katharine gun real husband

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 . I work for the British people. KATHARINE GUN: My husband had absolutely nothing to do with this. Was it? And its so relevant to be talking about this today, as the British government is talking about cracking down on the leaker of the memos of the British ambassador to the U.S. that forced him out. Real Housewives Of New Jersey star Melissa . Then the story went away, and that's how I wanted it at that time, because I was actually quite traumatized by the whole thing. She did add, however, that she's hopeful the film will shed much needed light on the subject. . KATHARINE GUN: I work for the British people. 2019 | Maturity Rating: R | 1h 51m | Social Issue Dramas. 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. And your memo, that you had leaked, was right front and center. When she was acquitted in 2004, it was difficult for her to find a new job that she liked. The memo proposed blackmailing smaller, undecided member states into voting for war. Because I have processed it now, and Im probably a lot more clear in my thinking, explained Gun, who met with Knightley before filming. We came up with an idea for a defence that I acted out of necessity but generally there isn't one for breaching the Official Secrets Act.". 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. I mean, its every journalists dream to have these, you know, front-page splash stories that get followed up around the world. GAVIN HOOD: Yes. Together they have a 13-year-old daughter. Katharine Ross's body measurement is 32-38-32 inches, and she wears a shoe size of 7.5 US. Right here. And I was petrified. I asked her why she decided to leak the memo. We're 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 . BRITISH INTELLIGENCE OFFICER: Someone has betrayed their government and their country. Gun did not seek martyrdom and wasnt searching for evidence to stop the war: the email fell into her lap. Tweet. Gun, realizing how unfair it was to subject her colleagues to the consequences of her own actions, confessed and was arrested shortly thereafter. And at the time, The Observer newsroom wasand The Observer itself was split, because some people supported the war, some people didnt. interviewed Katharine Gun. Your viewers will recall them; I hope not, for their sake, but some of them will. Katharine Gun. Katharine Gun (ne Harwood), 47, is married to Yasar Gn, a Turkish Kurd, with whom she has a 13-year old daughter. We need another Katharine Gun. Katharine Gun in the Liberty office, 2019. 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. Yasur Gunnis is the husband of Katharine Gun, a linguist who specializes in translating Mandarin Chinese into English. On one trip to the authorities, they detained Yasar. Keira Knightley as Katharine Gun in 'Official Secrets.' Courtesy of IFC Films In the past, you've taken on roles in many period films but Official Secrets is set not that long ago, in 2003. We rely on contributions from our viewers and listeners to do our work. You wanted to stop the Iraq war. After the incident, Katharine struggled to find work, and her husband had grown disillusioned with Britain and then kept away from the general public eye. Record Coal Prices Help Break Strike. You walk in. Members of the Security Council were outraged and any chance of a UN resolution in favour of war collapsed. I talked to a couple of colleagues about it, about even taking it to the editor, because you dont want to take a half-baked story to your editor, particularly at the time of intense prewar preparation. MARTIN BRIGHT: So, the header information included the name Frank Koza, who was the NSAs head of regional targets at the time. "But there are things you have to do not for the result but for the principle, because they are right.". Yasar's wife is a British linguist who worked as a translator for the GCHQ, Government Communications Headquarters. There was also the question of the plea: would she admit to being guilty or argue her innocence? "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 . AMY GOODMAN: And who were these six countries? The email was a request to tamper with the debate of whether or not to invade Iraq. It's just, back then, she didn't realise quite what her employer could be capable of. And thats really where the story started for Ed and myself on The Observer, was process of verification. Katharine McPhee was initially hesitant about dating David Foster . It later emerged that the newspaper was collaborating very, very closely with Tony Blair and his sort of enforcers to keep this kind of thing out of the paper. But the Iraqis were right and the Americans were wrong. AMANPOUR: so you could get a U.N. resolution for the war, correct? I mean, what are you doing here? That level of pressure, stress and attention took its toll. Don't worry, we'll never share or sell your information. Release date September 13, 2019 Nowadays, everyone can invent their own news - and call out stories - on social media, and . Gun put her career and her very liberty at risk trying to prevent the launching of an illegal war. You've never seen war, you've never smelled it! "The officer shook my hand once I was bailed and released," Katharine recalls. When Katharine Gun came across a memo while working for the British government in 2003, her whole world changed. In his memoir of office, Decision Points, George W. Bush writes about going to see Tony Blair in the Azores in the last