BFBS Sitrep

Discussions are underway about further British military action to combat the crisis in Syria, In Yemen, the humanitarian situation worsens as Iran becomes involved. Find out what keeps The Chief of the Air Staff awake at night. And we hear from the latest in a quick succession of Labour Shadow Defence Ministers PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate Gerbeau Studio guest: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee SYRIA/RUSSIA Former Kremlin advisor Alexander Nekrassov and BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee. AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SIR STEPHEN HILLIER Interview with BFBS Reporter James Hirst.. YEMEN Former British Ambassador to Yemen and now head of the Middle East Region at Christian Aid. SHADOW LABOUR DEFENCE SECRETARY NIA GRIFFITH Kate Gerbeau interview THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web, App & DAB in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) Sky Channel 0211 Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.

SITREP TRAIL THURS, 6th October   How long can Russia’s President Putin support President Assad in Syria?   The Prime Minister says British Forces are a special case when it comes to human rights prosecutions - but is she right?   Plus, find out what HMS Ocean is doing on Exercise Albanian Lion.   And, what's it REALLY like to work for MI5?  A former soldier gives us an insider’s view     PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate Gerbeau Studio guest: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee   SYRIA/RUSSIA/US Professor of Peace Studies Paul Rogers from the University of Bradford And BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee   EXERCISE ALBANIAN LION Captain Rob Pedre commander of HMS Ocean,   HUMAN RIGHTS/BRITISH FORCES BFBS Reporter James Hirst talking to Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon   Soldier, Spy – book review Former Mi5 agent, Tom Marcus - author of Soldier, Spy     THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases   You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web, App & DAB in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) Sky Channel 0211 Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.

SITREP TRAIL THURS, 29th  September (Kate presents)   Why is the RAF sending Typhoons to South Korea?   Who's winning the war of words over Syria - Moscow or Washington?   What's the Big Idea which will shape the future of the British Army?   And, Yemen's forgotten war - is Saudi Arabia targeting civilians using British made bombs?

On the show this week: British troops face a fresh wave of criminal investigations into alleged abuse in Afghanistan. Could Islamic State will be out of Iraq within months? In a world at war, yesterday was world peace day – but who knew? UN Peacekeeping - who writes the rules for the soldiers on the ground? And are you looking for a new job?  Try MI6  -  find out more on Sitrep. PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate Gerbeau Studio guest: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee IHAT – criminal investigations BFBS Reporter Charlotte Banks HCDC Report – Lewis BFBS Reporter James Hirst interview with Commons Defence Committee Chairman Julian Lewis. Syria Ceasefire BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee UN Peacekeeping Colonel Richard Westley, talks about his new book "Operation Insanity: The Dramatic True Story of the Mission that Saved Ten Thousand Lives." World peace Dan Smith who is Director of SIPRI - that's the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

SITREP TRAIL THURS, 15th  September   In Syria the cease-fire appears to holding, but will it make any difference long-term?   There are fresh calls for a new European Army - but not everyone wants one.   It's a hundred years since the first tank went into battle, do we still need them today   And why the American military is facing an obesity crisis.   PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate Gerbeau Studio guest: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee     SYRIA CEASEFIRE Hamish de Bretton Gordon, a former Army Officer who now advises NGOs in Syria, and BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee   EU DEFENCE anthony King is Professor of War Studies at the University of Warwick.   DEFENCE SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT ON RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee   100 YEARS OF TANKS David Willey is Curator of the Tank Museum   FAT US TROOPS Former Royal Marine, triple amputee and now peak performance coach Mark Ormrod.     THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases   You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web, App & DAB in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) Sky Channel 0211 Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.

