BFBS Radio Sitrep

SITREP TRAIL THURS, 11th May (KATE PRESENTS– NO CHRISTOPHER LEE TODAY; Professor Michael Clarke, former Director of the Royal United Services Institute is our special guest throughout the programme) Could the UK send more troops to Afghanistan, and what will they be doing if they do deploy? In the States, the fallout continues over the sacking of the head of the FBI…. Find out what the main Defence issues are in the General Election campaigns. Plus, Sitrep explores the impact of Prince Harry’s campaign on Mental Health issues. TOPICS AFGHANISTAN Michael Evans from the Times & Professor Michael Clarke, former Director of the Royal United Services Institute FBI DIRECTOR Simon Marks from Feature Story News in Washington & Professor Michael Clarke DEFENCE & THE GENERAL ELECTION James Hirst, our correspondent in Westminster & Professor Michael Clarke MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK Sir Simon Wessely, Director of the King's Centre for Military Health Research BUNDESWEHR Professor Michael Clarke 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 in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) On Sky Channel 0211. Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.

Could the French election result change the UK’s defence alliance with our European ally?

 

What’s the significance of Japan joining in Naval exercise with the US?

 

Find out what’s worrying the Head of Europol….

 

Plus, Doctors at War, what it’s really like to save lives in a war zone…..

 

And, as Prince Phillip steps down from Royal duties – who’s stepping up to fulfil his role?

TOPICS

DUKE OF EDINBURGH

BFBS Defence analyst Christopher Lee

 

FRENCH ELECTION

Dr Paul Smith an expert in French politics from the University of Nottingham..

 

HEAD OF EUROPOL

Rob Wainwright who is head of the European Union's police

 

JAPAN NAVY EXERCISE

Rear Admiral Chris Parry from Rusi

 

DOCTORS AT WAR

Book review ‘Doctors at War’ by Mark de Rond. 

An account of life of a trauma surgical team at work in a field hospital in Helmand, Afghanistan.

SITREP TRAIL THURS, 27th April (KATE PRESENTS TODAY)

Will sanctions curb North Korea’s nuclear ambitions?

Find out what life’s like on board the US aircraft carrier the "George H-W Bush”.

Plus, Trump’s 100 days in power, what’s the verdict?

And Prince Harry’s thoughts on the importance of rugby to the forces as we look forward to the 100th Army Navy rugby match this weekend.

TOPICS

SYRIA/BORIS JOHNSON

Professor of Peace Studies and the University of Bradford, Paul Rogers.

GEORGE H-W BUSH.

BFBS reporter Simon Newton goes on board the US aircraft carrier

NORTH KOREA

Professor of Peace Studies and the University of Bradford, Paul Rogers & & Simon Marks from Feature Story News in Washington

TRUMP 100 DAYS

Professor of Peace Studies and the University of Bradford, Paul Rogers & & Simon Marks from Feature Story News in Washington

CHINESE CARRIERS

BFBS Defence analyst Christopher Lee

ONE HUNDREDTH ARMY NAVY RUGBY MATCH

BFBS Sports Editor Jon Knighton

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 in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) On Sky Channel 0211

Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.

Presented by Kate Gerbeau with Christopher Lee.

In today’s Sitrep – there’s more reaction to last week's chemical weapons attack in Syria and how it's affecting US/Russian relations.

 

Find out how North Korea is testing the Trump administration and why the Royal Marines are to be restructured.

 

And, it's a 100 years this week that America entered the First World War...

 

TOPICS

SYRIA – CHEMICAL WEAPONS/RUSSIA/US

Chemical Weapons expert  Hamish De Bretton Gordon is a

Michael Stathis, Professor of Political Science at Southern Utah University and BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee

 

NORTH KOREA

Michael Stathis, Professor of Political Science at Southern Utah University and BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee

 

ROYAL MARINES

Former Royal Marine and Special Boat Service officer, Lord Paddy Ashdown

 

WW1 & US INVOLVEMENT

Michael Stathis, Professor of Political Science at Southern Utah University and 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 in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) On Sky Channel 0211

Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.

Chemical weapons in Syria. What happened? Who’s right, who’s wrong and what next?

Find out what British troops are doing on Exercise Desert Warrior in Kuwait,
and what the Royal Engineers are doing in famine hit South Sudan?

One year in the job – Kate Gerbeau talks to the Service Complaints Ombudsman after she publishes her first Annual Report.

And all the Queen's Soldiers...Why the Royal Lancers now belong to Elizabeth.

GUESTS: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.

Topics:

Syria/Russia/America
Director General of the Royal United Services Institute Dr Karin von Hippel and BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee

Armed Forces Minister Mike Penning speaking from South Sudan.

Interview with the Service Complaints Ombudsman, Nicola Williams.

The Royal Lancers - renamed

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 in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) On Sky Channel 0211
Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.

This week:

We ask who bombed civilians in Mosul was it IS fighters or coalition aircraft?

