning for attacks, communication and open source information. |
The Professionalization of Armed Forces of the Czech Republic as an Open Project and InnovationOpinions, controversyPodplukovník Ing. Bohuslav Pernica, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2010, Vol. XIX. (LI.): 71-80 The shift from vocational military service to all-volunteer force (AVF) could be regarded and treated as any other scholarly assignment of project management, so we can get a better look at its bugs and risks. The author applied the Valentas classification of innovation upon this AVF project in the Czech Republic and demonstrates what are main risks for its sustainability. He sees the first cause and effect in the reality that this shift lacks sufficient support by social sciences and humanities. Since 2003, only six per cent of scientists/scholars employed by the Czech Ministry of Defence have been supporting this great change. It is not enough and it makes certain incompetence within defence ministry to reach the factual aim of this move and AVF produces more and more difficulties. According to the author, the professionalization of forces in our country has not meet its main purpose--to raise professional qualities of military personnel, in spite of the fact it originally used to be the prime objective of this process. |
Europe and Radical Islam: Islamisation of EuropeInformational pagesPavel KrčílekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 68-80 The major topic of this article is the problem of radical Islam in the context of contemporary as well as historical development in Europe. In the course of several chapters the author describes basic facts of the modern phenomenon of Islamisation, impending over Europe. His study is supported from several sources, e.g. Gadhafi M., Islam taking over Europe (2006); or reports issued by the Netherlands Security and Intelligence Service (2005); Swiss Country Report on Islamisation (2007), etc. There are over 50 million Muslims in Europe, if Turkey is added to the EU, Europe will have another 50 million Muslims. When terrorism can be considered as a danger, Islam should be considered as a risk to generate such a danger. The democratic state is fully entitled to diagnose any kind of "side effects" as a result of Islamic preaching. This is not judging the religion but its effects on the system. The solution is long-lasting: to support cultural integration, because only a few European Muslims are involved politically, or take part in terrorist attacks. |
The Militarization of Cosmic Space and Antiballistic DefenceInformational pagesJUDr. Miroslav TůmaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 105-117 Today we use the Space for military and commercial satellites of passive, non-offensive character. The prospective so-called militarization of Space has qualitatively higher level. It means that offensive means will be located in the Space, probably as part of ballistic missile defence. Antisatellite systems began to be tested in 1959 (US), in 1968 (USSR), or in 2005 (China) respectively. The US administration places emphasis on limited character of created antimissiles defence. In fact, the presentday laws do not ban situating cosmic weapons in the Space. But whereas the United States regards existing agreements concerning the Space as sufficient, explicitly the Russian Federation and China point out that e.g. the Cosmic Treaty of 1967 is inadequate and insufficient and therefore among others they block the signing of Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, important for the USA. The author presents and summarizes main treatises concerning the Space: Outer Space Treaty (1967), Convention on the Registration (1975), Moon Agreement (1979) and others, all of them hardly known to ordinary citizens. |
An Ethic Discussion on Expedient Responses to September 11, 2001Opinions, controversyPlk. Mgr. Tomáš HolubVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 71-96 The author, the former chief military chaplain, nowadays an advisor to the Czech defence minister, summarizes all relevant views on global responses to terrorism. The deadly attacks against Word Trade Center were more than acts of terror, they were acts of war. International law makes it possible to hunt the perpetrators, organizers and instigators of terrorism wherever they are. Immediately after the 11 September attacks on the United States, the Security Council expressed its determination to combat, by all means, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. The Council reaffirmed the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence in accordance with the Charter of United Nations. The States concerned have set their current military action in Afghanistan in that context. Col. Holub quotes individual views on war expressed by leaders of the U.S., NATO, United Nations, international law specialists, high Catholic clergy, ideas of Bishop Conference, and those of religious groupings. He doesn't come to any conclusion; he only wants to initiate a wide-ranging ethic discussion, as the traditional concept of the "just war" doesn't fit to this new situation. In his opinion, the core of problem lies in justifiability or unjustifiability of preventive war. |
