Czech Military Review, 2008 (vol. 89), issue 3
Cataclysm Scenario 2050-Imagining the UnthinkableNonreviewed - Other
Prof. Ing. Josef Říha, DrSc.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 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...
The Development of Society and Forces Build-upNonreviewed - Other
Pplk. Ing. Ivan Němec, Ph.D.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 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...
Centre of Gravity-the Decisive Operational Concept Part IMilitary art
Plk. gšt. Ing. Ján Spišák
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 14-19
The Centres of Gravity (COG) are characteristics, capabilities, or localities from which a military force derives its freedom of action, physical strength, or will to fight. The COG belongs among the most important operational concepts. It is the main source of power and strength. Without dermining enemy's COG we are not able to carry out any quick and resolute action, to reach ordered tasks, desired objectives. The primary purpose of this article is to offer basic information about this subject. This first part is concentrated predominantly to Carl von Clausewitz's ideas. The article especially aims on disunity and heterogeneity of comprehension of...
Theory and Practice of Management in Military EnvironmentMilitary art
Doc. Ing. Vítězslav Stodůlka, CSc., pplk. Ing. Miroslav Mašlej
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 20-24
Management consists of those continuing actions of planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, controlling, and evaluating the use of men, money, materials, and facilities to accomplish missions and tasks. Management is inherent in command, so the candidate officers are trained to execute their authority and responsibility in command. Management principles are lectured both at military graduate schools and application courses. But some themes are repeated, reduplicated; the study plans at the Military University and the Military Academy must be more coordinated, was said at the professional conference on management, held in November 2007, at the...
Defence Department and Management by ObjectivesMilitary art
Pplk. Ing. Bohuslav Pernica, Ph.D.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 25-28
Management by objectives (MBO), first outlined by Peter Drucker in the 1950s, is a systematic and organized approach that allows management to focus on achievable goals and to attain the best possible results from available resources. The tasks are delegated to subordinates without dictating a detailed roadmap for implementation. Everybody within the organization has a clear understanding of the aims, or objectives, as well as awareness of their own roles and responsibilities in achieving those aims. In the U. S. Army, MBO was implemented into The Army Plan FY 2000-2015, with 789 operational capabilities, divided into 1,248 operational standards, but...
Command and Control in EU OperationsMilitary art
Pplk. Ing. Jaroslav Kulíšek
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 29-51
This article deals with the EU command and control functions and provides basic information on the structure and capabilities of the EU CCS in Battle Group EU operations. The author describes political and strategical levels CCS (COREPER, GAERC, COPS, CivCom, EUMC, EUMS, BDE HQ, prospective EU FHQ). Only US, EU and E3 (Britain, France, Germany) are capable to realize integrated expeditional operations. The ACR can work only with cooperation with them. The Czech Republic as a small EU member state is actively engaged in the building of the Battle Group EU. The Czech Army is going to increase its expeditionary capabilities as demanded and be prepared...
Will Urgent Appeals of Former US Politicians Raise Support?Opinions, controversy
JUDr. Miroslav Tůma
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 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...
The Unrealistic Nature of Nuclear Disarmament (Comments on the article Will Urgent Appeals of Former US Politicians Raise Support?)Opinions, controversy
Plk. Ing. Tomáš Rak
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 58-60
Politicians Raise Support?) by Col. Ing. Tomáš Rak. The fact that nuclear weapons has not been employed for more over 60 years doesn't mean that they are of no use. On the contrary, they still serve as the most effective tool of determent. At present, we do not face some superpower, but a multitude of various small, namely Islamic groups. The nuclear threat has returned in the form of terrorists who, unlike Soviet Union leaders, would not hesitate to use such weapons. We face a very real possibility that the deadliest weapons ever invented could fall into dangerous hands. No treaty, no ban on such weapons, no international law will guarantee that they...
The Central Questions of Present-day Inter-Atlantic Dialogue (Transatlantic Trends and the Slovak Republic)Informational pages
PhDr. Peter Weiss, CSc.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 61-67
The recent public poll "Transatlantic Trends" indicates descending popularity of NATO among new member nations. The author (among others, the former deputy to the Slovakian National Assembly and the Council of Europe) calls upon discussion on this topic. He reminds that the primary purpose of the so-called Visegrad Group (V4-the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) was to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He offers his views on such a diverse and stimulating array of Euro-Atlantic defence and security related issues, related to the building of new European security architecture. We must bear in mind that no one can expect any single...
Europe and Radical Islam: Islamisation of EuropeInformational pages
Pavel Krčílek
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 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,...
The Internet as a Tool of "Sacred War"Informational pages
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 81-84
It is said that at present, all means and knowledge necessary for any terrorist attacks are aviable on Internet network. Islamists regard Internet as a university of a special sort, without territorial boundaries, suitable for schooling and preparation of "sacred war". Internet users are decentralized, which is suitable for guerrilla fighters. By studying Qur?an (Koran), people are opened to indoctrination with global jihad. The Qur'an states that those who die in this type of jihad automatically become martyrs of the faith and are awarded a special place in heaven. Islamic law alleges that all nations 174 must surrender to Islamic rule. Indoctrinated...
The Place and Role of Private Companies in Securing Defence Means in GermanyInformational pages
Prof. PhDr. Miroslav Krč, CSc., por. Ing. Martin Klusáček
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 85-106
The very modern trends in the forces of advanced countries are hiring private civilian companies, private enterprises, in everyday performance of armed forces. As this phenomenon is very frequent, the authors decided to go into its roots, to find a common cause of this fact. In the past, armies were closed societies, self-sufficient, independent from states. Today, gradually, soldiers became more concentrated on key military tasks and supporting functions are transferred to private companies. The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) takes over mechanics used in private sector: it integrates economy dimension. Above all, it is transparency of bookkeeping,...