Brexit has been triggered but why is the Prime Minister threatening to pull terrorist intelligence?

Hear how the Royal Navy is fighting back against the hackers.

And on the day the National Army Museum is re-opened to the public, we talk about the “little guys” – Britain’s 139 small regimental museums.

GUESTS:

BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.

The Times Correspondent Michael Evans

BBC World Service political Correspondent Rob Watson

Managing Director of Airbus Cyber Security in the UK Ian Goslin

The Antiques Roadshow Militaria expert Mark Smith

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 in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) On Sky Channel 0211
Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.

SITREP TRAIL THURS, 23rd March (KATE PRESENTS TODAY)

 

Terror at Westminster…how did it happen and what can be done?  Who was the attacker and what’s the bigger picture?  Can modern terrorism attacks destroy democracy?  Listen to Sitrep to get all the latest defence analysis.

 

GUESTS:

BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.

Professor Michael Clarke, formerly Director General of the Royal United Services Institute

Professor Anthony Glees, Director, Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham

Major General Julian Thompson, a former Royal Marine Commander who served in Northern Ireland and now a visiting Professor at King's College London.

Charlie Winter, Senior research fellow at The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King’s College, London.

Michael Pregent, a former US Intelligence Officer and advisor to the Peshmerga.

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 in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) On Sky Channel 0211

Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.

Marine A: did the Royal Marine's higher command fail?

Why Putin's generals are watching British troops in Estonia,

What can British troops do about famine in South Sudan?

And its 100 years since the start of the Russian Revolution - but why isn’t Moscow celebrating?

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

On the day the Queen unveils the Iraq and Afghanistan memorial, Sitrep reflects on three wars in which 682 British Service personnel died. Find out the Soldier’s view, the Ambassador’s view and the Veteran’s view in a special programme presented by Kate Gerbeau.

GUESTS: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.

MEMORIAL

Paul Osbourne rounds up the day’s events.

 

FROM THE ARCHIVE

Rory Higgins and Susie Ferguson reporting for BFBS in March 2003

 

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIR GRAEME LAMB

Lieutenant General Sir Graeme Lamb was appointed General Officer Commanding 3rd (UK) Mechanised Division in the summer of 2003 - the start of the Iraq War. 

 

SIR WILLIAM PATEY

Sir William Patey, a former British Ambassador to Iraq and later Afghanistan.

 

AFGHANISTAN VETERAN ROAYL MARINE CASSIDY LITTLE

Reflection on his military career.

 

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 is Mr Trump handing out 54 billion dollars to the Pentagon?

 

Why a group of MPs says we must maintain relations with the Russians.

 

The RAF in the Middle East – why it’s a minute by minute operation

 

And - what can British troops expect when they deploy to famine struck South Sudan?

GUESTS:

BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.

 

TRUMP

Dr Karin Von Hippel, Director General at the Royal United Services Institute.

 

RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

BFBS reporter James Hirst interview with Foreign Affairs Committee chairman  Crispin Blunt.

OP SHADER

BFBS reporter Simon Newton in Cyprus talks to British Major General Rupert Jones, deputy commander for the Combined Joint Task Force.

 

SOUTH SUDAN

Sitrep producer Josella Waldron interview with the BBC’s Africa Correspondent Alastair Leithead

 

Al Qaeda

Charles Lister is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington.

 

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.

The latest on what’s happening in the fight to take back Mosul from IS fighters.

How British troops will soon be helping people in famine-hit South Sudan…

Find out why British troops are being warned about honey traps, staged brawls and social media infiltration in Estonia.

And Sitrep speaks to a former Army officer who has the ear of the USA’s new Security Advisor.

GUESTS:

BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.

MOSUL

Michael a former US Intelligence Officer and advisor to the Peshmerga.

SOUTH SUDAN

David Lomuria, a correspondent for Feature Story News in the capital Juba.

HONEY TRAP

Former Kremlin advisor Alexander Nekrassov

LIEUTENANT GENERAL HR MCMASTER

Retired Major General Andrew Mackay commanded British forces in in Afghanistan.

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.

What was on the agenda at today’s NATO meeting? Sitrep gets reaction from the Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon.

 

Has China lost all influence on North Korea?

 

Find out what the Marines are up to in Norway…

 

And waiting for justice - how long will it be before war crimes in Syria are dealt with in court?

 

GUESTS: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.

NATO

Charlotte Banks interview with the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon.

 

MARINES - ARCTIC TRAINING

Rebecca Ricks reporting on Exercise Clockwork in Northern Norway,

 

NORTH KOREA - NEIL DALL

Emil Dall, Research Fellow in the Proliferation and Nuclear Policy Programme at the Royal United Services Institute.

 

WAR CRIMES

Professor David Crane was the Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, where he indicted the Liberian President Charles Taylor.

 

 

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.

In this week’s Sitrep, we ask why Donald Trump hasn’t got round to calling the Chinese President yet, and what that might say for US-China relations.

