We're so proud of our Wikileaks daughter, say family of the British blonde who went on the run with CIA whistleblower

Family of Assange's ex-girlfriend Sarah Harrison say they haven't heard from her since she fled with Edward SnowdenThe 31-year-old accompanied the former CIA technician to Moscow

By Claudia Joseph

PUBLISHED: 23:13 GMT, 29 June 2013 | UPDATED: 00:44 GMT, 30 June 2013

Sarah Harrison is acting as Edward Snowden's 'adviser'. She has travelled with him to Moscow

The mother of the public schoolgirl on the run with CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden says she is ‘very proud’ of her ‘formidable’ daughter.

WikiLeaks staff member Sarah Harrison, who is in hiding in a Moscow airport with Snowden, is the young British woman from Sevenoaks acting as the computer specialist’s ‘adviser’.

In her first interview, Jennifer Harrison, 62, spoke of her deep fears for her daughter’s safety, but told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I am very proud of my daughter.

'I trust my daughter implicitly. I trust her judgment, I trust her values and I trust her to make the right decisions. 

‘She is very committed to whatever she decides to do and very loyal to the people she feels are important in her life. She is very loving and affectionate and has a clear sense of priorities.’

Mrs Harrison added: ‘I worry about all my children all the time, wherever they are in the world.

'I want them to be safe and above all to be happy. This is an unusual situation – it is unknown territory and I am concerned.’

The teacher, who helps children with learning difficulties improve their literacy, did not appear fazed to be caught up in an international diplomatic storm. 

She was speaking from the farmhouse, in Maynards Green, East Sussex, that she shares with her husband Ian, a former England table tennis champion.

With its stunning views and rambling garden, it seemed a haven of sanity in comparison to the transit area of Sheremetyevo airport where Sarah – the eldest of their three daughters – is fighting the political storm.

Sarah flew there with Snowden from Hong Kong. ‘My daughters make a formidable trio,’ she said. ‘I always support what they do.’ 

Mr Harrison, 74, appeared more bewildered to be in the spotlight.

Admitting he was a ‘bit of a political anorak’, Mr Harrison said: ‘We are just very, very nervous for our daughter

Inner circle: Sarah Harrison (centre) started working for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange (left) in 2010. She quickly became his right-hand woman

On the run: Sara Harrison's parents say they worry that she is traveling with Edward Snowden (right). The Wikileaks adviser (lefy) is said to have been sent by Julian Assange

'When you think that Edward Snowden has been charged with espionage and that Sarah has been seen as helping him – whether she has or not helped him – it’s a great worry.

'We knew she was connected with WikiLeaks but not to Edward Snowden. We don’t know how she got to Hong Kong at all. We hope and don’t believe she’s breaking the law.’

Despite her attempt to remain anonymous – she has reduced her online profile to almost zero – The Mail on Sunday has pieced together the life story of the woman who has become the ‘eyes and ears’ of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. 

Born in 1982, Sarah went to the ?29,600-a-year Sevenoaks School, where former pupils include Oscar-winning actor Daniel Day Lewis and former MI5 boss Sir Jonathan Evans.

After doing the International Baccalaureate in 2000, Sarah spent a gap year as a chalet girl before going to Queen Mary, University of London, where she studied English literature.

Sarah was 28 when she met Assange in 2010. Dubbed a cyber-terrorist by the United States, he was attracting a level of hero worship from supporters. Sarah soon became his No?1 fan.

Both of Sarah’s sisters – Kate, 29, who works for a fashion export firm, and Alex, 23, who is an events PR – live in Hong Kong, where Snowden was briefly staying while on the run. 

On Thursday, both sisters attended a ?70-a-head dinner for young professionals in Hong Kong. But Sarah had already fled to Moscow.

Russia last night seemed to be edging towards offering asylum to Snowden.

A hotel employee said Russian officials let the CIA whistleblower leave the Sheremetyevo airport transit area and stay in a nearby Novotel hotel. 

Officially, Russia says Snowden can stay indefinitely in transit. 

Snowden yesterday failed for the third time to board Aeroflot flight SU150 to the Cuban capital Havana, his obvious route to the two bolt-holes identified for him by WikiLeaks – Ecuador and Venezuela.

