Final Word from Monday, January 15, 2024

Czechs have been hearing from the Fiala cabinet for nearly two years that if Ukraine is allowed to fall, Russian tanks will head for Prague. The cabinet's new security strategy says that Russia will remain a threat regardless of the outcome of the war and calls for a "whole of government" and "whole of society" approach to defense. "Only this can withstand the complexity of today's threats," the document says. "Defense is not just the responsibility of the defense ministry and armed forces, but of the entire state and public administration and of society as a whole. Also important are involving the citizens in the defense of the country, promoting military traditions, boosting the social prestige of serving in the armed forces and the state administration, and having effective strategic communications." Since the shooting at Charles Univ. on Dec. 21, this has been put aside, and Interior Min. Vít Rakušan is now talking about denying rifles to anyone but hunters. If he intends to rewrite the gun laws and to demilitarize society, he also needs to rewrite the security strategy and to explain who's going to stop the Russians as they cross the borders. [ Czech Republic civil defense right to bear arms long arms Petr STAN ]