Czech Military to Protect US Armored Column March From Protests

The Czech army will protect the US military convoy which will cross the country as part of its "Dragoon Ride," the army's Deputy Chief-of-Staff Frantisek Maleninsky announced, adding that areas where protests, which he called "provocations" could occur have been singled out.

"We are facing questions about the extent to which our roads will be damaged," the country's Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky told Czech television.

The mayor of Vyskov, one of the Czech cities which the convoy will pass through and spend the night in, told Czech television that he does not like that he learned about the plans from the media and received no official information about it, adding that he fears a transportation collapse as a result.

Previously, Czech politicians and Internet users alike previously expressed their growing dissatisfaction with NATO's plans. Some web users even went so far as to slam Washington for spreading fascism. In the light of the Ukrainian crisis Czech civilians view NATO's "show of force" as a substantial threat to peace in the region.

In an interview with Sputnik, Eva Novotna, press-secretary of Ne základnám ("No" to bases) organization denounced the decision of the Czech government to allow the US convoy to travel across the country as a "naivety bordering on stupidity."

"It is a provocation, a demonstration of force and an attempt to split the Czech society into two implacable camps," Eva Novotna underscored.

The 1,100 mile journey, dubbed “Dragoon Ride,” will last from March 21 through April 1 and wraps up months the US Army spent training with allies in Poland and the Baltics.