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We're so proud of our Wikileaks daughter, say family of the British blonde who went on the run with CIA whistleblower

Family of Assange's ex-girlfriend Sarah Harrison say they haven't heard from her since she fled with Edward SnowdenThe 31-year-old accompanied the former CIA technician to Moscow

By Claudia Joseph

PUBLISHED: 23:13 GMT, 29 June 2013 | UPDATED: 00:44 GMT, 30 June 2013

Sarah Harrison is acting as Edward Snowden's 'adviser'. She has travelled with him to Moscow

The mother of the public schoolgirl on the run with CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden says she is ‘very proud’ of her ‘formidable’ daughter.

WikiLeaks staff member Sarah Harrison, who is in hiding in a Moscow airport with Snowden, is the young British woman from Sevenoaks acting as the computer specialist’s ‘adviser’.

In her first interview, Jennifer Harrison, 62, spoke of her deep fears for her daughter’s safety, but told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I am very proud of my daughter.

'I trust my daughter implicitly. I trust her judgment, I trust her values and I trust her to make the right decisions. 

‘She is very committed to whatever she decides to do and very loyal to the people she feels are important in her life. She is very loving and affectionate and has a clear sense of priorities.’

Mrs Harrison added: ‘I worry about all my children all the time, wherever they are in the world.

'I want them to be safe and above all to be happy. This is an unusual situation – it is unknown territory and I am concerned.’

The teacher, who helps children with learning difficulties improve their literacy, did not appear fazed to be caught up in an international diplomatic storm. 

She was speaking from the farmhouse, in Maynards Green, East Sussex, that she shares with her husband Ian, a former England table tennis champion.

With its stunning views and rambling garden, it seemed a haven of sanity in comparison to the transit area of Sheremetyevo airport where Sarah – the eldest of their three daughters – is fighting the political storm.

Sarah flew there with Snowden from Hong Kong. ‘My daughters make a formidable trio,’ she said. ‘I always support what they do.’ 

Mr Harrison, 74, appeared more bewildered to be in the spotlight.

Admitting he was a ‘bit of a political anorak’, Mr Harrison said: ‘We are just very, very nervous for our daughter

Inner circle: Sarah Harrison (centre) started working for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange (left) in 2010. She quickly became his right-hand woman

On the run: Sara Harrison's parents say they worry that she is traveling with Edward Snowden (right). The Wikileaks adviser (lefy) is said to have been sent by Julian Assange

'When you think that Edward Snowden has been charged with espionage and that Sarah has been seen as helping him – whether she has or not helped him – it’s a great worry.

'We knew she was connected with WikiLeaks but not to Edward Snowden. We don’t know how she got to Hong Kong at all. We hope and don’t believe she’s breaking the law.’

Despite her attempt to remain anonymous – she has reduced her online profile to almost zero – The Mail on Sunday has pieced together the life story of the woman who has become the ‘eyes and ears’ of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. 

Born in 1982, Sarah went to the ?29,600-a-year Sevenoaks School, where former pupils include Oscar-winning actor Daniel Day Lewis and former MI5 boss Sir Jonathan Evans.

After doing the International Baccalaureate in 2000, Sarah spent a gap year as a chalet girl before going to Queen Mary, University of London, where she studied English literature.

Sarah was 28 when she met Assange in 2010. Dubbed a cyber-terrorist by the United States, he was attracting a level of hero worship from supporters. Sarah soon became his No?1 fan.

Both of Sarah’s sisters – Kate, 29, who works for a fashion export firm, and Alex, 23, who is an events PR – live in Hong Kong, where Snowden was briefly staying while on the run. 

On Thursday, both sisters attended a ?70-a-head dinner for young professionals in Hong Kong. But Sarah had already fled to Moscow.

Russia last night seemed to be edging towards offering asylum to Snowden.

A hotel employee said Russian officials let the CIA whistleblower leave the Sheremetyevo airport transit area and stay in a nearby Novotel hotel. 

Officially, Russia says Snowden can stay indefinitely in transit. 

Snowden yesterday failed for the third time to board Aeroflot flight SU150 to the Cuban capital Havana, his obvious route to the two bolt-holes identified for him by WikiLeaks – Ecuador and Venezuela.