Optimalization of Security System of the Czech RepublicMilitary artIng. Miroslav JurenkaVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 4/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 31-33 Security system is an institutional frame for the creation and implementation of Czech security policy. It is closely tied with NATO, the EU, and other international institutions, which enables its compatibility and interoperability within European security systems. The Czech government prepared The Concept of Security System of the Czech Republic that put emphasis on its effectivity and simplified cooperation and coordination among individual components of security structures. The concept was based upon the analysis of Czech security system, covering events after 11/9 2001, NATO Summit 2002, the Floods 2002, etc. Presented principles of the optimalization of current security system of the CR incorporate key proposals of legislative character that ought to be processed in two years; partial measures will be implemented step by step. The author proposes to incorporate mentioned steps into amendments to defence and recruitment laws, laws dealing with emergency or crisis situations. Such amendments are to be offered till the end of 2007. |
The Cold War: Look back in Peace (Parallel History Project on NATO and the Warsaw Pact)Book reviewIng. Josef NastoupilVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 180-183 The former warriors from opposing sides are recounting their version of events have always been important in understanding history. In studying the Cold War, The Parallel History Project on NATO and the Warsaw Pact (PHP) has undertaken the mission of preserving the history of the two alliances that faced each other for decades on the continent of Europe during the Cold War. It has been collecting, analyzing and interpreting previously secret government documents and making them available via their unrestricted website [www.isn.ethz.ch/php/index. htm]. Documents alone cannot define the thinking behind events, so PHP is now gathering key players from both sides to discuss their perspectives on events. The first meeting in this series took place in Sweden, in April 2006. Similar conferences should add to the historical accuracy and understanding of that very long and dangerous period when the two large groups of armies stood ready against each other. Source: Army No. 7/2006. |
Wars of the so-called Post-Confrontation Period: Successes, Paradoxes, ChallengesMilitary artDoc. PhDr. Jan Eichler, CSc.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 40-51 Even after the Cold War, our world is full of local and international conflicts. There were dozens of wars, fringe clashes between local opposing groups in Africa, Asia and so on. Among them there were four wars of lager size, with more than thousands of deaths in each of them that could be characterized as international wars: Desert Storm 1991, Iraqi Freedom 2003, Allied Strength 1999, and Enduring Freedom 2001. Now we can look at them from a distance ...217 Problems tied with those large-scale wars have several levels: supranational (international) level and military level, being accompanied by paradoxes: international and political paradoxes and military ones. This influenced structures and methods of training and preparation of Australian, Britain and US forces. The lessons were embedded into their military concepts, rules and regulations, e.g. Complex Warfighting (Australia), Future Land Operating Concept (UK), Field Manual: Interim Counterinsurgency Operations (US). New roles of military forces, global and local implications, ought to be embedded also into the structures and concepts of the Army of the Czech Republic, concludes the author. |
Strategic Aspects of Actions Taken to Destroy an InsurgencyMilitary professionalIng. Josef NastoupilVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 221-228 Conventional military strategists did not hold counterinsurgency (COIN) and irregular warfare with high esteem. In fact, strategists often marginalized COIN and irregular warfare, never regarding irregular warfare as worthy of strategic-level discussions. But true strategic thinking on the subject of COIN and irregular warfare consider time and space and long strategic view. Now we must consider critical areas for the global war on terrorism (GWOT), including changing nature of the threat environment. Sources: Principles, Imperatives and Paradoxes of Counterinsurgency, by E. Cohen, Lt.Col. C. Crane, Lt.Col. J. Horvath, Lt.Col. J. Nagl; Strategic Aspects of Counterinsurgency by Col. J. B. Celeski in Military Review March-April 2006. |
Principles of Anti-Extremist Policy of the Czech RepublicNonreviewed - OtherDoc. dr. Štefan Danics, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2007, Vol. XVI. (XLVIII.): 9-20 Political extremists as an anti-system opposition present an impending threat to democracy. They use both legal and illegal methods of fight against society. In our country, all wings of extremist movement are present, even though the Czech Home Office suspended the activities of hard left and right organizations. The author holds wider concept of extremism. He classes among extremists also the so-called darkers and phakers and ani-globalist street parties, in which strange personages with anarchy background took part in. With them, there are subsequent forms of sub-culture tied: squatting, darking, hooligans, and graffiti. Among others, the author puts the stress on prevention. Anti-extremist policy must be complex: regulations and remedies are overlapping. The antiextremist precautions are accepted not only by state institutions primarily concentrated on inner security, but also within the bodies such as Ministry of Defence, Security and Information Agency, Military Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence, Office for Foreign Relations and Information, various educational, youth and cultural organizations. |
