#marcia mitchell

[storytime-reviews]

Currently Reading: The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War by Marcia Mitchell and Thomas Mitchell

[storytime-reviews]

The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War

British secret service officer Katharine Gun's only crime was telling the truth, but she paid a steep price when she exposed a U.S.-U.K. spy operation to secure UN authorisation for the Iraq invasion. 

Rating: ★★★★

This is the true story that the Keira Knightley film, Official Secrets, is based on. When Katharine Gun reads a memo detailing efforts to spy on and blackmail key members of the UN into voting to invade Iraq, she barely hesitates to leak it. Unfortunately, Gun’s leak doesn’t stop the war, however, this leak does place the spotlight on government ‘dirty tricks’ and allows for the invasion of Iraq to be viewed in a different context by the public. 

The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War provides important political context to Gun’s actions; this background helps to explain Katharine’s motivations, as well as the impact her actions had on the government and the public. The authors have used endnotes to keep track of their various sources. These include publicly available interviews and articles from journalists, as well as interviews that the authors personally conducted with those involved in Katharine’s case, as well as others who had strong opinions regarding her actions.  

I have so much respect for what Katharine Gun did, and everything she went through. Her story is an important lens to view the invasion of Iraq through, because she was motivated to follow her conscience rather than simply do her job. Her conscience, and human lives, were much more important to her, and it’s why her actions were received so positively by so many. In fact, her actions have inspired others, including other women in government positions who chose to tell the truth rather than follow blindly. The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War makes clear how unpopular the invasion was. 

But poor Katharine’s troubles do not stop with the harassment she received over this issue. I did enjoy the focus on some of Katharine’s personal context that demonstrated the construction of her conscience and beliefs, but the pain her and her husband suffered throughout this and afterwards was particularly heartbreaking. 

Everyone should read this book and/or watch Official Secrets. The film does bring out more from the side of the journalists that broke the leak story as well, which I think worked really well. I would also suggest that Official Secrets would be easier to engage with for most, whilst The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War then provides some more political context for those interested. My suggestion would be to watch the film, and if you want a bit more information, to then read this book after that. 

My review of Official Secrets

[storytime-reviews]

Just Finished: The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War by Marcia Mitchell and Thomas Mitchell

What is easy to miss in the continuing flurry of political hindsight is what Katharine Gun actually accomplished. No, she was not able to stop the war. However, she revealed a crime, a plot to start and legitimise a war. There is no question that had the UN Security Council adopted a proposed resolution to legalise the war, the Iraq narrative would have been different. The invading coalition would have had legal justification for its action.

[storytime-reviews]

In truth, it was a war crime, an illegal war, a war against humanity.

Katharine Gun on the Iraq War, in Marcia & Thomas Mitchell, The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War

[storytime-reviews]

What is easy to miss in the continuing flurry of political hindsight is what Katharine Gun actually accomplished. No, she was not able to stop the war. However, she revealed a crime, a plot to start and legitimise a war. There is no question that had the UN Security Council adopted a proposed resolution to legalise the war, the Iraq narrative would have been different. The invading coalition would have had legal justification for its action.

Marcia & Thomas Mitchell, The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War

[konyvmolyz-blog]

Official Secrets – Harrison Ford csatlakozott a stábhoz

Most már hivatalos: Harrison Ford is szerepet kapott az Offical Secrets című filmben. A Justin Chadwick (A másik Boleyn lány, Mandela: Hosszú út a szabadságig) által rendezett mozi Marcia és Thomas Mitchell dokumentum-könyvének, The Spy Who Tried To Stop A War: Katherine Gun and The Secret Plot to Sanction the Iraq Invasion adaptációja lesz. A [...]

[denisegilliland]

Marcia Kay (Elske) Mitchell, 62, of Fremont, NE

Marcia Kay (Elske) Mitchell, 62, of Fremont, NE

MARCIA KAY (ELSKE) MITCHELL, was born June 7, 1952, in Blair, Nebraska, to Duane and Waletta (Beum) Elske. She passed away Thursday, January 29, 2015 at her home in Fremont, Nebraska, surrounded by family.

She grew up on the family farm in Stella, Nebraska. There she participated in 4H, band, pep club, track (shot put), and showing horses. She won many titles at various rodeos. She won the title…

View On WordPress

[denisegilliland]

Marcia (Elske) Mitchell, 62, of Fremont NE

Marcia (Elske) Mitchell, 62, of Fremont NE

MARCIA (ELSKE) MITCHELL, 62 years, of Fremont, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, January 29, 2015, at her home in Fremont.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Services are pending with Pelan Funeral Services Tekamah.

View On WordPress