BFBS Radio Sitrep

After an extraordinary week for the UK and the world, this week’s Sitrep looks at the role the military is likely play in the response to the coronavirus outbreak.

We’ve a full update on the MoD’s plans so far, and former defence minister Tobias Ellwood tells us how the military will fit into the overall response.

Michael Clarke, the former director-general at the Royal United Services Institute, remembers past occasions where the military’s been called in to help out, and chemical weapons expert Hamish de Bretton Gordon talks through the lessons from the Novichok attack in Salisbury that could come in handy in the coming weeks.

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It’s five years since Saudi Arabia first intervened in the fighting in Yemen. Since then it’s escalated into the world’s worst humanitarian disaster — and this week aid agencies have warned the situation could get even worse. We’ll hear from the Red Cross, on the ground in Yemen, on the crisis facing its population — and learn more about Saudi Arabia’s huge surge in arms imports during the conflict — and who’s selling them the weapons. Plus a special report from Africa on Britain’s growing military role in the continent, and find out more about the coming deployment to Mali. And if you thought you’d soon see the back of Vladimir Putin — think again. Find out how Russia’s leader plans to effectively become president for life with Russia analyst Stephen Dalziel Follow us @bfbssitrep

Should the military be helping in the fight against coronavirus?  

Lord Dannatt, former head of the Army, tells Sitrep his thoughts.

How British troops are training African soldiers to combat the Islamist extremists in the Sahel.

And find out what it's like to be a RAF reservist....

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Downing Street has launched a huge review of defence, security and foreign policy. It's like nothing we've seen before.  Lucy Fisher, Defence Editor at The Times and Professor Michael Clarke, Distinguished Fellow at RUSI explain how it might work.

Our reporter Sian Grzeszczyk talks to former Major General John Henderson who is now Chief Executive of Staffordshire County Council about life after service.

And Ed Jennings reports on the new technology which could make it easier for pirates to operate at sea.

Presented by Kate Gerbeau with Christopher Lee.

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The scale of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Syria is hard to comprehend.   Close to 1-million civilians — the majority women and children — have fled towards the Turkish border in the depths of winter.  Western nations, though, appear unwilling to do anything.

Germany’s president criticises the US, and Mike Pompeo insists the transatlantic alliance remains strong. We’ll look at those competing claims, and why the UK only sent a very junior representative to the first big international security conference since Brexit.

 

Sir William Patey talks about the impending peace deal in Afghanistan, the way the Taliban has managed to win a key role in deciding the country’s future, and the political pressure pushing Trump to sign the deal.

 

A lot has changed in the two decades since the government lifted the bar on gay and bisexual people serving in the armed forces.  Now a group of veterans and serving personnel - some of them instrumental in fighting to remove that ban - are giving their backing to a new charity called "Fighting with Pride".

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The Army has some rare good news on the shortfalls in its ranks.  It is about to meet its recruitment target for the first time since it started a controversial private partnership with Capita in 2012.

The cabinet reshuffle didn't go quite as expected but are there any defence implications?  We talk to Lucy Fisher, Defence Editor at the The Times

Africa’s Sahel region, is currently at the centre of huge conflict and displacement with different armed groups, including Al Qaeda and Islamic State moving in. We talk to Paul Melly, consulting fellow at Chatham House.

The United States is a hundred percent committed to NATO.  So says a US General involved in the planning of the largest deployment of U.S.-based forces to Europe for an exercise in more than 25 years.

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President Trump’s made his annual State of the Union address to Congress.  Malcolm Brown from Feature Story News in Washington explains how it went down with the voters and Dr Karin von Hippel the Director General of RUSI talks about the current state of Britain’s relationship with the US.

Does the United Nations need reform? Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the UN, is angry because countries are ignoring security council resolutions. 

The new chairman of the House of Commons Defence Committee, Tobias Ellwood, tells us what he hopes to achieve in the job.

And aviation expert Paul Beaver gives his view on the RAF’s new Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

Presented by Kate Gerbeau with Christopher Lee.

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The Government’s made its decision on Huawei and the new 5G Network – but is it the right one?  James Sullivan, head of Cyber Research at the Royal United Services Institute looks at the concerns surrounding the announcement.

As we remember the Holocaust, why are we ignoring the human-rights atrocities happening right now?  Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, reminds us of today’s brutalities.

Sian Grzeszczyk speaks to Bae System’s Human Factors lead researcher, Suzy Broadbent, about the new technology that will read the minds of future fast-jet pilots to improve their performance. 

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The 2020 Defence Review – is it big enough to shape Britain’s future defence policy?  Defence analysts Francis Tusa and Christopher Lee discuss the possible options.

The former First Sea Lord, Admiral Lord West explains why is there concern over the repair programme for the Type 45s.

Did the government do a deal with Sinn Fein that could lead to more veterans being prosecuted?  Former defence minister Mark Francois voices his concern.

And remembering Peter Hobday, the first presenter of Sitrep.

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Higar Chemali, the former spokesperson for the US mission to the United Nations and Professor Scott Lucas from Birmingham University tell us

why the UK has changed its policy on the  Iran nuclear deal, and look at America’s reaction one week after the air strikes against US forces in Iraq.

Former Kremlin advisor Alexander Nekrassov looks at President Putin’s big plan for the future leadership of Russia

Who’s fighting who in Libya? Mary Fitzgerald is a writer and frequent visitor to the beleaguered country and explains all the different factions in the current crisis.