Guerrilla and InternetInformational pagesVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2006, Vol. XV. (XLVII.): 98-99 In essence, the world is organizing itself in a series of interconnected networks. The information revolution will cause shifts, both in how societies may come into conflict and how their armed forces may wage war. Cyber war is coming. Its concept refers to information-related conflict both at a grand level, between nations or societies, and at low levels of international subgroups, e.g. terrorists of any kind, e.g. Al Qaeda, etc. The concept may involve public diplomacy measures, political and cultural subversion, deception or interference with local media, infiltration of computer networks and databases, and efforts to promote dissident or opposition movements across computer networks. Terrorists may build mutual connections, shape opinions in target groups, and conduct intense propaganda and psychological operations campaigns. Guerrilla warfare in cyberspace can use those networks to maximize their political, economic, and social power while minimizing the military aspects until the final offensive. The source: T. Hammes, Jane's Defence Weekly, 5/2005 (nas). |
Cash Fulfilment of State Budget, Expense Section, Defence Ministry Chapter, 2004 till 2007Opinions, controversyPplk. Ing. Bohuslav Pernica, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 49-53 An article in the Vojenské rozhledy magazine triggered an argument over the importance cash-flow planning for the application of 3E-methodology at the Czech MoD in 2004. Today's study re-opens this argument again, but on the background of the modernization of Czech state finance management and the implementation of a modern cash-flow management into the Czech public finance, under the authority of Finance Ministry. Those processes profoundly affected the economic policy of the MoD, granting more responsibility and economic independence. MoD is allowed to formulate, administer and control its own financial policy to reach higher cost-effectiveness. But does the ministry really become a better financial manager? This article deals with fiscal years 2004-2007. |
The Phenomenon Ivan Gabal (Talking to a Brick Wall, Karolinum, 2008)Book reviewPplk. Ing. Bohuslav Pernica, Ph.D.Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 156-157 We have no many characters that unlike Ivan Gabal could move on the edge of practice, academic world and politics, dealing with incomparable themes: foreign policy, security, terrorism, Europe vs. the Czech Republic and vice versa. Referred chapters are entitled NATO, EU, Radar, the Army of the Czech Republic. Among others, Mr. Gabal compares Czech army with its English and American counterparts, evidently better than ours, because those armies have not undergone such troublesome history in the last hundred years as the ACR. Ivan Gabal's editorials, sociological analyses, critical and professional articles from 1997-2007, when focusing on safety and the Army of the Czech Republic, uncover a striking lack of conceptual planning and incompetence of the post-November political elites. |
Defence Principles of the Czech Republic "2030" (Informative Review)Book reviewVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 1/2009, Vol. XVIII. (L.): 175-178 Many security experts are of the opinion that the global security situation has been going worse af ter September 11, 2001. Even though Balkan wars ended, in fact, there are high tensions tied with Kosovo?s proclamation of independence, or in similar state of affairs in Macedonia. In Iraq, there some elements of improving, but in Afghanistan there are a lot of problems, we must mention tensions in Iran concerning building its nuclear capacities and missile tests, Russian-Georgian conflict, which is reflected in the policy of NATO enlargement: Georgia, the Ukraine were not accepted to NATO alliance. The reviewer highly appreciates this anthology of security studies, with the same title as this article. Editor Vlastimil Galatík, published by Defence University Brno, 2008. |
Do We Really Understand the Current Epidemic of Suicide Terrorist Attacks? (An attempt at systemization of terrorism concept)Nonreviewed - OtherDoc. Ing. Štefan Danics, Ph.D., PaedMgr. et ThMgr. Leoš TučekVojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008, Vol. XVII. (XLIX.): 18-30 Terrorism threatens to attack and destroy the open democracy, but what is terrorism? The main aim of this essay is to formulate some proposals of a minimal operational definition tied with terrorism, as well as a definition of terrorist attack with the ambition to surpass a possibility of an ambiguous construction in the field of semantical research. Terrorism is usually described as unlawful violent activism targeted against civilians or against civilian targets with the aim of achieving political, religious, ideological and other goals. It presents wellconsidered ways of production and fructification of fear that are applied on civilian targets. A terrorist attack communicates devastatingly as a pure act of violence inside the psychosomatic structure of its recipients (victims). The new terrorism after 9/11 attacks could be characterized by fanaticism and the impending danger of arms of mass destruction. It is a culture of death. |