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British troops won't leave Afghanistan until the end of the decade reveals senior commander as Cameron visits the frontline

Senior official says soldiers will be needed for extra three to five yearsPrime Minister visited frontline troops to mark British Armed Forces DayHe has announced plans for a permanent Afghan war memorial in the UK
UK plans to end combat operations in the country in December 2014Taliban prisoners to be released into the Afghan military under peace dealCameron later flew on to Islamabad for talks with the Pakistani President

By Tim Shipman In Lashkar Gah

PUBLISHED: 10:36 GMT, 29 June 2013 | UPDATED: 01:02 GMT, 30 June 2013

David Cameron had admitted that Britain will have to continue to support the Afghan army 'long after 2014', when UK forces are officially due to withdraw.

Speaking at a press conference in the presidential palace, where Taliban forces attacked last week, the Prime Minister admitted that Britain has paid 'a high price' after 12 years of war.

He said: 'While our combat troops will return home, we have already committed to support and sustain the Afghan security forces with financial support long after 2014.'

Mr Cameron said Britain 'has not made any commitments' beyond the military academy but he did not rule out doing more and explicitly said Nato may well need to do more 'to assist Afghan forces'.

Scroll down for video

Prime Minister David Cameron made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan today to frontline troops in Helmand province as a senior military official admitted that British soldiers will need to stay in the country beyond the end of 2014

Cameron was greeted at Camp Bastion in the southern Helmand province during a visit to mark Armed Forces day

He added: 'I want to pay particular tribute to the 444 British men and women who have died serving our country here.

'I think of their families and friends. We have paid a high price but since British troops arrived here over a decade we have dramatically reduced the terror threat emanating from this region.

'We came here to make Afghanistan safer. To make Britain safer. And together we are achieving that.'

Earlier a senior military figure suggested that British troops will be in Afghanistan until the end of the decade.

Despite the start of political reconciliation, a senior commander has conceded that British troops will have to stay for 'three to five years' after the UK ends combat operations in December 2014.

That means British forces could still be in the war zone in December 2019.

Mr Cameron visited the frontline to mark Armed Forces Day and announce plans for a permanent Afghan war memorial in the UK.

Mr Cameron later flew on to Islamabad, where he will hold talks with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.

Today, a senior diplomat revealed that troops will have to work alongside their Taliban enemies.

Prisoners from the militant group will be released as part of peace negotiations and senior sources say they will be 'put in uniform' in the Afghan military.

That will dismay the families of the 444 British servicemen who have died in Afghanistan since 2001.

Mr Cameron was shown a remote-controlled surveillance aircraft during his Camp Bastion visit today

Cameron was shown a map of the area by Major Jim Skelton during his Armed Forces day visit to Camp Bastion

It had already been announced that 170 British troops will remain after the end of 2014 to run the Afghan officer academy at Qarga, known as 'Sandhurst in the sand'.

But senior commanders have now admitted that Afghan forces will need far more help than just training.

Nato's follow-on mission will also have to help with medical evacuation, logistics, planning helicopter operations and integrating ground combat with close air support.

Army chiefs say the Afghan military are now a match for the Taliban on the battlefield, but lack the ability to run support operations properly.

An Afghan operation in Sangin was abandoned recently because the brigade ran out of fuel.

It is also likely that some British special forces will remain to conduct counter terrorist operations.

The UK currently has 7,900 troops in Afghanistan and will fall to 5,200 by the end of 2013.

The number of bases will fall from 11 to four or five by the end of the year.

Mr Cameron's trip was designed to hail progress over the last 13 years.

But a senior diplomat admitted that political gains - including six million children now attending school - are 'not irreversible', though politicians hope that the younger generation of Afghans will resist a slide back to the old warlord culture.

Soldiers showed Mr Cameron a remote-controlled IED detection unit used in regional operations during his visit to the base

British forces could still be in the war zone in December 2019 as they are needed to help with medical evacuation, logistics, planning helicopter operations and in integrating ground combat with close air support (file photo)

Diplomats also admit that the Taliban are likely to win greater power after 2014.

Talks are under way to change the Afghan constitution, which gives 'godlike' powers to the President.

Changes would make it easier for the Taliban to control the Southern and Eastern parts of the country.

Mr Cameron met troops at Camp Bastion in Helmand province before travelling to Lashkar Gah and a forward operating base.

He announced ?3.8million of funding for military charities, including ?300,000 to fund a permanent Afghan war memorial at the Armed Forces Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Another ?2.5million has been awarded to programmes supporting treatment and awareness of mental health issues for veterans.

The plan will see an impromptu memorial built by troops at Camp Bastion flown home and incorporated into a permanent roll call of the dead back home.