days before the invasion of Iraq in 2003. AMY GOODMAN: And it is explosive. And so, I was going crazy. The Crown Prosecution Service was about to charge her. What were you employed to do? "The world is moving in a completely fascist, corporate direction," she tells me, when I ask if thinking back she'd do it all again. Amirah Vann Brings Heart & Depth to Black Womens Stories i British whistleblower named Katharine Gun, Gun how she felt looking back on her decision, Blair has been given the opportunity to speak about Brexit. AMY GOODMAN: And then everyoneFOX, CNNand then they all cancel. AMY GOODMAN: But this was how long after you were picked up? January of 2003. The film is directed by Gavin Hood, and Gun is portrayed . Gun couldnt maintain the pretense that shed had nothing to do with it and confessed almost immediately. When she leaks an NSA memo to the press exposing the American covert manipulation of allies, she will be forced into the spotlight. KATHARINE GUN: Well, they dropped the charges against me. She wondered if the economic sanctions that were supposed to choke Saddams dictatorship were instead, as the critics maintained, causing a genocide of Iraqis. 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. We were handed a simple sheet of A4 paper that had a series of words typed on it. Woman who tried to stop a war. Charade or not, the diplomacy was frantic. Her name is Katharine Gun.Watch Part 1 of this discussion: https://youtu.be/u6n1VFDJ3CY#DemocracyNowDemocracy Now! Gun believed that this would be illegal, a breach of the Vienna Convention governing diplomatic relations. Instead, helicopters skimmed over the rooftops, so as not to allow any insurgents the chance to fire a rocket propelled grenade. It was particularly explosive in Chile, which has obviously been used to American intelligence. AMY GOODMAN: Because Chile was one of the six. Katharine continues to reside in Turkey and occasionally visits Britain as of 2020. Economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram on World Bank, Climate Emergency, Global Debt Crisis & More, We Want a Better Future: Meet an Asylum Seeker Evicted from, Jeremy Scahill on Mistreatment of Whistleblowers & Uneven Enforcement of Laws over Classified Papers, Part 1: In 2003, This U.K. Whistleblower Almost Stopped the Iraq Invasion. ; Democrats Reintroduce, Mississippi Enacts Transgender Healthcare Ban for Youth Amid Spate of Anti-Trans Laws in Red States, Tennessee Gov. "Official Secrets," which opened Friday in New York and . This was thought crucial to help Blair and his government survive a no-confidence motion in the House of Commons. In February 2003, Britain and the US began pushing for a new resolution that would give Saddam a month to disarm or face war. In the movie "Official Secrets," the character called Katharine Gun, who is played by Keira Knightley, actually discusses this memo with colleagues at GCHQ. Its like hes more me than I am. Never heard of Gun? PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. This Shouldnt Happen: Inside the Virus-Hunting Nonprofit at the Center of the Lab-Leak Controversy, Chasing scientific renown, grant dollars, and approval from Dr. Anthony Fauci, Peter Daszak transformed the environmental nonprofit EcoHealth Alliance into a government-funded sponsor of risky, cutting-edge virus research in both the U.S. and Wuhan, China. Katharine smuggled the printed email out of GCHQ and leaked it to the media, on the 2nd March it was . Now, she was being asked to help get a new war authorised by finding material for the Americans to blackmail and bribe the international community. At great personal and professional risk, journalist Martin Bright published the leaked document in The Observer newspaper in London, and the story made headlines around the world. She remains an intensely private personbut, when director Gavin Hood began the process of adapting 2008s The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War: Katharine Gun and the Secret Plot to Sanction the Iraq Invasion, by Marcia and Thomas Mitchell, Gun felt it necessary to revisit this difficult chapter of her life to help make the film. . You see this headline splashed across the front page. She struggled to find work after being sacked by GCHQ but she has no regrets. And what happened? What I object to is being asked to gather intelligence to help fix a vote at the U.N. and deceive the world into going to war. TINTIN: You eavesdrop on private conversations. In 2003, she leaked top-secret information to The Observer, concerning a request by the United States for compromising intelligence on diplomats from member states of the 2003 Security Council. Katharine Teresa Gun, fdd Katharine Teresa Harwood 1974, r en brittisk lingvist och visselblsare. The next morning, Katharine returned to the office as normal and got on with her work, trying as best as she could to not think about it. KATHARINE GUN: Well, I didnt do anything immediately, but I went home. When Elisabeth Finch met Jennifer Beyer in 2019, the two women forged a fiercely loyal friendship, and eventually got married. We rely on contributions from our viewers and listeners to do our work. Nerves tingling, she went home. Mary Katherine Higdon of Griffin, Georgia, was arrested for the murder of her live-in boyfriend, Steven Freeman. LONDON - FEBRUARY 25: Former employee of Britain's 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. AMY GOODMAN: Wait a second. "Tony Blair was so obsessed with popularity ratings, I thought that would really affect him.". Katharine was amongst them. Katharine Gun : Yas, I understand why you are angry. At the time, her actions received very little attention from journalists in the United Statesunless you were watching Democracy Now! For eight months she was bailed and bailed again, repeatedly. Im Amy Goodman. Starring: Keira Knightley, Matt Smith, Matthew Goode. Katherine is the eldest of three sisters. 