Open secret
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Magnificent news that GCHQ, the international eavesdroppers' centre in Cheltenham, plans to open its doors for family days. Government Communications Headquarters says it will welcome the families of staff "for a glimpse of life behind the fence". This should, however, only be the start. GCHQ can follow the example of Sellafield in selling itself to the public at large (Sellafield, worried that it was seen as environmentally dodgy, marketed itself with pictures of grazing cows).
We should, of course, be allowed to do more than just gawp. "Listen in to the KGB smokers' room"; "Hear Saddam go mad in Baghdad"; even (since spies are not fussy between friends and foes) "Hear Bill and Hillary's latest shrieking match".
Nor should they stop at GCHQ. Porton Down, the chemical warfare research establishment, would make a great day out with the kids. Best of all, perhaps, they should instead open up the grandiose new headquarters of MI6. Why should Pierce Brosnan's James Bond be the only person to get a peek inside? But there's a catch: if we're allowed inside the spies' world, we may be exposed to the most embarrassing secret of all: there is nothing more boring than a real-life nest of spies.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments