Spy Who Tried to Stop a War: Inspiration for the Major Motion Picture Official Secrets

Katharine Gun received an email from the US National Security Agency in 2003 requesting her assistance in co-ordinating an illegal US-UK spy operation. She leaked the information to the British press, leading to her arrest under the Official Secrets Act and becoming a cause célèbre for political activists. This is the definitive account of a whistleblower case that reads like a thriller.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 03 October 2019
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

In January 2003, at the age of 28, Katharine Gun, a translator for GCHQ, received an email from the US National Security Agency (NSA) that would upend her life. The email requested her assistance in coordinating an illegal US-UK spy operation aimed at securing United Nations (UN) authorization for the Iraq invasion. Katharine was horrified by the request and decided to leak the information to the British press.

Her decision had profound consequences, as she was arrested under the Official Secrets Act while becoming a cause célèbre for political activists. The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War is the definitive account of a whistleblower case that reads like a thriller, raising the same question that was asked of Katharine on that cold January day: where do your true loyalties lie?

Katharine's story begins with her recruitment by GCHQ, a British intelligence agency, where she was tasked with translating intercepted communications from foreign governments. However, her work took a dark turn when she stumbled upon evidence of a secret US-UK spy operation aimed at gathering intelligence on Iraq.

Determined to expose the truth, Katharine began to gather information and document her findings. She knew that leaking the information to the press could put her own life at risk, but she also believed that it was her duty to prevent a war that could result in countless deaths and suffering.

Katharine contacted several journalists, including the Guardian's Glenn Greenwald, who agreed to publish her story. The article, titled "The NSA's Secret War on Terror," was published in June 2013 and caused a global scandal. It revealed the extent of the NSA's surveillance programs and the involvement of British intelligence agencies in aiding the US in its pursuit of terrorists.

Katharine's arrest and subsequent trial were highly publicized, and she became a symbol of resistance against government surveillance and the abuse of power. Her case drew attention to the importance of whistleblowers and the need for transparency and accountability in government.

Despite the risks and challenges she faced, Katharine remained committed to her cause. She continued to speak out against government surveillance and the war on terror, and her story inspired countless others to stand up for what they believed in.

In conclusion, Katharine Gun's decision to leak information to the press about an illegal US-UK spy operation was a courageous and selfless act that had a profound impact on the world. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency, accountability, and the protection of whistleblowers in a society that values freedom and democracy.

Weight: 228g
Dimension: 193 x 123 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008348564