Czech Military Review, 2008 (vol. 89), issue 2
Wild Cards in the Future Development of Word's Security (Trends till the Year 2040)Nonreviewed - Other
PhDr. Miloš Balabán, Ph.D., PhD. Antonín Rašek
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 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...
Do We Really Understand the Current Epidemic of Suicide Terrorist Attacks? (An attempt at systemization of terrorism concept)Nonreviewed - Other
Doc. Ing. Štefan Danics, Ph.D., PaedMgr. et ThMgr. Leoš Tuček
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 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....
The Future Objectives of the Armed Forces of the Czech RepublicNonreviewed - Other
Ing.Josef Procházka, Ph.D.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 31-38
The author of this article considers the prospective changes in the development, character, missions and tasks of the Army of the Czech Republic, Those changes are deduced from the changing security environment and long-term development trends. To meet new demands, we must continue in building interoperability and compatibility. The battlefield operations will be planned and controlled by the systems of "Network Centric Warfare" and "Reach Back Operations". It will not be necessary for a commander to be in physical contact with operational theatre. Electronical high speed intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance will enable the...
Operation EUFOR RD CONGO-Part II (Deployment, Execution, and Re-deployment of Forces)Military art
Pplk. Ing. Jaroslav Kulíšek
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 39-60
This operation was led by Germany, and made up of elements contributed by twenty EU nations; as well as Turkey and Switzerland. The EU deployed FHQ in Kinshasa and simultaneously kept the over-the-horizon force in Gabon, in order to ensure a deterrent capacity and to avoid unnecessary heavy military presence in Kinshasa. After Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the EUFOR RD Congo was a second EU largest military operation, involving a total of almost 3,000 soldiers and officers). The co-operation with MONUC was decisive in containing the potential spread of violence at a particularly sensitive moment in the election process. The operation...
EBAO-The Method How to Control Prospective NATO OperationsMilitary art
Pplk. Ing. Jaroslav Moravčík
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 61-65
Operations by Lt.Col. Ing. Jaroslav Moravčík. NATO's current operational experience and that from other operations indicates that purely military actions cannot resolve a complex emergency of crisis. The requirement for the military to interact with non-military actors shows a new, more comprehensive approach. In response, NATO's Effect-Based Approach to Operations was highlighted. The four functions of EBAO and their related activities are mutually supportive. The functions are carried out in a continuous, interactive, parallel process and should not be regarded as sequential steps. They are as follows: Knowledge development; Effect-based planning;...
Operations with Effective Impacts (EBAO - Effect-Based Approach to Operations)Military art
Ing. Antonín Krásný, CSc., plk. gšt. Ing. Oldřich Socha
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 66-75
The reform of the Czech armed forces is factually and timely tied with the transformation of NATO forces, both in the field of technology and that of doctrine. The covering principle of this transformation is the so-called EBAO concept, in the frame of which we define three main transformation objectives: forces must have operational superiority, they must be operationally effective, deployable, and sustainable. The effects-based approach to operations focuses on combining military and non-military actions to influence the overall behaviour and capabilities of other actors: national, trans-national, belligerent and benign, in an operational environment...
Rationales behind the Development of Anti-Ballistic DefenceOpinions, controversy
Bc. Tomáš Kučera
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 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...
Terminology Used in MoD Department: Oral and Written PracticeOpinions, controversy
Ing. Vladimír Krulík
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 86-99
Military professional terminology is a special vocational vocabulary used within armed forces, usually only partially understood by outsiders. The author demonstrates several most notorious examples to draw attention of terminology specialists. They are special vocabularies of military and security affairs, such as human resources, integrated MoD, recruit, recruitment, air wing, air base, strategical/tactical levels, names of organizational military structures, battalion, company, regiment (in fact they differ from nation to nation) task force, defence planning and planning of defence, to name at least a few. In spite of several translated AAP publications,...
EUFOR Starts in Africa the Most Demanding Military Operations in EU History (Operation EUFOR Tchad/RCA)Informational pages
Pplk. Ing. Jaroslav Průcha
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 100-107
The situation in Chad, republic in north central Africa, could be characterized by permanent political instability. Its population consists of numerous ethnic groups. Arab peoples are important in the north and east, and black African peoples dominate in the south, estimated population of Chad is nearly 10 million, with 250,000 refugees, 190,000 internally displaced persons, 40,000 persons live in camps. The area of planned operation is three times larger then the area of the Czech Republic. On 25 September 2007, the Security Council, by its resolution 1778, approved the establishment in Chad and the Central African Republic, in concert with the European...