The new memorial will be erected in sand coloured stone over the next 18 months and dedicated once combat operations in Afghanistan have ended.

The money will come from banks fined over the Libor scandal.

The Prime Minister said: 'Britain must never forget those who gave their lives in Afghanistan. A Bastion Memorial Wall back at home deserves every penny of this funding.

'It will give us a permanent place to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan and to show how proud and thankful we are for all they gave serving our country.

'They must never be forgotten.'

Today, a senior diplomat revealed that troops will have to work alongside their Taliban prisoners who will be released as part of peace negotiations and 'put in uniform' in the Afghan military (file photo)

The trip came as General Nick Carter, the commander of British troops in Afghanistan, said opportunities were missed in 2002 to talk peace with the Taliban.

In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, he said: 'Back in 2002, the Taliban were on the run.

'I think that at that stage, if we had been very prescient, we might have spotted that a final political solution to what started in 2001, from our perspective, would have involved getting all Afghans to sit at the table and talk about their future.'

Mr Cameron agreed that talks with the Taliban could have begun earlier.

He said: 'I think you can argue about whether the settlement we put in place after 2001 could have been better arranged.

'Of course you can make that argument. Since I became Prime Minister in 2010 I have been pushing all the time for a political process and that political process is now under way.

'But at the same time I know that you cannot bank on that which is why we have built up the Afghan army, built up the Afghan police, supported the Afghan government so after our troops have left, and they will be leaving under the programme we have set out, this country shouldn't be a haven for terrorists.'

Troops could stay three to five years longer than previously announced, the official said (file photo)

A senior No10 source said the National Security Council would have to decide whether British troops would play a wider role after 2015.

The source said: 'The PM has been clear that we have paid a heavy price and already given a lot.

'Our combat troops will leave at the end of next year. The only military commitments we have made beyond 2014 are to part run the Officer Academy and to provide financial support to sustain Afghan forces.

'We have not been asked to do anything more. The PM view is that we have done our fair share and it will now be for other International Security Assistance Force partners to carry the main burden.'

View the original article here

British troops won't leave Afghanistan until the end of the decade reveals senior commander as Cameron visits the frontline

Senior official says soldiers will be needed for extra three to five yearsPrime Minister visited frontline troops to mark British Armed Forces DayHe has announced plans for a permanent Afghan war memorial in the UK
UK plans to end combat operations in the country in December 2014Taliban prisoners to be released into the Afghan military under peace dealCameron later flew on to Islamabad for talks with the Pakistani President

By Tim Shipman In Lashkar Gah

PUBLISHED: 10:36 GMT, 29 June 2013 | UPDATED: 01:02 GMT, 30 June 2013

David Cameron had admitted that Britain will have to continue to support the Afghan army 'long after 2014', when UK forces are officially due to withdraw.

Speaking at a press conference in the presidential palace, where Taliban forces attacked last week, the Prime Minister admitted that Britain has paid 'a high price' after 12 years of war.

He said: 'While our combat troops will return home, we have already committed to support and sustain the Afghan security forces with financial support long after 2014.'

Mr Cameron said Britain 'has not made any commitments' beyond the military academy but he did not rule out doing more and explicitly said Nato may well need to do more 'to assist Afghan forces'.

Scroll down for video

Prime Minister David Cameron made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan today to frontline troops in Helmand province as a senior military official admitted that British soldiers will need to stay in the country beyond the end of 2014

Cameron was greeted at Camp Bastion in the southern Helmand province during a visit to mark Armed Forces day

He added: 'I want to pay particular tribute to the 444 British men and women who have died serving our country here.

'I think of their families and friends. We have paid a high price but since British troops arrived here over a decade we have dramatically reduced the terror threat emanating from this region.

'We came here to make Afghanistan safer. To make Britain safer. And together we are achieving that.'

Earlier a senior military figure suggested that British troops will be in Afghanistan until the end of the decade.

Despite the start of political reconciliation, a senior commander has conceded that British troops will have to stay for 'three to five years' after the UK ends combat operations in December 2014.

That means British forces could still be in the war zone in December 2019.

Mr Cameron visited the frontline to mark Armed Forces Day and announce plans for a permanent Afghan war memorial in the UK.

Mr Cameron later flew on to Islamabad, where he will hold talks with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.

Today, a senior diplomat revealed that troops will have to work alongside their Taliban enemies.

