Army-chief-of-staff: Czech army preparing for worst-case scenario

The Czech army is preparing for a worst-case scenario –a global military conflict with the use of nuclear weapons, Czech army-chief-of staff, Karel Řehka, said at an assembly of the army command on Tuesday. The escalation potential is growing and if a conflict between Russia and NATO were to break out, the Czech army would be an active participant from the first minute, Řehka said, noting that such a conflict would impact the country’s military, its infrastructure and the life of its citizens. The general said that aside from Russia there was a growing threat from international terrorism. Addressing the gathering, President Petr Pavel spoke about the explosive situation in the Middle East. The terrorist attack by the Palestinian radical movement Hamas was intended to provoke a very strong reaction from Israel and thus turn international public opinion against the Jewish state, Pavel said.