Keeping the peace – what’s happening at the UN Peacekeeping Conference in London? Find out about the US Presidential candidates’ defence policies, And, how Russia might try and disrupt the American elections.  Also this week, is the IS propaganda machine running out of steam? PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate Gerbeau Studio guest: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee UN Peacekeeping Conference BFBS reporter James Hirst South Sudan BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee US Presidential elections Simon Marks from Feature Story News Russia spying Dana Priest, an investigative writer for the Washington Post ISIS Media Charlie Winter, associate fellow for the International Centre for Counter-terrorism, at the Hague THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web, App & DAB in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) Sky Channel 0211 Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.

Why the former head of the Army has apologised over the malaria drug. Why Pakistan has a crucial role to play in Afghanistan’s stability. Why employers are being given an insight into Army training in Croatia And, should British military personnel who are wounded or killed in service be awarded with a medal based on America's Purple Heart? PRESENTER THIS WEEK: TIM COOPER Studio guests: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee & military historian, Major General Julian Thompson. OTHER INTERVIEWS:  LARIAM Colonel Andrew Marriott (who was prescribed lariam) BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee. & military historian Major General Julian Thompson. AFGHANISTAN Anthony King is Professor in War Studies at the University of Warwick. PAKISTAN Kyle Orton - a Middle East analyst and Research Fellow with the think tank the Henry Jackson Society. EU ARMY Military historian Major General Julian Thompson. CROATIA/Army Reserves BFBS Reporter Ali Gibson MILITARY MEDAL BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee. THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web, App & DAB in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) Sky Channel 0211 Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.

On this week’s (today’s) SITREP, presenter Tim Cooper is joined by our defence analyst Christopher Lee and Professor Paul Rogers from the University of Bradford.   On the table for discussion are the latest developments involving the Turkish military in northern Syria. We have an exclusive report from northern Iraq where British forces are training local fighters in the battle against IS militants.   Plus we find out more about the small boats that formed a special unit of the Royal Navy – and played a key part in the Second World War.   (Broadcast times etc as stated previously)  

SITREP TRAIL THURS, 18th August   Is Putin spreading his wings across Europe and is Nato’s response enough?   Are the Chinese really sending spies to Hinkley Point?   Why MI6 will miss the UK's top Jihadist PR man.   Why did UN troops ignore rape victims in South Sudan?   And medals and flag waving in Rio - the non-military tattoo.     PRESENTER THIS WEEK: KATE GERBEAU Studio guest: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee   OTHER INTERVIEWS:    RUSSIA/PUTIN International commentator and former presenter of the BBC's The World Tonight Robin Lustig, and BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee.   CHINESE SPIES Anthony Glees, Professor of politics at Buckingham University   CHOUDARY International commentator and former presenter of the BBC's The World Tonight Robin Lustig.   SOUTH SUDAN the former Director General of the Royal United Services Institute, Professor Michael Clarke.   NORTH KOREA DEFECTION International commentator and former presenter of the BBC's The World Tonight Robin Lustig.     OLYMPICS BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee.     THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases   You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web, App & DAB in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) Sky Channel 0211 Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.

PRESENTER THIS WEEK: TIM COOPER SITREP TRAIL THURS, 11th August In Afghanistan  - could  the Taliban be about to take back control of Lashkar Gar? In Syria – a humanitarian crisis emerges and Assad launches barrel bomb strikes Russia re-boots its armed forces, there’s no junk and it's all hi-tech. And, an audience with the Chilcot Report...The Iraq Inquiry gets the Edinburgh Fringe treatment. PRESENTER THIS WEEK: TIM COOPER Studio guest: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee OTHER INTERVIEWS:  11th August AFGHANISTAN Military analyst Eric Grove and BFBS defence Analyst Christopher Lee. SYRIA Fawaz Gerges is Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics RUSSIA TURKEY Military analyst Eric Grove and BFBS defence Analyst Christopher Lee. RUSSIA CAPABILITY Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Sir Richard Shirreff. CHILCOT AT THE FRINGE BFBS reporter, Ali Gibson at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web, App & DAB in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) Sky Channel 0211 Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.