BFBS Radio Sitrep

Could Turkey could play a key role in the Syrian crisis?

Two new reports criticize the cuts made by the SDSR – so is the MoD up to the job? 

How will the United Nations react to Argentina’s accusation that the UK is militarizing the Falklands Islands

And find out how Afghan women are playing a leading role in their country’s transition

PRESENTER:  Kate Gerbau

STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee 

Interviews with:

Sir Andrew Green, Britain's former ambassador to Syria

British Forces News’ reporter  Geoff Meade on the SDSR

Sukey Cameron, of the Falkland Islands Government

British Forces News’ reporter  from Camp Bastion on women in the Afghanistan National Army

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You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and on BFBS Radio 1 at 1830 (UK time).

Alternatively listen again on the website.

The Americans are bringing forward the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan – but is it more to do with President Obama’s election strategy than a secure Afghanistan? 

And what does it mean for British Forces in the region

As Prince William prepares for his time in the South Atlantic,  tensions remain strained between the British and Argentine governments, but what do the Falkland Islanders themselves make of it all? 

And we talk to Peter Carroll, the man behind the Ghurkha’s ‘Campaign  

PRESENTER:  Kate Gerbau

STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee 

Interviews with:

The Director of the Royal United Services Institute, Michael Clarke

British Forces News’ reporter Geoff Meade form the Nato Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Brussels

Tim Cooper, our reporter  in the Falklands

Peter Carroll of the Ghurkha’s Campaign for Justice.

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You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and on BFBS Radio 1 at 1830 (UK time).

Alternatively listen again on the website.

The MoD comes under more criticism for its handling of redundancies

Egyptians mark a year since their revolution - but are they getting the type of leadership they fought for?

HMS Argyll is sent to the Middle East in a show of strength from the EU against Iran’s nuclear ambitions

And we find out the complex coordination involved in the security of London for the 2012 Olympics

PRESENTER:  Kate Gerbau

STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee 

Interviews with:

James Arbuthnot, Chair of the Commons Defence Select Committee

BFBS Reporter James Hirst on Olympic Security

Richard Ottoway, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Syria and Iran

Jon Leyne, BBC Reporter, the anniversary  of the uprising in Egypt

PRESENTER:  Kate Gerbau

GUESTS:

British Forces News defence analyst Christopher Lee

Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy on the latest round of Forces’ redundancies

BFN’s Tim Cooper from the Nato meeting in Brussels

Admiral Lord West on the Falklands

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You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and on BFBS Radio 1 at 1830 (UK time).

Alternatively listen again on the website.

SITREP TRAIL 12th January

PRESENTER:  Kate Gerbau

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You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and on BFBS Radio 1 at 1830 (UK time).

Alternatively listen again on the website.

PRESENTER:  Kate Gerbau

STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee 

Interviews with:

Col Richard Williams former commanding officer of 22 SAS, and contributor to the Future Reserves 2020 report, the review of the Reserve Forces.

Capt Doug Beattie, former soldier now in the Territorial Army

BFN's James Hirst on the US Defence Review

Professor Porter on advances in trauma care

This week it’s a Sitrep special looking back at the year of defence & current affairs in 2011.

How much progress been made in Afghanistan?

The extraordinary story of the Arab Spring…..will history judge it a success or failure?

What impact has the SDSR had now its findings are being implemented?

And we look at the challenges that lie ahead for 2012 

PRESENTER:  Kate Gerbau

STUDIO GUESTS: 

BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee 

Michael Codner, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute

BFBS's reporter Geoff Meade

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You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and on BFBS Radio 1 at 1830 (UK time).

Alternatively listen again on the website.

The US and NATO ends their mission in Iraq – but have they achieved what they set out to do?

The Defence Committee raise concern about the long-term care of injured service personnel

What are the implications for European defence initiatives given the current financial climate?