 

Plus we look at the President’s promise to boost defence spending.

 

We hear from a former head of the Army, ahead of the publication of a report into the investigation into abuse allegations in Iraq.

 

And after a minister warned more British troops could be sent to Afghanistan, we hear from a former captain who served three tours there.

 

GUESTS: General Sir Mike Jackson, former Chief of the General Staff; Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, former First Sea Lord, Scott Lucas, professor of American Studies at Birmingham University; Doug Beattie, former Army Captain

 

Thursday 1630 on BFBS Radio 2, 1830 on BFBS & UK bases, plus anytime afterwards online, or via the podcast.

Presented by Kate Gerbeau

In today’ Sitrep there’s reaction and analysis as human rights lawyer, Phil Shiner, is struck off.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban is in disarray – so is this a good time for peace?

The Royal Navy leads the combined Naval Task Force in the Gulf for the first time.

Trump's defence secretary, 'Mad Dog' Mattis, starts work in the far east.

And Very Lynne’s new album to celebrate her 100th Birthday.

PHIL SHINER

Interview with MP and former British Army Officer Johnny Mercer

TALIBAN  

Professor Theo Farrell & BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee

HMS OCEAN

BFBS reporter Simon Newton

US RELATIONS ABROAD

Professor of Political Science at the University of Southern Utah, Michael Stathis...

VERA LYNNE

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.

Teresa May's will be the first foreign leader to meet Donald Trump, but who's going to get the most out of it?

 

And do the comparisons with Mrs Thatcher and President Reagan mean anything or is this going to be a very different relationship

 

NATO forges friendships in the Middle East with a new HQ in Kuwait.

 

Meet the women of the US Marine Corps and hear all about the Norwegian Military Experiment - how one unit tried a 50/50 gender split with surprising results.

 

GUESTS:

 

DONALD TRUMP & TERESA MAY VISIT

Professor Michael Clarke formerly the Director General of the Royal United Services & BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.

 

BFBS reporter Tim Cooper interview with General David Perkins, commander of US Army training and Doctrine – discussing Brexit and US politics.

 

NATO

Professor Michael Clarke formerly the Director General of the Royal United Services & BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.

 

US MARINES

As the UK prepares to accept the first females into its own infantry, Hannah King has been taking a look at how the US Marines incorporate females.

 

NORWEGIAN ARMY

Elisabeth Braw, senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council

 

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.

Tomorrow Donald Trump will become the 45th President of the United States of America.  In a special edition of Sitrep, Kate Gerbeau will ask “Should we be frightened?”

A panel of experts are going to look at what Trump’s time as President & Commander in Chief of the American Armed Forces could mean for the rest of the world. 

Will he forge closer ties with Russia?

What will he do about NATO?

What about Syria?

And why is he so against China? 

Find out the answers to those questions and many more in today’s Sitrep………………………….

GUESTS:

BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.

Former BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Bridget Kendall.  Bridget has spent a lot of time in Washington and Moscow and is an expert on Russian politics. 

Professor of International Politics at the University of Birmingham Scott Lucas who can talk extensively about US foreign policy and the Middle East. 

Dr Karin von Hippel, Director General of the Royal United Services Institute.  Karin was formally Chief of Staff to the US General John Allen when he was special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter Isil. 

Simon Marks from Feature Story – our man in Washington who can tell us all about what we can expect at tomorrow’s inauguration ceremony.

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.

Russian aggression has triggered the deployment of American forces to Poland but is it necessary?

President-elect Trump -  what’s really going on and who’s side is he on?

Could we see more German boots on the ground in Europe?

What part does Britain play in the Talks to re-unify Cyprus?

And War through the eyes of the correspondent.  The Times man in the blue body-armour tells all……

Other interviews

POLAND AND TRUMP

Former Defence and Pentagon Correspondent for The Times Michael Evans

GERMAN BOOTS ON GROUND

Elisabeth Braw, senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Dr Aurel Sari – A lecturer in the law of armed conflict at Exeter University.

CYPRUS TALKS

BFBS reporter in Cyprus, Simon Newton

WAR REPORTING

Former Defence and Pentagon Correspondent for The Times Michael Evans

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.

In today’s Sitrep what’s in store for the year ahead?  For starters, there’s IS, Trump and Brexit. Plus....Why Russia's got the hots for the arctic, why more Irish nationals are joining the British Army….and, why Hitler's back in the bestseller list. PRESENTER THIS WEEK: Kate Gerbeau Studio guests: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee Other interviews NEW YEAR THREAT BFBS Reporter James Hirst, Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford Paul Rogers and BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee. ARCTIC Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, Paul Rogers IRISH RECRUITMENT TO BRITISH ARMY Belfast journalist and author David McKittrick NORTH KOREA Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford Paul Rogers and BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee. MEIN KAMPF  Professor Dr. Magnus Brechtken, from the Institute for Contemporary History in Munich website