According to a recent survey carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross, millennials across the globe are worried about war, but why?

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This week Sitrep takes an in-depth look at the Iran-US crisis,

Was it a bad decision by the United States?  Should the UK's foreign policy should be aligned so closely with America's?

How have Europe & Russia reacted to the rising tensions?

And where does this leave British and American troops based in Iraq and what are the longer-term consequences for the Middle East?

That’s all in this week’s Sitrep with James Hirst and Christopher Lee

 

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BRIXMIS was a unit of the British Army set up at the end of the Second World War as part of a liaison mission between the wartime allies: Britain, France, America, and The Soviet Union.

BRIXMIS stands for the 'British Commander-in-Chief’s Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany'.

However, BRIXMIS rapidly became, in common with United States (USMLM) and French Allied Military Liaison Missions (FMLM), something quite different.

In this special edition of Sitrep, BFBS reporter Rosie Laydon tells Kate Gerbeau how she took former BRIXMIS operative Dave Butler back to Germany, where he spied on Soviet troops at the height of the cold war.  As well as Dave, Rosie spoke to other former spies from Britain, the US and the former Soviet Union, who all have dramatic tales of espionage in plain sight.

Want more?

To read Dave's story in his own words and see photos from the time:  forces.net

To see the Forces TV documentary:  youtube.com/playlist

You can hear more stories about the British Forces every week by  subscribing to Sitrep.  New Episodes are released on Thursdays.

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So what’s the state of British Defence as 2019 draws to a close? 

That’s the question being asked on Sitrep this week as Britain’s newly elected government goes to work.

In an extended programme, Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee will be joined by a panel of experts to assess current and future security threats to the UK and NATO.

They’ll also be looking ahead to Brexit, the US Presidential election and the security issues surrounding climate change.

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Did major allies fail to tell the truth about the state of the war in Afghanistan?  The former ambassador to Afghanistan, Sir William Patey, gives us his unique perspective.

Russia and Ukraine talk peace, but is President Putin listening? Jonathan Eyal ,International Director at the Royal United Services Institute, discusses the ceasefire.

BFBS Reporter Rebecca Ricks has a special report from Portsmouth looking at how the Royal Navy fishery protection. 

And cricket returns to Pakistan, but why is it so important?  Cricket commentator, Guy Swindles explains.

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The Royal British Legion has  launched its own manifesto asking what’s in the general election for service people and veterans?

Happy Birthday NATO, but not everyone’s celebrating.

And why is NATO still obsessed with the threat from Russia but forgetting all about Libya?

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As Nato celebrates its 70th birthday, Sitrep looks ahead to next week’s summit hosted in the UK with Elizabeth Braw from the Royal United Services Institute, Professor Scott Lucas from the University of Birmingham, and former director general of RUSI, Professor Michael Clarke.

A new report says that Russia could ‘outgun’ the UK on the battlefield, Professor Michael Clarke looks at the evidence.

The Tories and SNP launched their election manifestos this week, but with two weeks to go, who will get your vote for defence?  BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee looks at the details.

And a fascinating new book  "Tipping Point, Britain, Brexit and security in the 2020s" by Michael Clarke and Helen Ramscar looks at Britain and its security strengths and weaknesses in the 2020s.

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The Duke of York steps down from public duties, but what does it mean for his military roles?  BFBS reporter Claire Sadler and royal historian Christopher Lee look back on his military career and achievements.

Chris Curtis, the Political Research Manager at YouGov, tells us how defence and security rate as an issue for voters ahead of the General Election.

And we find out what Labour,  the Lib Dems and the Green Party are they saying about defence as they launch their manifestos.

In a rare interview, the head of MI6 speaks about his life in the Service and how the world of espionage is changing.  He spoke to Sky’s Defence Correspondent, Alistair Bunkall.

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Why does French President Emmanuel Macron think NATO is suffering brain death and that Europe should be more powerful? 

Find out what the two main party leaders are saying about the main defence and security issues on the campaign trail.  We talk to The Times' defence correspondent Lucy Fisher.

And, remembering Lord Bramall -  looking back at a long & distinguished military career from D-Day to Hong Kong and the Falklands War.

 

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Jonathan Eyal, International Director at the Royal United Services Institute, explains why a report into Russian interference with British politics hasn’t been published.

 

Sitrep talks to the former Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon as he steps down from political life.

 

It’s 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, Sitrep hears from former British Army spy Dave Butler who worked on the BRIXMIS mission which spied on Soviet military activities in East Germany.

 

Plus – BFBS presenter Jamie Gordon gives his account of broadcasting from Berlin during one of the most iconic moments of the 20th Century

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For years he’s been the world’s most wanted terrorist. Now Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead. In this week’s Sitrep, we examine the implications of the death of the IS leader, and what’s likely to happen next with Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics and Professor Michael Clarke, former director-general of the Royal United Services Institute.

After months of political deadlock, Britain is set for a pre-Christmas election. The Times' political Correspondent, Lucy Fisher, looks at whether defence issues will get a mention in a campaign likely to be dominated by Brexit.

Professor Michael Clarke has written a new book how Brexit is creating a new world of security challenges

And a former Army officer explains how he helped track down one of the suspects in the Sergei Skripal poisoning, and explains how much vital intelligence is just out there, waiting to be discovered.

 

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