And….. find out why the Jolly Roger is flying high at Portsmouth

PRESENTER:  Kate Gerbau

STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee 

Interviews with:

Sir Jeremy Greenstock:  former representative to Iraq

James Arbuthnot, Chair of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee on treatment of injured Service personnel.

Tomas Valasek from the Centre for European reform on the Eurozone crisis

Victoria Ingles from the Royal Naval museum at Portsmouth on the Jolly Roger.

There’s criticism of our policy in Afghanistan but is it really all tactics without strategy?

And who and what are behind the latest attacks this week?

Find out why they’re demonstrating in Moscow

Why mass immigration is a danger to us all

Plus, what’s the attraction of describing war?  We find out from one RAF Sgt.

PRESENTER:  Kate Gerbau

STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee 

Interviews with:

Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles:  former ambassador of the UK to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Alexander Nekrassov, former advisor to the Kremlin

Sgt Alex Ford AKA, RAF Airman who’s blog and tweets have attracted a huge follow

You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and on BFBS Radio 1 at 1830 (UK time).

Alternatively listen again on the website.

What can be done to heal diplomatic relations between the UK and Iran?

How can Nato salvage its relationship with Pakistan?

Why there’s continued unrest over borders in the Balkans

And, find out about a new invention to remove barnacles from the bottom of ships

PRESENTER:  Kate Gerbau

STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee 

Interviews with:

Middle East Analyst Hazhir Teimourian on Iran

Lord Ashdown on , Nato, Pakistan and US relations; the Balkans and European security

BFBS News' reporter Tim Cooper on removing barnacles.

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You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and on BFBS Radio 1 at 1830 (UK time).

Alternatively listen again on the website.

Why military top brass say it's too early to judge whether the war in Afghanistan has been successful

The Government will appoint a chief coroner but what will it mean in practical terms to Service families?

PRESENTER:  Kate Gerbau

STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee 

Interviews with:

British Forces News reporter Geoff Meade in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.

BBC Correspondent Hugh Sykes, in Cairo, Egypt

Middle East analyst Jon Marks on the Arab Spring.

Kevin Shinkwin from the Royal British Legion on the role of the Chief Coroner

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You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and on BFBS Radio 1 at 1830 (UK time).

Alternatively listen again on the website.

Why Britain's top general in Afghanistan is happy with the progress so far.
 
The best way for politicians and the top brass to work out military strategy.
 
Why Cap Badges are an integral and honourable part of the British Army.
 
And what battles would make the Top 20 of Britain’s worst military disasters?
 
 
PRESENTER:  Kate Gerbau
 
STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee
 
Interviews with:
 
British Forces News reporter Geoff Meade talking to Lft Genearl James Bucknall on his time in Afghanistan.
 
Major General Mungo Melvin, talking about military strategy.
 
Julian Farrance from the Army Museum, discussing Cap Badges.

uthor John Withington talking about his new book 'Britain's 20 Worst Military Disaster

SITREP TRAIL 10th November

It’s the end of an era as British troops in Germany prepare for a long march-out.

How worried should we be about Iran’s nuclear weapons programme?

After another fatal accident, just how essential are the Red Arrows?

And we hear how the soldiers in Afghanistan will be remembering their comrades both past and present this coming weekend

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PRESENTER

STUDIO GUESTS:

Interviews with:

British Forces News reporter James Hirst

Hazhir Teimourian,

Air Chief Marshall Sir Michael Graydon

British Forces News reporter Geoff

Why the West feels so threatened by Iran…

Is the Government doing enough to counter the cyber security threat?  And find out how we can all help to police Cyber-Space.

How British Forces in Afghanistan have changed the mind set of one former Taliban commander to denounce violence

Plus, a very special celebration for the Royal British Legion

PRESENTER:  James Hirst

STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee 

Interviews with:

Professor Michael Clarke, director of the Royal United Services Institute talking about the threat Iran poses and the findings of the RUSI survey on defence matters.

