The commander of the special forces group, then their director – meanwhile a graduate of the prestigious US Rangers course or flight attendant – and finally the deputy commander of the NATO Northeast Multinational Division in Elblag, Poland. Such is, in a nutshell, the business card of the candidate for the Chief of the Czech General Staff, Karel ehka. So, not to mention all levels of national military education, other foreign courses or internships – such as elite British cadets at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, but also years of collaboration with leading Czech academics.

“Karel ehka was one of the few who had considerable academic potential, which allowed him to see far beyond normal military operations. He was also the author of a number of studies and orthodox ideas,” said the professor from the highest military position. Miroslav BartaEgyptologist and archaeologist, author of the theory of the seven laws of the development of civilization.

Several years ago, Bárta, together with ehka and other Czech academics, organized a seminar on the changing nature of the world and its significance for the American Armed Forces in Washington, DC. “His strategic global thinking has been fully reflected there. He was a soldier, although currently a civilian, who was world class in his field. He wasn’t even an ordinary soldier. In many ways he reminds me of another general, an American James Mattis‘ added Professor Bárta.

And like others, he reminded that ehka experienced the horrors of war where he risked his life during the Czech army’s overseas mission. According to available data, he went through dozens of very difficult battles with his specialists in Afghanistan and always came home with everyone.

“This will make an excellent successor for General Aleš Opat (In office ended June 30 – editor’s note) with great benefits for our society. Moreover, he loves his country without great sadness and demeanor, as is often the case with other high-ranking officials, but more deeply,” concluded Bárta.

A warrior from another world?

“Karel has always worked for me as a soldier from another world. In my opinion, he left the army from the very prestigious post of Deputy Commander of NATO’s Multinational Division before his time to lead. NKIBbecause he couldn’t imagine the close cooperation with several representatives of the General Staff,” explained first commander ehk Karel Klinovskwhere the current director of NÚKIB joined in 1997 as a new lieutenant in the 6th Special Brigade in Prostějov.

“He was never an ordinary soldier, I mean his extraordinary determination, but also modesty. He never passed a corpse, but he always achieved his goal,” added Klinovsk.

The forty-seven year old Brigadier General ehka came to the ward with much taller comrades. “Either they will exhale and honor the rank of ehk a few degrees lower and honor him, or they will prefer to enter into civilian life. The war is almost behind us and there is no time to play soldiers and compare who has more seeds on their shoulders. ,” pointed out the classmate ehk. General Staff, military historian Eduard Stehlik.

According to him, there are several young, but already highly experienced and capable officers in the General Staff, who can immediately replace any “dissatisfaction” with the immediate arrival of the ehk.

“That the current generals have one or two more stars? So what. None of them lead a large military long term, let alone an international group like ehka. Besides, the guides speak English, which is still a problem for some. general, “added Karel Klinovsk.

On Friday, during discussions on the appointment of ehk by the Defense Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, MP Karel Krejza (ODS) also commented: “The number of stars has not confirmed anyone’s authority.”

The Minister of Defense is on the same committee Jana ernochová (ODS) announced that the twelve generals were ending their service and giving future chiefs of staff the freedom to choose their closest associates. “I’m sure he will choose an army whose capabilities meet the needs of today’s modern army.”

When Klinovsk learned of ehk’s appointment to lead the army, he summed up the meaning of this move in two sentences: “This is a turning point. And it is still a weak expression.” Klinovsky accidentally touched on another of ehk’s qualifications, knowledge above the standards of the NATO Air Force, whose engines he piloted in English to carry out airstrikes or strikes. Even minor negligence or ignorance can lead to tragedy while piloting the aircraft.

A losing battle but useful for ehka

For the reasons mentioned, but also because of the war in Ukraine, according to security analysts, Karel ehka will not be easy, at least initially as Chief of Staff. However, it was never easy in the army due to unorthodox ideas. For example, at a time when he drew attention to unfavorable military deals.

Former Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Industrial Cooperation Milan Mikulecký (now security consultant in the Middle East) he mentions, for example, the massive sale of Soviet machine guns, but still very strong DK, who has proven himself to the special forces in Afghanistan. At that time, the General Staff agreed with the Czech arms makers.

“There are a lot of them in the army’s arsenal. Never even used. These older, but very high-quality and powerful weapons, for example, have no competition in Afghanistan.” describes Mikulecký.

Karel ehka led us to this suspicious business absurdity (Due to pressure from gunsmiths on army commandos, this trade was also criticized by some high-ranking army officers – ed. note) he warns, so we try to prevent the trade. However, the head of the Special Forces, ehka, was reprimanded by his boss for his warning, and the arms lobby won in the end,” continued Mikuleck, who, according to his words, later noted an attempt to get rid of the always-criticizing commander.

General Staff as a paper mill?

A special part of ehk’s military career was his extensive publishing activity. In the context of the war in Ukraine, a book rated by security analysts stands out Information war (2017), which draws attention to the perils of the Kremlin-led information and hybrid operations. Not to mention the other studies mentioned by Professor Miroslav Bárta.

One of his studies “Do We Need to Play War? The Importance of the National Defense War Game” – co-published with leading academics, scientists or politicians in the book “On the interface – crises and changes in the world today“(2016) – it caused hatred in the army command. ehka stated in it that the army is considered in the Czech Republic as everything possible, but not as a tool to lead the fight.

“Let’s take a look at the average General Staff Officer. How much time did he spend preparing for war and especially his personal readiness? fight,” ehka stated at the time, detailing, that it was just his personal opinion.

He added: “However, most of the energy and time is devoted to bureaucracy, administration and other support activities, which have now become commonplace in the lives of their commanders and staff. They are completely absorbed by the ‘noise’ and – sadly – evaluated for it. The company is to blame.”

In short, according to Eduard Stehlík, this means that the General Staff has been preparing for the last war for years, and not for the current war, hybrid, informational and, of course, hot one. According to analysts, ehk’s experience with the leadership of NÚKIB was one of the biggest benefits of his return to the army.

Four years ago, ehka reacted to the words of former Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek about the meaning of the Czech army’s work in Afghanistan, which he described as a poor and low profile personal on Facebook. Therefore, the politicians proposed that ehek be punished for the then Minister of Defense.

“I am ashamed, I am ashamed, I am ashamed. I am sad, I want to cry, I am sick, I want to vomit and I am angry. Misery, misery, humiliation like that, I can’t breathe it. I as a citizen of the Czech Republic,” said ehka at the time.

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