Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

The Briefing Room

Factual

David Aaronovitch presents in-depth explainers on big issues in the news.

David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts and insiders present in-depth explainers on big issues in the news.

David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts and insiders present in-depth explainers on big issues in the news

BBC Radio 4 LW

The Briefing Room: Who are the Special Forces?

RFS2.jpg

11/08/2016

Who are the Special Forces?

BBC Radio 4 - The Briefing Room, Who are the Special Forces?

How have British Special Forces developed and what are they doing in Syria and Libya now?

British units are fighting in Libya and Syria, although nobody voted to send them. How have Special Forces developed, and why don't they count as "boots on the ground"?

When the BBC obtained exclusive pictures of Special Air Service soldiers fighting Islamic State militants in Syria, the Ministry of Defence refused to comment. 

British Special Forces are now on the ground in Libya as well - although nobody ever voted in favour sending them, and there has never been a debate in Parliament about it. 

In fact, it's a long-standing cross-party tradition that the government doesn't comment on the operations of the Special Air Service, the Special Boat Service, and other Special Forces units.

In this edition of The Briefing Room, David Aaronovitch calls on expert researchers and former military offers to trace the development and current activities of Britain's Special Forces. 

Who are they and how many of them are there? Why, when we talk about military operations, do Special Forces not count as "boots on the ground"? And why are their activities so secret?

CONTRIBUTORS:

Mark Urban, Newsnight's defence and diplomatic correspondent

Robin Horsfall, former SAS member

Anthony King, Professor of War Studies, University of Warwick

Emily Knowles, Project Manager of the Remote Control Project, Oxford Research Group

Dr Jon Moran, Reader in Security, University of Leicester

Lt Col Stephen Grenier, author and former US Special Forces officer

PRODUCER:  Mike Wendling.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Briefing Room

Who are the Special Forces?

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4