General Sir Graeme Lamb, former commander of Special Forces, on cyber security

British Forces News reporter Geoff Meade in Afghanistan. 

Lt General Sir John Kiszely, head of the Royal British Legion

You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and on BFBS Radio 1 at 1830 (UK time).

Alternatively listen again on the website.

PRESENTER:  Kate GerbauSTUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee. 

You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and on BFBS Radio 1 at 1830 (UK time).

Alternatively listen again on the website.

SITREP trail 13th October

The revolutionary forces in Libya are close to securing Sirte - but where is Gaddafi?

How a message in a bottle helped the Royal Navy save a ship from piracy

Why the prisoner exchange between Hamas and the Israelis is vital for the future of the Middle East

And …. why Cyprus continues to be strategically important

PRESENTER

STUDIO GUESTS

INTERVIEWS WITH:

Dr Rosemary Hollis,

at City University

British Forces News & Sitrep presenter,

Karen Jacques

It’s been 10 years since British forces were sent to Afghanistan, but are they any closer to securing a successful outcome? 

How has the military strategy changed in that time ?   

Why  Nato says there must be more commitment from its allies

How European security could be threatened by the Eurozone crisis

And , the dogs of war, why our canine friends are so much more than a man’s best friend....

PRESENTER:     Kate Gerbau

STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee. 

INTERVIEWS WITH:

BBC 's Paul Wood in Afghanistan

James Blitz, the Financial Times Defence & Security Editor, on the Eurozone crisis.

British Forces News’ reporter Will Inglis on how the forces' equipment has improved in the past 10 years

British Forces News’ reporter James Hirst on the Tory Party conference.

You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and on BFBS Radio 1 at 1830 (UK time).

Alternatively listen again on the website.

The Royal Navy is set to announce details of redundancies tomorrow...former First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band tells Sitrep how he thinks this will affect the Senior Service

What impact will redundancies have on morale?  The Navy Families Federation tell us what support systems are in place to help those affected

There’s been  job losses at BAe – but are we losing too much expertise from the defence industry/

Why the Labour Party claim they are the party for the military

And,  today would have been Admiral Nelson’s birthday –what would he make  of  today’s modern Forces?

PRESENTER:     Kate Gerbau

STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee. 

INTERVIEWS WITH:

Former First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, on redundancies in the Royal Navy

Kim Richardson, Chair of the Navy Families Association

British Forces News’ reporter James Hirst from the Labour Party conference

 
The latest from Libya as anti-Gaddafi forces battle their way to Sirte
Two years ago former Ghurkhas won the right to stay in the UK, but is the infrastructure there to support them?
What the Libl Dem’s think about defence issues.
And why World War One still fascinates us after all these years
 
PRESENTER:     Matt Teale
 
STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee. 
 
INTERVIEWS WITH:
Alastair Leithead, BBC Correspondent en route to Sirte, Libya with the NTC troops.  The BBC’s correspondent in Kabul,, Bilal Sarwary
Gerald Howarth, Conservative MP for Aldershot, one area where former Gurkhas have settled.Peter Carroll, of the Justice For  Gurkhas Campaign
British Forces News’ reporter James Hirst from the Lib Dem Party conference.
British Forces News’ reporter Tim Cooper visits the  replica WW1 trenches used by the popular TV series, Downton Abbey

How the UK is planning to help Libya get back on its feet

 After the siege in Kabul – how prepared are Afghan forces to take control of their country’s security?

 Why cyber security remains a global threat

 And what makes a hero, is it outstanding bravery or just a question of luck?

 PRESENTER:     Matt Teale

 STUDIO GUESTS:  BFBS’s defence analyst, Christopher Lee. 

 INTERVIEWS WITH:Oliver Miles the former ambassador to Libya

The BBC’s correspondent in Kabul,, Bilal Sarwary

Claire Yorke, co-author of the Chatham House report on Cyber security

Matt Croucher GC, author of The Royal British Legion  book 90 YEARS OF HEROES

(Published by Collins)