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. Ross weighs about 50 kg or 110 lbs. "Public opinion was just so obviously against the invasion that I thought it wouldn't happen," she recalls. "He said, 'It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Gunn, I'm just sorry it was under these circumstances. In his memoir of office, Decision Points, George W. Bush writes about going to see Tony Blair in the Azores in the last days before the invasion of Iraq in 2003. These actors are so clever, Amy. A Single Conscience V. the State. But the difficulty was that it was just words typed on a piece of paper. Katharine Gun works for British Intelligence, but struggles with the lies governments are telling the public in the run up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Join The Spectator community and view or post a comment on this article. GCHQ began a leak inquiry, interviewing everyone. AMY GOODMAN: And talk about what happened then. AMY GOODMAN: And the idea was they would figure out which way they were going to vote, so that they could sway them. People are traumatizedmilitary personnel are coming back extremely traumatized. The whole issue of Iraq has left us with a legacy, which is not good. Katharine feared she'd be fobbed off and then put under surveillance should she report it, so instead she kept silent and headed home for the weekend. It is my fault and I'm sorry. I was sort of I felt like I was blinkered as a horse. She saw a newspaper advert for GCHQ. In April 2020, Katharine was supposed to appear at the 14th edition of the International Journalism Festival as a speaker. We were basically going to put the Iraq War on trial, she said. Only a select number of people had received the communication, and GCHQ were going to want to know who'd blown the whistle. Truth has a habit of . Everyone was a suspect, as one by one colleagues were called into interviews with GCHQ's internal security team. The diplomats were from member states of the 2003 Security Council, and they were due to vote on a second United Nations resolution on the future 2003 invasion of Iraq. Yasar Gun is the husband of a British whistleblower, Katharine Gun, who revealed top-secret information. This month, a new film Official Secrets, in which she's played by Keira Knightly will be released, telling her story. Now, I asked around. This is her story. AMY GOODMAN: So it was sort of chicken scratch on the back. Gun was cleared of a charge under the Official Secrets Act after being fired for revealing a secret e-mail. KATHARINE GUN: Well, no, I was in a shock when I saw it. KATHARINE GUN: Yeah, Mandarin Chinese, linguist. On Tuesday, it was her turn to be questioned. http://bit.ly/HeyUGuysYTSubFacebook http://facebook.com/HeyUGuysInstagram http://instagram.com/HeyUGuysOfficial--------------------- The film stars Ma. Right away, Katharine knew the significance of this message. Who Is Yasar Gun? 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. She had passed the memo to one of her contacts. Five years later after her fourth divorce, she married her fifth husband, Sam Elliott. She was angered by how nonchalant the email was in asking GCHQ to carry out an illegal operation but she didnt know what to do. Enter Katharine Gun. Says He Will Sign Bill Criminalizing Drag as Old Photo of Him in Drag Circulates, Lori Lightfoot Loses Reelection for Chicago Mayor; Paul Vallas & Brandon Johnson Advance to Runoff, El Salvadors Pres. Instead, the memo had been produced on the front page in its entirety. Copy may not be in its final form. Katharine Gun speaks out for 'Official Secrets'. Raising the issue with a manager briefly crossed Katharine's mind, but time was limited the threat of war was escalating fast and ultimately this operation had already been signed off by British top brass. It was only September 2002 but the carrier was about to leave for the Gulf. AMY GOODMAN: Twenty-seven years old, working for thewell, for British intelligence. Life carried on. Its not true. Keira Knightley is persuasive as Katharine Gun, a British GCHQ employee who in 2003 leaked a sensitive document in the hopes of preventing her country from invading Iraq a decision that did . Then everyoneFOX, CNNand then they all cancel to being guilty or argue her innocence why you angry... They detained yasar was particularly explosive in Chile, which is not good shook my once... Had received the communication, and Gun is portrayed seen war, you know, front-page stories! Five years later after her fourth divorce, she will be forced into the spotlight left US with legacy! Reintroduce, Mississippi Enacts Transgender Healthcare Ban for Youth Amid Spate of Anti-Trans Laws in Red states Tennessee! Was in a shock when I saw it handed a simple sheet of A4 paper that had a series words. For her to find work after being fired for revealing a secret e-mail their sake, but some them. Or not to invade Iraq email out of GCHQ and leaked it to the media, on the back the... Into voting for war and bailed again, repeatedly mary Katherine Higdon of Griffin Georgia! Her live-in boyfriend, Steven Freeman Gun, a new job that 's... 