BFBS Sitrep

(First broadcast on Thursday 4th June 2015 at 4.30pm)     Who’s our biggest threat – Islamic State or Russia? And should the UK send ground troops to fight alongside the Iraqi Army? One former British Army Commander thinks they should. Will America’s snooping restrictions have an impact on British Intelligence?   Could there be major development problems for the carriers’ new F35 fighter jets?   And why Forces’ sport is an integral part of military life …………………………       --------------------------- PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate Gerbeau STUDIO GUEST:    BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee OTHER INTERVIEWS:      Defence Cuts BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee     Ukraine/ISIS Professor Paul Rogers from the department of peace studies at the University of Bradford   ISIS in Iraq Lieutenant General Graeme Lamb served in Iraq as Deputy Commanding General of the multi-national force. F35s Former Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Sharkey Ward Amercian & British intelligence gathering Richard Norton-Taylor who writes for the Guardian on defence and security matters   Forces Sport BFBS Reporter Julian Evans     THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2and 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: Kate Gerbeau   (First broadcast on Thursday 28th May 2015 at 4.30pm)   Find out how the next SDSR is shaping up.   What the new Crowsnest surveillance system will mean for the Royal Navy.   Why Obama has spoken out about Russian’s aggression towards Ukraine.   And, why China could be heading for a show-down with the US over the disputed South China Islands. And from British Soldier to Blackwater - life as a security contractor in Iraq. --------------------------- PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate Gerbeau STUDIO GUEST:    BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee OTHER INTERVIEWS:    QUEEN’S SPEECH AND  SDSR BFBS reporter James Hirst interview with Professor Malcolm Chalmers, from the Defence and Security think tank - The Royal United Services Institute,   CROWSNEST SURVEILLANCE FOR THE ROYAL NAVY. Commander Graham Edmonds, Vice Chairman, at the UK National Defence Association.   RUSSIAN/NATO/UKRAINE. Professor Michael Stathis from the University of Southern Utah & BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee.   CHINA &  THE DISPUTED SOUTH CHINA ISLANDS. Mark Stone Asia Correspondent for Sky News.   BLACKWATER One former British soldier talks about his time as a Blackwater contractor in Iraq.     THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2and 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.

(First broadcast on Thursday 21st May 2015 at 4.30pm)   AS IS gathers ground in both Syria & Iraq, Sitrep speaks to a leading expert on Islamic State as the militants continue to gather ground in Iraq and Syria. Also this week, is America sending weapons into space? Nato chiefs of staff list new security challenges. And why more people are dying in conflict despite fewer wars being fought.   --------------------------- PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate Gerbeau STUDIO GUEST:    BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee OTHER INTERVIEWS:    Abdel Bari Atwan, author of "Islamic State - The Digital Caliphate" BFBS reporter Victoria Smith interview with the International Institute for Strategic Studies Director of transnational threats and political risk, Nigel Inkster, as it publishes its 2015 Armed Conflict Survey. X-37B Spacecraft  with Kenneth Chang ,Science Reporter from The New York Times, BFBS reporter James Hirst talks to the people behind a new film giving a unique insight into the Afghan Army in Helmand .  "Tell Spring Not To Come This Year"   THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2and 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: Kate Gerbeau   In Syria - have the Generals had enough of Assad? Is NATO lining up it's Baltic army? Who will be the new Chair of the Defence Select Committee? RAF Chinooks are being prevented from helping in Nepal. Has Britain sent the wrong type of helicopter? And some right royal opinions have aired about the Ministry of Defence.   --------------------------- PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate Gerbeau STUDIO GUEST:           BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee OTHER INTERVIEWS:    Sir Andrew Green, a former British Ambassador in Damascus.   Former Chief of the General  Staff, Lord Dannatt, discussing the possibility of Nato troops being deployed to Baltic states. The Conservative MP Colonel Bob Stewart talking to Tim Cooper about the now vacant position of Chair of Commons Defence Select Committee.   Nepal Aid - Yurendra Basnett , Research Fellow from the Overseas Development Institute (ODI)     THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2and 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