Prisoners from the militant group will be released as part of peace negotiations and senior sources say they will be 'put in uniform' in the Afghan military.

That will dismay the families of the 444 British servicemen who have died in Afghanistan since 2001.

Mr Cameron was shown a remote-controlled surveillance aircraft during his Camp Bastion visit today

Cameron was shown a map of the area by Major Jim Skelton during his Armed Forces day visit to Camp Bastion

It had already been announced that 170 British troops will remain after the end of 2014 to run the Afghan officer academy at Qarga, known as 'Sandhurst in the sand'.

But senior commanders have now admitted that Afghan forces will need far more help than just training.

Nato's follow-on mission will also have to help with medical evacuation, logistics, planning helicopter operations and integrating ground combat with close air support.

Army chiefs say the Afghan military are now a match for the Taliban on the battlefield, but lack the ability to run support operations properly.

An Afghan operation in Sangin was abandoned recently because the brigade ran out of fuel.

It is also likely that some British special forces will remain to conduct counter terrorist operations.

The UK currently has 7,900 troops in Afghanistan and will fall to 5,200 by the end of 2013.

The number of bases will fall from 11 to four or five by the end of the year.

Mr Cameron's trip was designed to hail progress over the last 13 years.

But a senior diplomat admitted that political gains - including six million children now attending school - are 'not irreversible', though politicians hope that the younger generation of Afghans will resist a slide back to the old warlord culture.

Soldiers showed Mr Cameron a remote-controlled IED detection unit used in regional operations during his visit to the base

British forces could still be in the war zone in December 2019 as they are needed to help with medical evacuation, logistics, planning helicopter operations and in integrating ground combat with close air support (file photo)

Diplomats also admit that the Taliban are likely to win greater power after 2014.

Talks are under way to change the Afghan constitution, which gives 'godlike' powers to the President.

Changes would make it easier for the Taliban to control the Southern and Eastern parts of the country.

Mr Cameron met troops at Camp Bastion in Helmand province before travelling to Lashkar Gah and a forward operating base.

He announced ?3.8million of funding for military charities, including ?300,000 to fund a permanent Afghan war memorial at the Armed Forces Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Another ?2.5million has been awarded to programmes supporting treatment and awareness of mental health issues for veterans.

The plan will see an impromptu memorial built by troops at Camp Bastion flown home and incorporated into a permanent roll call of the dead back home.

The new memorial will be erected in sand coloured stone over the next 18 months and dedicated once combat operations in Afghanistan have ended.

The money will come from banks fined over the Libor scandal.

The Prime Minister said: 'Britain must never forget those who gave their lives in Afghanistan. A Bastion Memorial Wall back at home deserves every penny of this funding.

'It will give us a permanent place to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan and to show how proud and thankful we are for all they gave serving our country.

'They must never be forgotten.'

Today, a senior diplomat revealed that troops will have to work alongside their Taliban prisoners who will be released as part of peace negotiations and 'put in uniform' in the Afghan military (file photo)

The trip came as General Nick Carter, the commander of British troops in Afghanistan, said opportunities were missed in 2002 to talk peace with the Taliban.

In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, he said: 'Back in 2002, the Taliban were on the run.

'I think that at that stage, if we had been very prescient, we might have spotted that a final political solution to what started in 2001, from our perspective, would have involved getting all Afghans to sit at the table and talk about their future.'

Mr Cameron agreed that talks with the Taliban could have begun earlier.

He said: 'I think you can argue about whether the settlement we put in place after 2001 could have been better arranged.

'Of course you can make that argument. Since I became Prime Minister in 2010 I have been pushing all the time for a political process and that political process is now under way.

'But at the same time I know that you cannot bank on that which is why we have built up the Afghan army, built up the Afghan police, supported the Afghan government so after our troops have left, and they will be leaving under the programme we have set out, this country shouldn't be a haven for terrorists.'

Troops could stay three to five years longer than previously announced, the official said (file photo)

A senior No10 source said the National Security Council would have to decide whether British troops would play a wider role after 2015.

The source said: 'The PM has been clear that we have paid a heavy price and already given a lot.

'Our combat troops will leave at the end of next year. The only military commitments we have made beyond 2014 are to part run the Officer Academy and to provide financial support to sustain Afghan forces.

'We have not been asked to do anything more. The PM view is that we have done our fair share and it will now be for other International Security Assistance Force partners to carry the main burden.'

View the original article here