TIME magazine yesterday published its list of the 100 "World's Most Influential People," in which it called US President George W. Bush "a radical gambler."
Saying the Republican president will be judged by the Iraq war he started, columnist Andrew Sullivan wrote: "We do know that this unassuming man became a radical gambler with his fate and with humanity's."
Democratic challenger Senator 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 Senator 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, also were listed.
Richard Clarke, former US counterterrorism chief, 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, Condoleeza 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 US forces in Iraq, General John Abizaid, was included, along with cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and the founders of the Arab TV station al-Jazeera.
World leaders on the list included Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, called "the developing world's new spokesman." UN Secretary General Kofi Annan also made the grade.
Aung San Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight for democracy in Myanmar, appeared in the "Heroes and Icons" category, along with rock star Bono and Mel Gibson, whose movie The Passion of the Christ is a blockbuster.
Peter Jackson, director of The Lord of the Rings film series, and J.K. Rowling, who wrote the Harry Potter books, were listed as artists and entertainers along with 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 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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