KATE GERBEAU PRESENTS TODAY   (First broadcast on Thursday 7th May 2015 at 4.30pm)   70 years on from VE Day...how did the Second World War change the world?Plus, what’s the experts verdict on what's in store for the NEXT seventy years?Why the West should understand how Russia’s past has influenced its presentAnd...how Dynamic Mongoose is taking the North Sea by storm.---------------------------PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate GerbeauSTUDIO GUEST: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee & Dr Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford   OTHER INTERVIEWS:  Grand Strategy  - looking ahead Professor Malcolm Chalmers from the Royal United Services InstituteRussia/VE Day - Mary Dejevsky (DEJ-EV-SKEE) from The Independent.EXERCISE MONGOOSE – Dr Paul Rogers   THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2and 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 0211Alternatively listen again on the website

How Gurkha engineers and the RAF are providing aid to Nepal Trident - why the debate goes on? There's a new man in charge of Northern Cyprus, will that help the stalled peace talks? And Britain's Greatest Generation with stories of VE Day and beyond. --------------------------- PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Paula Middlehurst STUDIO GUEST:           BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee.   OTHER INTERVIEWS:  NEPAL AID EFFORT Ghurka Welfare Trust chairman; General Sir Peter Wall speaking to James Hirst and BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee TRIDENT Interview with former Chief of the Defence Staff Lord Boyce, and BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee NEW PRESIDENT OF NORTHERN CYPRUS Correspondent - Mike Theodoulou BOOK REVIEW   Sue Elliot, Co-Author of "Britain's Greatest Generation”

The Mediterranean migrants crisis…did we heed the warnings?   The use of drones -  are we being told everything?   100 years on what did we learn from Gallipoli?   and…with two weeks to go…what are the main defence issues dominating the election?     --------------------------- PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate Gerbeau   STUDIO GUESTS: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee and former Royal Marine, Major General Julian Thompson.     OTHER INTERVIEWS:    General Sir Nick Parker, former Commander, Land Forces speaking to BFBS reporter James Hirst ahead of the general election on defence issues.     Book review with author Chris Woods, a former BBC Panorama producer whose new book is Sudden Justice, America’s Secret Drone Wars

How the US UK Joint Exercise in The States is helping to cement the special relationship. Russia - The Big Question, should we be frightened of Putin? Find out about the report on Britain's nuclear deterrent that no-body wants published. In Syria, Is President Assad still using chlorine and cyanide in attacks against his own people? And The Election - why no one wants to talk defence.   PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate Gerbeau     STUDIO GUESTS: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee,

(First broadcast on Thursday 9th April 2015 at 4.30pm) The Tories want to talk Trident - but what does it mean to voters? Why is Iran sending ships to Yemen? Where are North Korea's missing missiles? And why 2015 is a big year for the Gurkhas... --------------------------- PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate Gerbeau   STUDIO GUESTS: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee,     OTHER INTERVIEWS:  Naval Historian and defence strategist Professor Eric Grove on Trident.   Edward Schwarck is a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute specialising in Asia Studies, discussing Japan.   Lal Shahi,(POR: Lal Shar-hee) the Manager of BFBS Gurkha Radio service down in Shorncliffe, on the Gurkha 200 Anniversary celebrations.   75th Anniversary of the Second World War's 'Battle of Narvik', Ron Cope has written a book on the battle. It's called "Attack at Dawn'   THURSDAYS at 4:30 UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2and at 6:30 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 webb, 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

Is President Putin threatening to use nuclear warheads over the Baltic States?   Is the MOD's anti-malaria drug safe?   Will defence be an election winner on May 7th?     And Christopher Lee explains what happened to the dead teeth at the Battle of Waterloo.