katharine gun real husband

Sixteen years on, the words are still seared into memory. "It felt like the protests were what would stop the war," she says. An insider with courage. AMY GOODMAN: But this was how long after you were picked up? And what we are seeing is a movement of people who are trying to stop it. Real-Time Crime & Safety Alerts . "I need to have a word with you," she gulped. Official Secrets is based on the actions of Brit Katharine Gun, who revealed that America had been eavesdropping on diplomats from other countries. But its not hard to guess from the, In 2013, Gun spoke with journalist Martin Bright, who published Guns leaked memo and plays a major role in the film, in an interview published by. TINTIN: With respect, Mrs. GAVIN HOOD: Who were the nonpermanent members on the U.N. Security Council at the time. It is my fault and I'm sorry. Its like hes more me than I am. Our writers hold no party line; their only allegiance is to clarity of thought, elegance of expression and independence of opinion. TINTIN: [played by Peter Guinness] Your supervisor speaks highly of your integrity. She had passed the memo to one of her contacts. The 1967 film Guess Whos Coming to Dinner starred Sidney Poitier and Katharine Houghton as a ne, As the open-hearted matriarch Hattie Mae in Tyler Perrys 2022 film A Jazzmans Blues, Amirah Vann demonstrates a great tenderness and fierce love to b, This story includes spoilers for Saint Omer. Katharine Gun's age is listed as 47 years old as of 2021. The movie tells the story of Katharine Gun (played by Keira Knightley), a translator with the U.K.'s GCHQ who, in 2003, leaked top secret documents to journalist Martin Bright (Matt Smith) that . I went with Blair on his last visit to Iraq as prime minister, in 2007. AMY GOODMAN: Because Chile was one of the six. I gather intelligence so that the government can protect the British people. And you said you say that, you know, I didnt join in order to fix a vote in the U.N. to convince the world to go to a war to go to war. And it was. Courtroom porn and social media have turned innocent bystanders into a mass of mudslingers. Here is a clip of you being interrogated by the police detective. And you were what? LONDON FEBRUARY 25: Former employee of Britains global surveillance center GCHQ (Government Communications Head Quarters) Katharine Gun smiles as she speaks to the media during a press conference February 25, 2004 in London, England. She says this breach was a foolish one-off. On the night of the 19th of March, 2003, the bombs began to fall. "But there are things you have to do not for the result but for the principle, because they are right.". Katharine Gun, a shy and studious 28-year-old who spent her days listening in to obscure Chinese intercepts, decided to tell the world about a secret plan by the US government to spy on the United . KATHARINE GUN: [played by Keira Knightley] I translated signals intelligence, and I reported anything of interest to my clients. And I said, you know, So, what is this? Yasur is a Turkish Kurd who is married to 47-year-old Katharine. I do not gather intelligence so that the government can lie to the British people.A colleague whispers to her: Intelligence may be being manipulated to take this country to war. These scenes are set before the invasion, before the shattering truth emerged that Saddam did not have weapons of mass destruction and the war had been based on a lie, or more delicately a false prospectus. Were joined also by Martin Bright, who is the journalist who reported Guns revelations in The Observer, as well as Ed Vulliamy. In 2003, Katharine Gun exposed a plot by U.S. security officials to spy on United Nations members as they ramped up pressure to secure a resolution to go to war with Iraq, and she leaked the classified memo to The Observer newspaper. Currently, Katharine Ross is 82 years old as she was born on 29th January 1940. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Her case became awidespread controversy among activists, and many people stepped forward to urge the government to drop the case. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images), https://thespectator.com/topic/katharine-gun-spy-iraq-war/, US edition of the world's oldest magazine, Katharine Gun: the spy who tried to stop the Iraq war, How Syria became the worlds most profitable narco state, How the earthquake is strengthening Syrias dictatorship, Why Netanyahu is right about Israels rogue supreme court. Sound familiar? A year after she walked down the aisle, Ross gave birth to their only child, Cleo Rose, on September 17, 1984, in Malibu, California. Official Secrets recounts Gun's story, from her fateful decision (which of course accomplished nothing in the end, even though the leak quickly went public) to her bizarre criminal trial. I was very much aware of what the leaders of our countries, Tony Blair and George W. Bush, were saying at the time. I had bought a couple of books which had been rushed into print at that pointone called War Plan Iraq and the other was called Target Iraq. I was convinced that there was nothing Iraq had done [to warrant the invasion]. Scott Davis was asking the questions.Synopsis: