Final Word from Wednesday, August 5, 2026

As of today, the inflow of fresh workers into the Czech logistics, construction and industrial sectors will decline significantly because of new EU rules for granting temporary protection to Ukrainian men of military age. After four and a half years of war, the Ukrainian government has finally convinced the EU to crack down on draft dodgers, or at least the new ones. Just last week Pres. Tomáš Prouza of the SOCR retailers' union said that Ukrainian men who arrive at the start of their career are doubly important, because there's a chance they'll find a new home here and continue to work for decades, pay taxes and support the social system. Such comments unmask why some Czech businesspeople are big supporters of the Ukrainian war effort. Dwight D. Eisenhower famously warned about the military-industrial complex and the threat it posed to democracy. There's also a sort of military-logistical complex of companies not directly part of the war machine but just as eager to profit from the opportunities war offers. [ evade compulsory military service European Union refugees ]