EP.806: Whistleblower Katharine Gun- How the US Spied+Blackmailed to get Support for the Iraq War

On this episode of Going Underground, we speak to whistleblower Katharine Gun on the film depicting her attempts to stop the Iraq War ‘Official Secrets’, starring Keira Knightley. She discusses how the US tried to spy and blackmail countries in the UN to support the Iraq War, Britain’s role in the US’ methods, the aftermath of the leaks and more! Next, we speak to former SNP MP Paul Monaghan on the Catalonia unrest following the sentencing of Catalan independence leaders, the EU’s silence on the persecution of Catalan leaders and Catalonians, whether Spain is returning to the days of General Franco and more! Finally, we speak to the lawyer for exiled Catalonian minister Clara Ponsati, Aamer Anwar, where he says the EU cannot point at other countries for human rights abuses while ignoring Spain’s repression of Catalonia. He also discusses the likelihood of Catalonian independence, why the protests won’t stop, the history of Spanish repression of Catalonia and more!

STATEMENT FROM THE BBC'S KAMAL AHMED:

"The film is not a documentary and its portrayal of me is not fair or true - I don’t recognise any of what I am supposed to have said and done and no one checked anything with me"

“I wasn’t involved in this story in the way portrayed, and the film’s characterisation of my role and opinions about the story are untrue, as the film makers know.”