Many Czechs fondly remember Yugoslavia as the place they went for their summer holidays under Socialism. But 'Yugoslavia,' in this case meant Croatia, not grimy Belgrade. As a catalogue of plane crashes and other embarrassing incidents have revealed, the Czech Republic's badly trained, poorly equipped armed forces are basically a threat to no one. They are hardly fit to participate in a NATO combat operation and would be unlikely to be asked. None that I can think of.
Words are cheap.
Czechs are pathetic cowards,' she said without looking up from her newspaper. A bit harsh, perhaps, but with an element of truth. The Czech Republic is not exactly a country steeped in martial traditions. The most warlike character in the Czech pantheon is 14th century Hussite commander Jan Zizka, whose brand of muscular Christianity aimed quite literally to strike the fear of God into his enemies. Unfortunately, the next most important Czech military figure is, however, Jaroslav Hasek's fictional creation, the Good Solider Soldier Svejk.