Geographic Support to the 1st ACR Contingent, ISAF PRT LogarInformational pages
Mjr. Ing. Jan Marša, Ph.D.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 108-112
The necessary predisposition of successful meeting assigned tasks of every military contingent sent abroad lies in a high cooperation of its elements, hidden performance of all mission members. The purpose of this article is to introduce nearly invisible activities of geographic and hydro meteorological specialists of the ACR, who prepared and printed geographical maps of Logar province. It is the very first set of maps created by the method of rapid symbolization of GIS data (Geographic Information System), based upon standard Topographic Map TLM50. Vocational preparedness of military geographers is high. Technological means, advanced technology they...
Intelligence Support to Psychological OperationsInformational pages
Mgr. Jiří Hodný
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 113-117
Intelligence activity is an essential part of psychological operations (PSYOPS). Intelligence data are collected, treated, and assessed by intelligence officers together with analytical specialists in cooperation with intelligence authorities from other services. Two basic documents are made. First, in British Army, it is called Country Area Study; in US forces it is labelled as PSYOP Basic Study. The second type of studies represents the assessment of target audience, called in British Army Basic Psychological Study, in US Special PSYOP Assessment. Gathered information are integrated into special electronic bases, e.g. SOCRATES (Special Operations...
Legal Aspects of "Consciousness and Religion" Institute in Czech and Greek Law LegislaturesInformational pages
Mjr. Ing. Bohuslav Vlček, Ph.D.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 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 Centre of Gravity is a Cause, "Matter", not the PeopleInformational pages
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 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....
NEC-IV Conference ReportInformational pages
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 129-130
In November 2007, under the auspices of Lieutenant-General Vlastimil Picek, Chief of the General Staff ACR, there was the 4th international conference held in Prague, dealing with command, control in Network Enabled Capability environment: NEC-IV. The conference was organized by the Institute for Strategical Studies, Defence University Brno, in cooperation with the Department Communications and Information Systems, DoD, and the Department of the Development of Forces-Operational Department, DoD, last but not least with a civilian Carolina Agency, as NEC principles could be utilized even in civil sector. The conference is regarded as a step from theory...
ACR Logistics: the 2nd Phase of ReformMilitary professional
Prof. Ing. Petr Hajna, CSc.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 131-135
ACR Logistics: the 2nd Phase of Reform by Prof. Ing. Petr Hajna, CSc. In its opening part, the article enumerates a short summary of tasks that were met in 2007, in the period of the first phase of ACR reform. At the same time the author marks out the tasks for its second phase in 2008. Logistics involves obtaining, maintaining, and transporting military personnel, supplies, and equipment. Now, we lay emphasis on the preparation of a new logistics concept in frame of outsourcing system (concentrated on optimalization of the employment of civilian companies for appointed goods and services); development and reconstruction of Maintaining Material Base...
Professional, or Professionalized NCO Corps?Military professional
CSM Dušan Rovenský
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 136-156
Professional, or Professionalized NCO Corps by CSM Dušan Rovenský. This article covers the process of transition from conscript army to entirely professional, allvolunteer force (AVF). It deals with the role and responsibilities of NCOs generally, rank and grade structure, career rules, NCOs' training and education. The author identifies the problems of a rapid professionalization, discusses the possibilities for improvement and finally suggests the possible solutions to those problems. Among others, there is some sort of misunderstanding as far as Other Ranks/Enlisted corps is concerned. The Czech translations of those ranks do not always correspond...
Simulation Centres for Training and Preparations of Mechanized and Armoured Units of the ACRMilitary professional
Mjr. Ing. Václav Suchý
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 157-161
Many years ago, in our army we commenced to build simulators and trainers for the preparation of military specialists in various fields of military skills. Mechanized and armour units have two simulations centres. In Brno, there is the simulation centre for battalion level and above, at Vyškov, there is the centre up to company level. Simulators and trainers are devices or systems that simulate specific conditions or the characteristics of a real process for the purposes military training. Today, most vocational training occurs in simulators, which save both time and money. Different simulators can faithfully simulate nearly every element of a fight....