English Language Teaching at the UOLanguage preparation
RNDr. Jana Beránková, PaedDr. Stanislava Jonáková, RNDr. Oldřich Kříž, PhDr. Dana Zerzánová
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 107-110
The University of Defence Brno belongs to non-philological schools of technical nature that not only offers training for military specialists, but also puts stress on foreign languages. Unlike many civilian technical graduate schools, it takes over the responsibility for language preparations and therefore studying languages is obligatory both for bachelor and graduate degrees. But in this article the authors are more concentrated on bachelor's programmes. They summarize students' answers to various questions collected at the Faculty of Military Technologies (English language, 300 teaching units), and the Faculty of Economy and Management (two foreign...
The Implementation of E-learning for English Language Teaching in the General Staff Course at the University of Defence in BrnoLanguage preparation
Mgr. Jana Stodolová
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 111-120
The article deals with the state of English e-learning on the premises of the University of Defence. The authoress introduces some pages of the electronic materials used for the General Staff Course as an example of modern methods of learning English. She explains the basic principles of the work with these exercises. There is also mentioned the military English interactive CD-Rom that was published last year and is used as the electronic support for learning military English; and also a new CD-Rom that is being developed now is mentioned because it will be used for the General Staff Course participants as well. Because of the fact that Czech military...
Reflective Principles and Teaching Foreign LanguagesLanguage preparation
Kpt. Ing. Petra Vráblíková, Ph.D.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 121-130
This article deals with the problem of theoretical base of reflective teaching methods and illustrates practical examples and recommendations of experienced language teachers. In detail it explains the structure and principles of this educational concept, and defines differences from regular teaching methods. The authoress explains both teaching and learning through critical reflection practice, how to develop critically engaged learners. She explains how to gather information on students in class in charge, and enumerates questions to be answered. Reflective thinking by means of feedback enriches both students and teachers. "Reflective" teachers are...
Decision-Making in Commander's PracticeMilitary professional
Ing. Hubert Štofko, prof. Ing. František Mazánek, CSc.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 131-135
The act of making up commander's mind is one of most important roles of leaders/managers. The science of managing or controlling ought to be employed even in everyday life of the military. The skilful or resourceful use of materials, time, etc. are the main characteristics of command and control. The purpose of this article is to outline connections in management theory, namely managerial posts, coupled with command. How we can use management theory in shooting drills or marksmanship theory in commander's decisionmaking. The authors explain sequential managerial functions, planning, organizing, staffing, analysis and their implementation into shooting...
Recruitment Process in Time of Impending Danger or WarMilitary professional
Mjr. Ing. Milan Žilínek
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 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...
The Debate on Compulsory Military Service Keeps Going (at least in German-speaking countries)Military professional
Pplk. Ing. Bohuslav Pernica, Ph.D.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 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...
Securing the Quality of Food in the aCrMilitary professional
Pplk. Ing. Radomil Novotný, prof. Ing. Aleš Komár, CSc.
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 148-155
This contribution written by two leading Czech scholars in the field of military nutrition/food deals with the quality of energetic and nutrition of food rations and allowances in the Army of the Czech Republic. The food quality is set by a prescribed index of rational nutrition, consisting of energetic values of used foodstuff and the contents of key nutrients (proteins, fats, saccharides, minerals, and vitamins). Czech defence department sets monetary values and costs of sustenance rations, continuously adapted to the growth of retail prices of food and an average structure of consumption of individual food categories for a person per day. Besides...
Terrorism and Wars in the Early 21st CenturyBook review
PhDr. Antonín Rašek
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 155-166
It is not too often we could meet such a comprehensive monograph, dealing with security problems. Among such books belongs a book by Jan Eichler, with the same title, published by Charles University Prague, 2007. The most relevant chapter, Wars waged by the U.S. and its allies after the start of global terrorism, offers a provocative question, whether democratic nations, indirectly and unintentionally, gave rise to the upsurge of antipathy amongst the states with different political constitution, resulting in acts of terror? The ambiguous assessments of American wars in Afghanistan and Iraq seem to support author?s view. According to the reviewer,...
Monograph on Present-day TerrorismBook review
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 167-169
The basic change in world's security situation after the September 11, 2001, Attacks is accompanied by raising numbers of security studies, dealing namely with the subject of terrorism. The monograph written by three authors of Defence University Brno defines categories of terrorism, its historical development, psychology, methods of attacks, their forms, consequences. The special part is consecrated to the fight against individual types of terrorism. We must value highly the general summary of literature dealing with theme of terrorism, including electronic sources. Last but not least, we must also appreciate the chronological list of the worst terrorist...
Col. RNDr. Anton Droppa, CSc. (ret.)-Veteran World War II, Airman, Geographer and SpeleologistPersonal data
Petr Majer (Col. ret.).
Vojenské rozhledy / Czech Military Review Nr. 3/2008: 170-171
He was born on June 30, 1920, in Slovakia, at a small village. After his graduation from secondary school, he had to enter the army, to fulfil his compulsory military service. He joined an air regiment, after two-year military academy was passed out as Air Force lieutenant. When the Slovak National Uprising began in 1944, against German control, the rebel Air Force flew to the former Soviet Union. His regiment was equipped by Russian airplanes La-5FN. He took part in several air fights, and finally was shot down. His comrades-in-arms died. When war ended, he became an air instructor at the military flying school at Olomouc. After the Communist coup...