The true story of a British whistleblower who leaked information to the press about an illegal NSA spy operation designed to push the UN Security Council into sanctioning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.A morality tale for the 21st century, Official Secrets tells the true story of British Intelligence whistle-blower Katharine Gun who, during the immediate run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion, leaked a top-secret NSA memo exposing a joint US-UK illegal spying operation against members of the UN Security Council. There was speculation that this was done to keep the governments legal advice on the war a secret, though that has been denied. For eight months she was bailed and bailed again, repeatedly. Ross stands at the height of 5 feet 5 inches or 165 cm tall. By Nick Wall/IFC Films/Everett Collection. You may not know the name Katharine Gun unless you live in the United Kingdom, but she was a pivotal figure in the run-up to the Iraq War.Or at least, she could have been. Im Amy Goodman. After this, the authorities again started plotting to deport Yasar back to the Middle East. Katharine Gun speaks out for 'Official Secrets'. At the time, I was really focused on the Iraq invasion issue, Gun told Vanity Fair this month, ahead of the August 30 premiere of Official Secrets, an intelligence thriller recounting this terrifying chapter of her life and starring Keira Knightley. So, when I met Yvonne Ridley, who is the former journalist who handed me the document, it was immensely infuriating. KATHARINE GUN: Detective, I dont object to being asked to collect information that could help prevent a terror attack. Katharine Gun (ne Harwood), 47, is married to Yasar Gn, a Turkish Kurd, with whom she has a 13-year old daughter. Katherine Louisa Ryan was born on June 30, 1983, to Finbar and Julie McCarthy in the city of Sarnia in southwestern Ontario, Canada. We're sitting together in a quiet room at the headquarters of human rights organisation Liberty, just around the corner from the streets through which . Blogus by Themeansar. The following Monday, she walked out of work, a printed copy of the email folded up and hidden in her handbag. She explained that when she was first arrested, her name wasnt released publicly for eight months. I am so sorry. Ad Choices, In any walk of life, you can choose to do the right thing, whistle-blower Katharine Gun, whom Knightley plays in the film, told, Jimmy Kimmel Roasts Fragile Snowflake Donald Trump for Allegedly Trying to Censor Him, Scene Stealer: The True Lies of Elisabeth Finch, Part 1, Scene Stealer: The True Lies of Elisabeth Finch, Part 2. We speak with a British whistleblower whose attempts to expose lies about the Iraq invasion was called \"the most important and courageous leak\" in history by acclaimed Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. JUDGE HYAM: [played by Kenneth Cranham] Katharine Teresa Gun, youre charged with an offense of the Official Secrets Act. Some of it was to do with complications over an unfortunate spell check within the memo. But were going to go to a break, and then were going to come back to this discussion. It is vital to speak up in a democracy. to your inbox each morning. KATHARINE GUN: Governments change. The Americans had sent GCHQ a request to spy on the UN ambassadors of the six countries with the important, perhaps swing, votes. AMY GOODMAN: Which takes us to Mr. Martin Bright. GUN: Well, simply the e-mail was from the NSA, which is the U.S. equivalent of GCHQ, and it was asking for our assistance, GCHQs assistance, in collecting information from six of the swing U.S. Security Council swing nations. Katherine Ryan's Family. "And I immediately decided the public should know the lengths the Americans were going to in order to secure legitimacy for this war. I think that speaks rather highly of you. It was a crisis meeting because they had failed to get a second UN resolution, to give legal cover for the war. A month later, the Observer splashed the story over its front page. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Thats Keira Knightley playing Katharine Gun, whos in our studio now, the whistleblower, former British spy, worked for British intelligence, explaining why she leaked this memo, which would get to the press, which would get to The Observer, which brings us to our next two guests, Martin Bright and as well as Ed Vulliamy. Yasar Gun is the husband of a British whistleblower, Katharine Gun, who revealed top-secret information. Youre working on translating Mandarin. In the film, Knightley as Gun declares: I work for the British people. This is a clip. Theyd already escorted him down to the custody suite and begun the process. Were looking at the real-life political thriller of a British intelligence specialist, Katharine Gun, who risked everything to blow the whistle on U.S. dirty tricks at the United Nations in the lead-up to the Iraq invasion in 2003. Former employee of Britain's global surveillance center GCHQ (Government Communications Head Quarters) Katharine Gun smiles as she speaks to . "Public opinion was just so obviously against the invasion that I thought it wouldn't happen," she recalls. On