Time Publishes List of 'Most Influential' People

Time Publishes List of 'Most Influential' People
By Joan Gralla, Reuters
NEW YORK (April 18)

TIME Magazine on Sunday published its list of the 100 "World's Most Influential People," including President George W. Bush, whom it called "a radical gambler."

Time calls Bush a "radical gambler" who will be judged by the Iraq war. Saying the Republican president will be judged by the Iraq war, columnist Andrew Sullivan wrote: "We do know that this unassuming man became a radical gambler with his fate and with humanity's."

Democratic challenger John Kerry, who also made the list, was called "a solemn unifier for the Democrats" by Joe Klein, who wrote a best-seller about the Clintons.

Both ex-President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton made the grade as "the brightest stars in the Democratic gallery."

Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and his ally, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, were also listed.

Richard Clarke, the former head of U.S. counterterrorism, said of bin Laden: "In death he will become a martyr and further inspiration to radical Islamists -- until someone offers an effective ideological or religious counterweight."

TIME listed Clarke's ex-boss, Condoleezza Rice, saying: "She can have her pick of Cabinet posts in a second Bush term"--- especially if the Secretary of State or Defense were to leave. Neither of those top officials were listed.

The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, General John Abizaid, was included, along with cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, and the founders of ground-breaking Arab TV station al-Jazeera.

World leaders included Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korea's leader, Kim Jong il, Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, and Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, called "the developing world's new spokesman." Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary General, also made the grade.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her unflinching fight for democracy in Myanmar, appeared in the "Heroes and Icons" category along with rock star Bono.

Mel Gibson, whose "The Passion of the Christ" is a blockbuster, also made the "Heroes and Icons" ranking.

Peter Jackson, director of the film epic "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," and J.K. Rowling, who wrote the Harry Potter books, were listed as "Artists and Entertainers."

So were actor Sean Penn and actress Nicole Kidman -- but not her ex-husband, Tom Cruise.

Only four of the 100 "People of the Century" TIME previously named made this year's list: Pope John Paul II, South Africa's former leader Nelson Mandela, TV host Oprah Winfrey and Microsoft Corp chairman Bill Gates.

The Dalai Lama, made the "Heroes and Icons" list. So did golfer Tiger Woods and soccer star David Beckham -- along with California's new governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.