Waco and Wesley Clark Connection?
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}And now some fresh pickings from the grapevine:
Professor's Past Problem
Remember Gao Zhan, the American University sociology and human rights professor who two years ago was convicted in China of spying for the U.S. government? She was sentenced to 10 years in a Chinese prison, but after five months -- and a lot of pressure from the Bush administration -- the Chinese suspended her sentence and released her to the United States.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Well, it now turns out that Gao Zhan was actually selling sensitive American technology to ... China! She has pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to selling 80 military-use microprocessors to Chinese firms.
But, she tells The Washington Post, she is not an agent, nor a double agent, for any government. Instead, she says, she is -- "just purely a sociologist trying to bring my dreams to reality."
Media Talk About Morale
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Most, if not all, American media are reporting that President Bush's trip to Baghdad yesterday -- "surprised" troops and boosted their morale. The Arab news network Al Jazeera, however, is reporting that the trip is being -- "dismissed as a mere stunt." And the Lebanese newspaper Asharq says President Bush -- "suddenly infiltrate[d] into Baghdad to lift spirits and please voters."
Waco and Wesley Clark Connection?
And finally, Internet chat rooms and critics are asking if Democratic presidential candidate and former military commander Wesley Clark (search) played a role in supplying local law enforcement with military equipment during the 1993 standoff at the Branch Davidians compound in Waco, Texas.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Clark was, at the time, head of an army division that supplied fuel, sandbags and possibly ammunition to civilian law enforcement in Waco (search). It is known that Clark's deputy at the time took part in a critical Justice Department meeting five days before the fiery and fatal siege of the compound. But, the deputy says he declined requests for input on the use of tear gas, and Clark's campaign strongly denies its candidate had any planning role in Waco whatsoever.
— FOX News' Michael Levine contributed to this report