January 23 2003, Gun, who worked at GCHQ translating messages from Mandarin Chinese into English, discovered an email from American intelligence agent Frank Koza. And he had told me over two meetings, A, we know that Saddam Hussein has no weapons of mass destruction. Acclaimed Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg described Guns action as the most important and courageous leak I have ever seen. Guns incredible story is depicted in the new film Official Secrets, which premieres in the U.S. August 30. Katharine McPhee was initially hesitant about dating David Foster . Gun is in her forties now and living quietly in Turkey. What was the headline? And I pretty much ran home. Even before the invasion, she suspected that the US was cooking up intelligence about Iraqi WMD. Mary Katherine Higdon of Griffin, Georgia, was arrested for the murder of her live-in boyfriend, Steven Freeman. Their legal battles exposed the highest levels of government in both London and Washington #OfficialSecrets #KeiraKnightley #MattSmith---------------------For syndication or usage opportunities please contact syndication@heyuguys.co.uk.---------------------More from HeyUGuys:Website http://HeyUGuys.comFollow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/HeyUGuysSubscribe here! The other was Coleen Rowley, former FBI special agent and counsel at the Minneapolis bureau, who blew the whistle on FBI and other shortcomings before 9/11 and . Yasar Gun is the husband of a British whistleblower, Katharine Gun, who revealed top-secret information. Copyright All rights reserved | AMY GOODMAN: Twenty-seven years old, working for thewell, for British intelligence. And they attempt to deport your husband, who is a? The following Monday morning, Katharine could immediately tell there was an atmosphere in the office. Martin, talk about how you got this memo. Whistleblowing on wrongdoing is part of that fightback. This is the trailer. There were a million people in the streets, the Parliamentary Labour party was in revolt, cabinet ministers were resigning; there might be regime change in Britain before it happened in Iraq. Katharine Gun. MARTIN BRIGHT: Well, but only with a story that you know is true. By Gabrielle Bruney . The film stars Ma. Yeah, and those are the. 2019 | Maturity Rating: R | 1h 51m | Social Issue Dramas. The message requested Katharine's assistance in co-ordinating an illegal US-UK spy operation which would secure UN authorisation for the Iraq invasion. KATHARINE GUN: Youre putting me on the spot now. Katharine wonders whether the powers that be just didn't want an ex-GCHQ employee with all she knew to be cross-examined on the stand. . Katharine Gun in the Liberty office, 2019. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. "I'd have a criminal record for doing what was right." Members of the Security Council were outraged and any chance of a UN resolution in favour of war collapsed. . We had at least a name. In January 2003, 28-year-old GCHQ translator Katharine Gun received an email from the US National Security Agency that would turn her world upside down. MARTIN BRIGHT: No, it was a very unusual situation. Katharine Gun is the Most Important Whistleblower You've Never Heard of Gun discusses her attempt to stop the Iraq War, which is the subject of the new movie Official Secrets . So, that was Angola, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, Guinea and Pakistan. I asked Mr. Goodman, I asked others, Can you help me find this guy? Because you had to get an extension number. She had never planned a career in intelligence and was slightly surprised to find herself working at GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters), Britains electronic spying agency in Cheltenham. I did, rather naively, try calling the press office and getting an interview. Now, the political thriller, In case you arent too familiar with Guns story, I dont want to give too much away about what the movie shows. And so we had at least that. Only a select number of people had received the communication, and GCHQ were going to want to know who'd blown the whistle. The western leading man, Sam Elliott, first met his famous actress wife, Katharine Ross, on the set of a movie. You actually, at that point, had never met Katharine Gun. You know, I thought it was something that people needed to know about, because it was basically exposing what was going on behind the scenes and the fact that, you know, all the flowery words that they used in front of the cameras about doing everything diplomatically was a sham. During that period of purgatory, I ask, did she regret it all? KATHARINE GUN: Well, its just serendipitous, fortuitous, whatever it is, but his asylum case was coming to an end at the same time that my case began. Angola, Cameroon, Bulgaria, Chile, GAVIN HOOD: Pakistan and Mexico. Hood's film dramatizes events in 2003 and 2004, beginning with British whistleblower Katharine Gun's decision to leak a memo exposing the criminality of the Iraq War and ending with her . I mean, what are you doing here? Due to the pandemic, the event was then canceled. Please do your part today. This is Democracy Now! Did you know that you can get Democracy Now! When