True Spies Debriefs: Tim Tate on the Spycatcher Scandal
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Deep Dive
Why did Tim Tate become interested in the Spycatcher saga?
Tim Tate's interest was piqued by the British government's attempts to suppress Peter Wright's memoirs, Spycatcher, which revealed routine law-breaking by MI5. The government's obsessive control over information during Margaret Thatcher's era also fueled his curiosity.
What role did Mikhail Golianevsky play in Peter Wright's career?
Golianevsky provided crucial intelligence that helped Wright in his mole-hunting efforts, particularly in breaking the Portland spy ring. His revelations about a potential Soviet mole within MI5 also influenced Wright's investigations into Soviet penetration.
How did the British government respond to Tim Tate's request for information on Golianevsky?
MI5 refused to release its files on Golianevsky, citing that it would not be safe or appropriate to do so. Despite having the legal right to request these files under the Freedom of Information Act, MI5 is exempt from such requests.
What did Tim Tate learn about himself during his research for his 19th book?
Tate discovered that he was considered a threat to national security by the British government for delving too deeply into sensitive intelligence matters, particularly the Spycatcher saga.
Why did the CIA distance itself from Golianevsky while MI5 continued its relationship with him?
The CIA began to distance itself from Golianevsky after he made a bizarre claim to be the surviving son of the last Tsar of Russia. MI5, however, continued its relationship with him for several years, even after this claim.
What is the significance of the phrase 'wilderness of mirrors' in counterintelligence?
The phrase, coined by a former CIA head of counterintelligence, describes the distorting effect of counterintelligence work, where reality is often distorted by prejudices, experiences, and beliefs. It highlights the complexity and confusion in counterintelligence operations.
What was the outcome of Tim Tate's subject access review request?
The Cabinet Office responded with limited information, citing that releasing more data would endanger national security. This response was seen as absurd, given Tate's role as a journalist requesting legally mandated documents.
What is Tim Tate's next book about?
Tate's next book investigates the recruitment and protection of Nazi war criminals by British and American intelligence during the Cold War. These war criminals were used as spies against the Soviet Union and were shielded from war crimes investigations.
- Mikhail Golenevsky's double life as a Polish and KGB agent, then CIA informant
- Exposure of the Portland spy ring
- British government's attempts to suppress Peter Wright's memoirs, "Spycatcher"
- Public's reaction to the government's actions
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