Is the movie Official Secrets (2019) based on a true story?

Yes, Official Secrets (2019) is based on a true story. The movie is based on the life of Katharine Gun, a former British intelligence specialist, who leaked a memo in 2003 with the intention of preventing the Iraq war.

What is the true story behind the movie Official Secrets (2019)?

The movie Official Secrets is based on the real-life story of British intelligence specialist Katharine Gun. In 2003, Gun leaked a top-secret memo from the United States government to British media, which revealed a plan to blackmail United Nations diplomats into supporting the war in Iraq.

The memo was sent by the National Security Agency (NSA) and detailed plans to spy on and potentially blackmail members of the United Nations Security Council in order to secure their votes for a resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq. Gun, who was working at the Government Communications Headquarters at the time, believed the memo violated international law and decided to leak it to the press.

The leak was published in The Observer newspaper, leading to an international scandal and increasing public opposition to the Iraq War. Gun was subsequently arrested and charged under the Official Secrets Act, which carries a possible prison sentence of up to two years.

However, Gun’s case never went to trial. After months of legal battles, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges against her. The justification for this decision was that it might have led to the public disclosure of sensitive security information.

The movie tells the story of Gun’s brave decision to risk her job and freedom to expose corruption and deception at the highest levels of government. It sheds light on an important moment in history, when the actions of one insider had a significant impact on world events.

Are there any books about the true story behind the movie Official Secrets (2019)?

Yes, there are several books about the true story behind the movie Official Secrets (2019):

1. Official Secrets: The True Story Behind the Film ‘Official Secrets’ by Marcia Mitchell and Thomas Mitchell

2. The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War: Katharine Gun and the Secret Plot to Sanction the Iraq Invasion by Marcia Mitchell

3. The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War: Inspiration for the Major Motion Picture “Official Secrets” by Marcia Mitchell and Thomas Mitchell

4. Truth to Power: The Inside Story of the Pentagon Papers and the Official Secrets Act by Katharine Gun

5. War on Iraq: What Team Bush Doesn’t Want You to Know by William Rivers Pitt and Scott Ritter

These books provide a detailed account of the events featured in the film, including the actions of Katharine Gun, the government’s reaction to the release of the sensitive information, and the impact it had on the international political landscape.

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