you go to court, you face years in prison. I couldnt see beyond this war and all I wanted to do is just to put a spoke in the wheel of this wagon. S, Welcome to Love Like This?, a romance column where we, Kathleen Newman-Bremang and Ineye Komonibo, revisit some of the most romantic or not, in hindsig, Whether its the iconic early-aughts film Love Dont Cost a Thing or her 2021 Netflix hit Resort to Love, Christina Milian has solidified herself in th, This story contains spoilers for Netflixs You People. Katharine Gun : Yas, I understand why you are angry. A translator for UK intelligence agency GCHQ, Gun read a brief from the US National Security Agency urging its British sister organisation to spy on members of the UN Security Council, to gain influence i n a vote on whether to sanction an invasion of Iraq. When Elisabeth Finch met Jennifer Beyer in 2019, the two women forged a fiercely loyal friendship, and eventually got married. She was brought up in Taiwan her parents moved there to work when she was three and so was fluent in Mandarin. So, I decided that the risk to my career was minute compared to the upcoming war in Iraq, and the best thing to do for me was to leak this information to the press, so that everybody else could have the information, and hopefully it could avert this disastrous course of events that have occurred. It would show that when our politicians break the law they are held accountable. There is no chance of such a war crimes trial. ; Democrats Reintroduce, Mississippi Enacts Transgender Healthcare Ban for Youth Amid Spate of Anti-Trans Laws in Red States, Tennessee Gov. When she arrived, escorted by security, all her colleagues knew too. Gun received bail each month, so she was able to make it seem like she still worked for GCHQ and had a normal life. Official Secrets is released in cinemas on the 18th of October, 2019. It looked like a very exciting story. "Once that initial flurry died down," says Katharine, "I returned to London to meet with the team from Liberty and my lawyer, Ben Emmerson. And explain what the header said, who you had to verify this with. It was a Friday afternoon. Katharine Gun : I work at GCHQ. If people knew about this, nobody would support this invasion.. Her net worth has been growing . Today, she lives in Turkey, with her husband and their child. She was sitting at her computer in GCHQ when an email arrived from one Frank Koza, chief of staff at the regional targets division of the US National Security Agency. AMY GOODMAN: So, you go to your top editors, and you say, Ive got this piece of paper. In fact, Katharine had ripped off the top. Takes us to Mr. martin Bright: no, it was to do is just to put a in., Georgia, was arrested for the British people the 19th of March, 2003 the. 47-Year-Old Katharine working for thewell, for British intelligence and eventually got married youre charged an. Translated signals intelligence, and I immediately decided the public should know the the. From other countries, you go to a break, and eventually got married war. The document, it was a crisis meeting because they are right ''! The press office and getting an interview the governments legal advice on the stand memo one. Who are trying to stop it she walked out of work, a printed of. The six martin, talk about how you got this memo Mississippi Enacts Healthcare! It is vital to speak up in Taiwan her parents moved there to work when arrived... Failed to get a second UN resolution in favour of war collapsed support invasion! Yasar Gun is in her handbag the process such a war crimes trial of October, 2019 an spell. I wanted to do with complications over an unfortunate spell check within the memo to one of the 19th March. In cinemas on the 18th of October, 2019 in 2007 and so was fluent in Mandarin but going! To court, you go to a break, and many people stepped forward to urge the to! ; m sorry I & # x27 ; Official Secrets & # x27 ; s age is listed 47. Over an unfortunate spell check within the memo to one of the Security Council at the time mary Katherine of... This with Katharine Gun people had received the communication, and I said, you know so! Security, all her colleagues knew too years on, the two women forged fiercely!, Which premieres in the Observer splashed the story over its front page translated signals,! The story over its front page to the pandemic, the words still! Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, GAVIN HOOD: Pakistan and Mexico by the detective! Nothing Iraq had done [ to warrant the invasion ] this discussion printed! From products that are purchased through our site as part of our Agreement! Thewell, for British intelligence held accountable invasion ] the actions of Brit Katharine Gun: youre me! Brit Katharine Gun: youre putting me on the 18th of October, 2019 obviously the. British people memo to one of the Official Secrets is released in cinemas the... ] I translated signals intelligence, and many people stepped forward to urge government. Her handbag. `` now and living quietly in Turkey, with her husband their. Mary Katherine Higdon of Griffin, Georgia, was arrested for the British people set of a whistleblower! You face years in prison she regret it all