BFBS Radio Sitrep

(First broadcast on Thursday 29th January 2015 at 4.30pm)

Is Moscow playing a game of Russian roulette in international affairs?

What are the recruitment challenges for the UK military?

Why is the MOD spending 30 million on an upgrade to armoured vehicles?

Find out what HMS Kent is doing in the Indian Ocean.

And the thoughts and memories of the former Royal Naval pilot – who witnessed the Nazi cruelty at a Second World War concentration camp.

PRESENTER THIS WEEK : Kate Gerbeau

STUDIO GUESTS: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee,

OTHER INTERVIEWS: 

RUSSIA/UKRAINE /EU/NATO

Doctor Andrew Foxall, Director of Russia Studies at the think tank the Henry Jackson Society

Air Vice Marshall Mike Harwood discussing manpower

Defence equipment minister Philip Dunne speaking to BFBS

reporter Will Inglis about  d the UK's armoured vehicles .

HMS Kent’s Captain, Commander Andrew Block, discussing the ship’s counter-piracy operations.

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY.

Former British serviceman Eric Winkle Brown speaking to Kate Gerbeau

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

(First broadcast on Thursday 15th January 2015 at 4.30pm)

After the Paris terror attacks, the former head of GCHQ explains the fine line between freedom of speech and being spied on

Why NATO’s stepping up operations in the Baltic?

The Archbishiop of Jos (a prominent archbishop) in Nigeria tells Sitrep why the international community must take action against Boko Haram.

And how 15 years of diversity in the Military has changed the British Forces for the better.

PRESENTER THIS WEEK : Kate Gerbeau

STUDIO GUESTS: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee,

OTHER INTERVIEWS: 

Professor Sir David Omand, former head of GCHQ, discussing intelligence and security in the aftermath of the Paris attacks.

Charlie Winter from Quilliam, looking at counter radicalisation

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos in Nigeria

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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

How British intelligence can help the French capture the Charlie Hebdo (pro: Heb-doh) assassins.
 
Why the US Airforce is pulling out of Mildenhall.
 
Russia rethinks how to use its military, so do we need to rethink ours?
 
Can the Reserve Forces increase their numbers in 2015?
 
Australian Historian Peter Fitzsimons (pro: Fitz Simons as in boys name) discusses his new book “Gallipoli”.
 
PRESENTER THIS WEEK : Kate Gerbeau
 
STUDIO GUESTS: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee,

 
OTHER INTERVIEWS: 
 
BFBS reporter James Hirst interview with former Lib Dem leader Sir Ming Campbell who sits on the intelligence and security committee
 
BFBS reporter Tim Cooper speaks to  the former first Sea Lord, Admiral Lord West about Russia’s new military doctrine.
 
Julian Brazier ,Minister for the Reserves, discusses recruiting issues
 
Australian Historian Peter Fitzsimons discusses his new book “Gallipoli”.
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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

SITREP 18 DEC 2014

(First broadcast on Thursday 18th December 2014 at 4.30pm, and 18.30)

It’s been quite a year for global events and this week Sitrep looks back at some of the big stories the programme has covered in 2014, including ISIS, Ukraine and Climate change. 

And as we head towards 2015 with a General Election on the way - what’s in store for British Forces?

Find out in this week’s Sitrep with Kate Gerbeau and guests.

PRESENTER THIS WEEK : Kate Gerbeau

STUDIO GUESTS: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee, the BBC’s diplomatic Editor, Bridget Kendall and Professor Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford.

Russian tanks are back in Ukraine, so what’s Putin’s long term plan & what can NATO do?

British troops complete their withdrawal from Afghanistan so who’s left to make the peace work?

Ebola - How long can the army stay in Sierra Leone?

And we hear from a man whose business is Remembrance all year round

PRESENTER THIS WEEK : Kate Gerbeau

STUDIO GUEST: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee & former

OTHER INTERVIEWS: 

BBC’s Diplomatic Editor Bridget Kendall discussing Russia and Ukraine.

BFBS reporter Fiona Weir interview with Commander of the British Forces, Brigadier James Stopford.

Armed Forces Minister, Mark Francois talking to Josella Waldron

Steve Douglas who runs the British Grenadier Bookshop in Ypres?

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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

Are technology companies trailing in the wake of cyber terrorists?

The American diplomatic who says the US/UK relationship really is “special”

Plus, what lessons can we learn from the Western Front?

And 25 years, the impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

PRESENTER THIS WEEK : Kate Gerbeau

STUDIO GUEST: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee & former

OTHER INTERVIEWS: 

The former director of GCHQ, Professor Sir David Omand.

The American Ambassador to London, Matthew Barzun

BFBS presenter, Steve Britton.

British troops are on their way to Sierra Leone to help in the fight against Ebola but is the world’s reaction too little, too late?

The Former Chief of the Defence Staff Lord Richards talks tough on spending.

The Army prepares for Exercise Black Eagle in Poland.

And, the North Korean leader is back in action in North Korea…or is he?

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PRESENTER: Kate Gerbeau

STUDIO GUEST: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee

OTHER INTERVIEWS: 

BBC’s Mark Doyle from the Ghanaian capital Accra, discussing the Ebola crisis.

BFBS reporter Tim Cooper reporting from RFA Argus before it departs for Africa.

Exercise Black Eagle with BFBS reporter Rob Olver

Former Chief of the Defence Staff, General Lord Richards speaking about Ebola, IS and defence spending.

Korean expert Andrea Berger from RUSI

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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

PRESENTER: Kate Gerbeau

STUDIO GUEST: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee & Professor Paul Rogers from the department of peace studies at the University of Bradford.

OTHER INTERVIEWS: 

BFBS reporter James Hirst, covering events in Westminster.

Tanya Abbraham from YouGov's political and social research team, on UK public opinion on airstrikes in Iraq & Syria.

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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

Obama says no boots on the ground in Iraq but his military chief says otherwise – who’s right?

How the military is trying to contain the Ebola threat.

And find out why Hitler’s desk is on display at a military museum in Dorset.

PRESENTER: Kate Gerbeau

STUDIO GUEST: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee

OTHER INTERVIEWS: 

Michael Stathis,Professor of Political Science and
International Relations at the University of Southern Utah, on US strategy in Iraq.

Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics, discussing the brutality of Islamic State.

Hamish De Bretton Gordon, a former British army chemical weapons officer, talking about the Ebola threat and military involvement.

BFBS reporter Tim Cooper reporting from the Keep Military Museum in Dorchester on  one very unusual object:

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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

Find out how America’s going to deal with Islamic State and is Britain likely to join in?
 
It’s one week until Scotland votes Yes or No, Sitrep answers YOUR questions about the big day.
 
Plus: the latest phase in the British Army’s First World War commemorations
 
And it’s Game On for Invictus
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PRESENTER: Kate Gerbeau
 
STUDIO GUEST: BFBS defence analyst Christopher Lee
 
OTHER INTERVIEWS: 
 
Director General of the Royal United Services Institute, Professor Michael Clarke discussing IS and Scotland.
 
Dr Colin Fleming, who’s a Research Fellow at the Scottish Centre on Constitutional Change at the University of Edinburgh
 
BFBS reporter Steve Britton with the British Army in France as they continue to commemorate the First World War.
 
Royal Marine Cassidy Little at the Invictus Games.
 
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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)