The Elements of Arty Support to Division, Brigade and Battalion Task ForcesMilitary professional
Kpt. Ing. Michal Sobarňa, Ph.D., pplk. Ing. Josef Vondrák
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 162-171
At present, artillery problems are rather neglected. Artillery brigade, which consists of two arty battalions, can form two division task forces, up to two brigade task forces, or several battalion task forces. This presupposes establishing unified chain of command points. At present, we may form three main command points of division, brigade and battalion task force. The author depicts tasks and missions of individual levels of task forces, their composition, main elements of command and control. Special attention is paid to centres of combat support, or places of combat support at battalion level. At present, commanders of combat units do not use...
Tactical Vehicles without Crew PersonnelMilitary professional
Ing. Josef Nastoupil
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 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....
Israeli Air Raid on a Syrian Site and Cyber AttackMilitary professional
Ing. Josef Nastoupil
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 177-179
Officially Israel kept quiet about the 5 September 2007 air raid in northeast Syria. Reports indicated that the Israeli operation was triggered by the arrival of a North Korean cargo ship carrying suspected nuclear materials. Israel used electronic attack in air strike against Syrian mystery target. Syrian air defence infrastructure is based on for the most part aging Soviet missiles and radars. This air attack means that Israel is beginning to win cyber war battles. For several decades Israel has maintained a policy of preventing any nation in the Middle East from acquiring nuclear weapons, e.g. in 1981 Israel destroyed the nuclear reactor and thus...
Methods Used in Teaching Foreign LanguagesLanguage preparation
Kpt. Ing. Petra Vráblíková, Ph.D.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 180-188
How to master foreign language? There are many methods the teacher can use. The authoress enumerates at least the most important ones: grammatical-translation method and communicative language teaching. Both methods are subdivided into smaller groups, emphasizing different aspects of teaching. The second method puts the stress on communication in practical life. The teacher is only a mediator, learners (students) take over responsibility for mastering foreign language. The language is used prevalently in tangible social context. This method could be called "natural approach". The language acquisition is hard and demands extreme efforts. It is 206 never...
Local Wars 1996 and Tension Epicentres 2007 (Book Review and Comparative Study)Book review
PhDr. Antonín Rašek
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 189-195
The author compares two scholarly books: World's Tension Epicentres by M. Šlachta (published in 2007) and Security Policy of the Czech Republic by the team of authors headed Jaroslav Janda. The latter study of 1996 uses different terminology: instead of today's favourite teams threat or security threats, they are civilizational risks, economical risks, military risks, environmental risks and so on. The special attention is paid to undemocratic, autocratic states, violating humane rights. Those who owned nuclear weapons are regarded as especially dangerous to peace. Those risks have multiplications effects, they could be solved only by collective effort...
How Much We do Really Need (Money for National Defence)? (Reflections over the book that is not aging)Book review
Mjr. Ing. Bohuslav Pernica, Ph.D.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 196-199
This book written by Alain C. Enthoven, and K. Wayne Smith, was published some forty years ago, but its leading ideas do not grow old. It is a work of enduring value and listing relevance, this book is both a classic account of the application of powerful ideas to the problem of managing the U.S. Ministry of Defence (DoD) and a cautionary history of the controversies inspired by that successful effort ...206 Defence secretary Robert S. Namara's device was a new system for allocation defence resources, the Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System (PPBS). Most of those decisions are taken as bedrock defence policy today, and the methods have become...
Ing. Edvard Polok-Veteran World War II, Member of the Anders ArmyPersonal data
Petr Majer (Col., ret.)
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 2/2008: 200-201
Mr. Polok was born in 1923 in the nationally mixed country of Silesia (Cieszyn). After Nazi Germany invaded Poland, his parents were forced to sing up the so-called Voklsliste No 3. Shortly after that he was call up to serve as a soldier in the German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht). His unit was stationed in Italy. There he met contingents of Polish troops which were the first that reached Lombardy. He joined the national Polish forces known as the Anders Army (Lt.Gen. Wladyslaw Anders). This Polish Army was subordinated to the Polis-governmentin-exile in London, nevertheless fought alongside the Red Army. He served as a Jeep driver, took part in the fights...