BFBS Radio Sitrep

This week, Sitrep finds out how three Generals are preparing for the future and Army 2020?

Could Syria have biological weapons and what impact could that have on the Geneva talks?

The State of the Union – what are President Obama’s plans for 2014?

Plus: a security warning to Britain’s Olympic athletes as they prepare for Sochi

PRESENTER: Kate Gerbeau

STUDIO GUEST: BFBS’s Defence Analyst Christopher Lee 

OTHER INTERVIEWS:  

BFBS Reporter, James Hirst, discussing the interviews with:

General Officer Commanding 1 Div, Major General James Chiswell

GOC Germany – John Henderson

Major General Nick Pope

weapons consultant and former commanding officer of the UK's joint chemical Biological radiological nuclear regiment Hamish De Bretton Gordon, on Syria

The BBC’s Diplomatic Correspondent Bridget Kendall, who has been following the Syrian talks in Geneva

Gena Turgel speaking to BFBS reporter Laura Hawkins about her time in various concentration camps, in the week the world remembers the Holocaust./

The final round of armed forces redundancies have been announced…so what shape does this leave our Army in?
 
The long road to peace in Syria – has the journey begun?
 
Why the EU wants to send troops to the Central African Republic
 
And ‘Row to Recovery’ -  how four British soldiers completed the gruelling three thousand mile row across the Atlantic.
 
PRESENTER: Kate Gerbeau
STUDIO GUEST: BFBS’s Defence Analyst Christopher Lee 
 
OTHER INTERVIEWS: 
 
BFBS Reporter James Hirst on redundancies
Professor Rosemary Hollis, Professor of Middle East Policy Studies and Director of the Olive Tree Scholarship Programme at City University.
 
BFBS  reporter Cath Brazier

Is Robert Gates right to criticize Britain’s defence capabilities?

What’s going on behind the scenes in Syria and will the West have to talk to Assad?

And….who’s odds on favourite to take over the Chair of the Commons Defence Committee?

Plus,  deathbed remorse from the inventor of the AK – 47  - but who else lived to regret their invention?

PRESENTER: Kate Gerbeau

STUDIO GUEST: BFBS’s Defence Analyst Christopher Lee 

OTHER INTERVIEWS:  

The Times’  Correspondent Michael Evans – talking about Robert Gates’ comments on Britain’s defence capabilities

Sir Andrew Green, former ambassador to Syria

BBC’s political correspondent, Rob Watson on the Defence Committee

Dr Paul Rogers, from the Department for Peace Studies at Bradford University discussing the AK47

Find out about the book that's causing a stir in The White House & why President Obama's coming under fire over Afghanistan - from one of his own statesmen.

What’s behind the escalation of violence in Iraq? 

Does the Armed Forces Covenant actually work?  

And why Putin's mobilizing his troops ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

PRESENTER: Kate Gerbeau

STUDIO GUEST: BFBS’s Defence Analyst Christopher Lee  

OTHER INTERVIEWS:  

Simon Marks, chief correspondent of Feature Story News discussing Robert Gates’ memoirs & increasing violence in Iraq

Chair  of the House of Commons Defence Committee

James Arbuthnot discussing the Armed Forces Covenant

BBC’s diplomatic correspondent, Bridget Kendall talking about the forthcoming winter Olympics in Russia

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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 looks back on 2013 & looks ahead to the big issues next year.

Will the MoD ever manage to sort out its procurement problem ?
 
French Forces are in the Central African Republic, but are they making a difference?
 
What are Putin’s plans for the Arctic?
 
And why a US military command centre is tracking Santa’s worldwide flight.
 
 
 
PRESENTER: Kate Gerbeau
STUDIO GUEST: BFBS’s Defence Analyst Christopher Lee 
 
OTHER INTERVIEWS: 
 
BFBS reporter James Hirst on the MoD and  procurement.
 
A report from BFBS’s Ali Gibson who went to Lashkar Gah Durai, the furthest outpost in Task Force Helmand with ‘A’ Company from 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment in their warrior armoured vehicles
 
Paul Melly from Chatham House looking at the situation in the Central Africa Republics.
 
Sylvain Biville from ‘The Elders’  group discussing Nelson Mandela.
 
An interview with Stacey Knott, the co-ordinator for ‘NORAD Tracks Santa’ – how the US military track Santa for children worldwide!
 
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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

Was it the right decision to name the Royal Marine convicted for murdering a Taliban fighter?

NATO puts pressure on President Karzai sign a new security agreement for Afghanistan.

What does the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement mean for the military?

Find out the latest from the crisis in the Central African Republic

And………. when will we see a female Chief of Defence Staff?

PRESENTER: Kate Gerbeau
STUDIO GUEST: BFBS’s Defence Analyst Christopher Lee

OTHER INTERVIEWS:

Documentary maker and journalist Chris Terrill, discussing the naming of Marine A

Lieutenant General John Lorimer, the Deputy Commander of ISAF, talking to BFBS reporter Ali Gibson

BBC Africa Correspondent Andrew Harding

……………………………………………………………………………………

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

What Scottish independence would mean for defence

The significance of the Iranian nuclear deal

Could gamers be the key to the UK’s Cyber Defence?

How British forces have helped Mali get back on its feet

And should soldiers protect cultural heritage in conflict zones?

PRESENTER: Kate Gerbeau
STUDIO GUEST: BFBS’s Defence Analyst Christopher Lee

OTHER INTERVIEWS:

Dr Phillips O'Brien from Glasgow University on Scottish independence.

BFBS Reporter Will Inglis on Cyber threats.

BFBS Reporter James Hirst reports from the capital of Mali, Bamako.

Major Hugo Clarke on UK Blue Shield
……………………………………………………………………………………
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)

Alternatively listen again on the website