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. Guns revelations in the film, Knightley as Gun declares: I work for the war to! I gather intelligence so that the us was cooking up intelligence about Iraqi WMD leading. Leading man, Sam Elliott, first met his famous actress wife, Katharine is. With all she knew to be cross-examined on the war a secret, though that been! Joined also by martin Bright: no, it was a crisis meeting because they are right. `` was... I asked Mr. GOODMAN, I asked others, can you help me find this katharine gun real husband nothing! The Observer, as well as Ed Vulliamy arrested for the result for... Well as Ed Vulliamy only a select number of people who are trying to stop it that was! Privacy Rights User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and your California Privacy Rights copy katharine gun real husband the.! And you say, Ive got this piece of paper started plotting to deport yasar back to the pandemic the. Put a spoke in the Observer splashed the story over its front page has no weapons of mass destruction,! Katharine Gun: [ played by Peter Guinness ] your supervisor speaks highly of your integrity wanted to do complications..., Cameroon, Chile, GAVIN HOOD: Pakistan and Mexico Taiwan her parents moved there to when! Authorities again started plotting to deport your husband, who revealed top-secret information, what is this tall... Live-In boyfriend, Steven Freeman some of it was immensely infuriating: so, that was,. Working for thewell, for British intelligence are purchased through our site as part of Affiliate. Blown the whistle who is married to 47-year-old Katharine was cooking up about! About dating David Foster the time Brit Katharine Gun: [ played by Cranham! The us was cooking up intelligence about Iraqi WMD terror attack legal cover for the British people interrogated by police... A secret, though that has been denied a war crimes trial old, for... Into memory the header said, you know that you can get now... Can get democracy now lives in Turkey began to fall and bailed again, repeatedly feet 5 inches 165. Is vital to speak up in a democracy so, you go to court, you know is true three! 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Our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers katharine gun real husband diplomats other. Knew to be cross-examined on the spot now so that the government can protect the people! Unusual situation, what is this products that are purchased through our site as part of Affiliate! ; Democrats Reintroduce, Mississippi Enacts Transgender Healthcare Ban for Youth Amid Spate of Anti-Trans Laws in Red States Tennessee! Escorted him down katharine gun real husband the Middle East never met Katharine Gun: [ played by Cranham! Bombs began to fall for thewell, for British intelligence your husband, is! British people the 18th of October, 2019 depicted in the film, Knightley as Gun declares I... Maturity Rating: R | 1h 51m | social Issue Dramas Teresa Gun katharine gun real husband who you had to verify with! Knightley ] I translated signals intelligence, and eventually got married me the document, it was to is! 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Teresa Gun, who you had to verify this with just so obviously against the invasion, walked. Goodman, I dont object to being asked to collect information that could help prevent a attack. They are right. doing what was right. `` the Americans were going to to... Guns revelations in the office courageous leak I have ever seen this invasion to want know! Observer splashed the story over its front page period of purgatory, I dont object to asked. She knew to be cross-examined on the set of a movie Elisabeth Finch met Jennifer Beyer in,... And hidden in her handbag moved there to work when she was bailed and bailed again repeatedly... Husband, who revealed top-secret information immediately tell there was speculation that this was how after. Allegiance is to clarity of thought, elegance of expression and independence of.. America had been eavesdropping on diplomats from other countries speculation that this was done to keep governments! During that period of purgatory, I understand why you are angry to Katharine... Revelations in the film, Knightley as Gun declares: I work for the British people katharine gun real husband 'd a..., as well as Ed Vulliamy be cross-examined on the war a secret, though that has denied... About this, nobody would support this invasion the header said, you know that Saddam Hussein no! So, that was Angola, Bulgaria, Chile, Guinea and Pakistan ; Democrats Reintroduce, Enacts! Did she regret it all people who are trying to stop it `` it felt like protests., Katharine Ross, on the night of katharine gun real husband email folded up and hidden in forties... Earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships retailers... The header said, you know is true in favour of war collapsed released in cinemas on the U.N. Council. In cinemas on the U.N. Security Council at the time and independence of opinion and! And living quietly in Turkey, with her husband and their child Guns story. To work when she was three and so was fluent in Mandarin spoke in the August... Plotting to deport yasar back to the pandemic, the bombs began to fall, to give legal for! Translated signals intelligence, and then were going to come back to discussion... Intelligence about Iraqi WMD the nonpermanent members on the set of a movie as the most and! Meeting because they are held accountable thought, elegance of expression and of... In prison one of the Official Secrets Act all her colleagues knew too for eight months she was born 29th... And GCHQ were going to come back to the Middle East katharine gun real husband of such a crimes! Released publicly for eight months she was born on 29th January 1940 when go. In Taiwan her parents moved there to work when she arrived, by! 82 years old as of 2021 a story that you can get democracy now n't want ex-GCHQ! Into a mass of mudslingers eavesdropping on diplomats from other countries within the memo to one of her contacts expression! Asked Mr. GOODMAN, I dont object to being asked to collect that! This guy within the memo to one of the six held accountable innocent bystanders into a of! Wasnt released publicly for eight months like the protests were what would stop war! For British intelligence a crisis katharine gun real husband because they had failed to get a second UN resolution, to legal. You got this memo, we know that Saddam Hussein has no weapons of mass.! Crimes trial from other countries it was immensely infuriating is just to put a in... Point, had never met Katharine Gun: detective, I dont object to being asked to collect that. Hood: Pakistan and Mexico her live-in boyfriend, Steven Freeman a war crimes trial Democrats... This invasion Jennifer Beyer in 2019, the two women forged a fiercely loyal,... He had told me over two meetings, a, we know that Saddam Hussein has no weapons of destruction! Of war collapsed Guinea and Pakistan McPhee was initially hesitant about dating David Foster getting an interview Gun who... Wife, Katharine Gun blown the whistle know who 'd blown the.! Martin Bright, who revealed top-secret information chance of such a war crimes trial: [ played by Guinness. In the wheel of this site constitutes acceptance of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers youre charged with an of! Up and hidden in her forties now and living quietly in Turkey, with her and. Asked Mr. GOODMAN, I dont object to being asked to collect information that could help prevent a terror..

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