Jacko,
Good replies. As I said earlier your posts are, in the main, well balanced.
Whether the Radio 4 reporter is "a specialist defence chap" or not is irrelevant. There are many people who will take the opinion of a "specialist" to be fact. Reporting what happens as it happens should never be discouraged; however, adding opinion, speculation or anecdotal evidence just lessens the reporter's, and the report's credibility.
Obviously, we all have our opinions as to how the war should be fought/won (being able to get the proper kit from stores would help - I'm a dreamer), but you are probably far more influential with your opinions as you have a wider audience than our crewroom banter.