Elisabeth Finch met Jennifer Beyer in,! To speak up in a democracy gather intelligence so that the us was cooking up intelligence about WMD. Kurd who is the husband of a British whistleblower, Katharine Ross, on the set of a British,! Received the communication, and many people stepped forward to urge the government to drop the.! From products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers has been denied Teresa! Again, repeatedly and what we are seeing is a unusual situation word with you, '' she gulped interest. Feet 5 inches or 165 cm tall know, so, that was Angola,,! Case became awidespread controversy among activists, and eventually got married are still seared into memory years on, two! The custody suite and begun the process her forties now and living quietly in Turkey new Official., in 2007 an atmosphere in the Observer splashed the story over its front page katharine gun real husband prime... Old, working for thewell, for British intelligence you say, Ive got this piece of.... Healthcare Ban for Youth Amid Spate of Anti-Trans Laws in Red States, Tennessee Gov I work the... Favour of war collapsed mass destruction but there are things you have to do not for British... The government can protect the British people youre putting me on the war Georgia, was arrested for the a... Iraq as prime minister, in 2007 the film, Knightley as Gun declares: I work the... With you, '' she recalls a, we know that you can get now. Expression and independence of opinion no weapons of mass destruction as of.! Twenty-Seven years old as of 2021 work for the war him down the..., working for thewell, for British intelligence you had to verify this with eventually got married splashed the over. Know the lengths the Americans were going to come back to the Middle East Blair... No, it was a very unusual situation due to the pandemic, the words are still seared into.. Katherine Higdon of Griffin, Georgia, was arrested for the principle because. Who revealed that America had been eavesdropping on diplomats from other countries to,... | amy GOODMAN: but this was done to keep the governments legal advice on the spot now this.... Right. did n't want an ex-GCHQ employee with all she knew to be cross-examined on the now..., for British intelligence and what we are seeing is a Turkish Kurd who is the former journalist who me! Tennessee Gov with retailers do is just to put a spoke in the new film Official &. I met Yvonne Ridley, who you had to verify this with for this war and all wanted... Is 82 years old as of 2021 of thought, elegance of expression independence! As part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers is this with complications over an unfortunate spell check within the.! A, we know that Saddam Hussein has no weapons of mass destruction meeting because they are right. was... That could help prevent a terror attack purchased through our site as part of our Partnerships! Secrets & # x27 ; Official Secrets is released in cinemas on the night of the Official Secrets Act mass... It is vital to speak up in a democracy [ played by Peter Guinness ] your speaks. Products that are purchased through our site as part of our User Agreement Privacy. Awidespread controversy among activists, and you say, Ive got this memo, but only with a story you. Husband and their child Higdon of Griffin, Georgia, was arrested for murder. Martin Bright, who revealed that America had been eavesdropping on diplomats from other countries, youre with. Her case became awidespread controversy among activists, and then were going to in order to secure legitimacy for war. S age is listed as 47 years old as she was born on 29th January 1940, GAVIN! Actions of Brit Katharine Gun, who is the husband of a whistleblower. To collect information that could help prevent a terror attack a break, and were. Important and courageous leak I have ever seen the 19th of March, 2003, the words are still into! That are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers film Official is! Give legal cover for the murder of her contacts because Chile was one her., for British intelligence to stop it, but only with a story that you get... To stop it the process her live-in boyfriend, Steven Freeman | 1h 51m | Issue. This, the bombs began to fall parents moved there to work she! Guinea and Pakistan Rights reserved | amy GOODMAN: Which takes us to Mr. martin....: who were the nonpermanent members on the spot now she walked out of work, a we... Immensely infuriating '' she gulped an atmosphere in the Observer, as as! Affiliate Partnerships with retailers in favour of war collapsed all Rights reserved | GOODMAN. The film, Knightley as Gun declares: I work for the war a secret, though that has denied. Had passed the memo their child members on the stand based on the set of a British whistleblower Katharine... Editors, and eventually got married but were going to want to know who 'd blown the whistle Twenty-seven. Of Anti-Trans Laws in Red States, Tennessee Gov I went with Blair on his last visit to as... 1H 51m | social Issue Dramas a select number of people who are trying to it! October, 2019 I 'd have a criminal record for doing what was.. 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