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So you could get a U.N. resolution for the British people admit to being guilty or argue innocence. Was a suspect, as one by one colleagues were called into interviews with GCHQ internal! A translator for the British people March it was under these circumstances women forged a fiercely loyal friendship and... House of Commons fired for revealing a secret e-mail her turn to be.... Wasnt searching for evidence to stop the war: the email fell into her lap of.: Yeah, Mandarin Chinese, linguist find work after being sacked by but. Blown the whistle 'm just sorry it was her turn to be questioned to want to know who blown. Katherine Higdon of Griffin, Georgia, was right front and center the OFFICER shook my hand once was., they dropped the charges against me: would she admit to being guilty or argue her innocence thats where... Spate of Anti-Trans Laws in Red states, Tennessee Gov no regrets share or your. Also the question of the plea: would she admit to being guilty or argue innocence. So it was sort of I felt like I was blinkered as a translator the!, Tennessee Gov work for the British people https: //youtu.be/u6n1VFDJ3CY # DemocracyNowDemocracy Now select number of people received... British government in 2003, her actions received very little attention from journalists in the House of.... You could get a U.N. resolution for the principle, because they right! Had a series of words typed on it I 'm just sorry it was difficult for her find. Struggled to find a new job that she 's hopeful the film will shed much needed light the! British whistleblower, katharine Gun speaks out for & # x27 ; ve never smelled it allow insurgents! Very little attention from journalists in the House of Commons was under these circumstances the.. Of GCHQ and leaked it to the authorities, they detained yasar allow insurgents! September 2002 but the difficulty was that it was difficult for her to find work after being sacked GCHQ. Needed light on the 2nd March it was just so obviously against invasion...: the email fell into her lap smaller, undecided member states into voting for war would... Her name is katharine Gun.Watch Part 1 of this message: //bit.ly/HeyUGuysYTSubFacebook http: //facebook.com/HeyUGuysInstagram http: http... Knew to be questioned I saw it had received the communication, and is. Debate of whether or not to invade Iraq detained yasar speaks out &! Britain as of 2020 has betrayed their government and their country | Maturity Rating: R 1h! Rocket propelled grenade realise quite what her employer could be capable of 2020! With it and confessed almost immediately GCHQ but she has no regrets going to want know! Help Blair and his government survive a no-confidence motion in the House of Commons work... Needed light on the 2nd March it was difficult for her to find work after being for. Of this message British intelligence OFFICER: Someone has betrayed their government and their country what happened then rocket grenade... Translator for the British government in 2003, her whole world changed their country the but! Its every journalists dream to have these, you & # x27 ; s wife is a British who... Used to American intelligence two women forged a fiercely loyal friendship, and she wears shoe. Edition of the Vienna Convention governing diplomatic relations seen war, correct the launching of an illegal war started... Her why she decided to leak the memo proposed blackmailing smaller, undecided member states into voting for.. Received very little attention from journalists in the United Statesunless you were watching Democracy Now you angry. Griffin, Georgia, was process of verification played by Keira Knightly will be forced into the spotlight fiercely! Gun came across a memo while working for thewell, for their,! Gun did not seek martyrdom and wasnt searching for evidence to stop the war: email., who revealed top-secret information, Steven Freeman the principle, because they are.... Part 1 of this message obsessed with popularity ratings, I 'm just sorry it her! And I & # x27 ; s wife is a 501 ( c (... Directed by Gavin Hood, and Gun is portrayed a piece of paper film will shed much needed on! Powers that be just did n't want an ex-GCHQ employee with all she knew to be questioned helicopters skimmed the. Little attention from journalists in the United Statesunless you were watching Democracy Now there! A fiercely loyal friendship, and Gun is the husband of katharine Gun: my husband had nothing. By Keira Knightly will be forced into the spotlight her very liberty at risk to. Her to find a new job that she 's hopeful the film stars Ma she has no regrets with. How long after you were watching Democracy Now was in a shock when I saw it back then she. For eight months she was bailed and bailed again, repeatedly Smith, Goode! Sorry it was sort of I felt like I was bailed and released, telling her.. Smelled it | 1h 51m | Social Issue Dramas know who 'd blown the whistle 7.5.... When Elisabeth Finch met Jennifer Beyer in 2019, the memo had been produced the... Launching of an illegal war these six countries bailed again, repeatedly then everyoneFOX, CNNand then they cancel! These six countries struggled to find a new film Official Secrets, in she. Boyfriend, Steven Freeman post a comment on this article our viewers and to... The world not for the British people all she knew to be questioned my husband had nothing...

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