Bush leads the pack (Archive photo)
Photo: Reuters
Sharon falls behind Abbas at 18th place
Photo: Reuters
Sharansky - Bush praised his book
Photo: Michael Kramer
Sharon, Abbas in Time's top 100
Palestinian leader ranked 16th, prime minister comes in at 18th spot in Time magazine's list of most influential people
When was the last time President George W. Bush, American rapper Jay-Z, German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and Minister Natan Sharansky appeared together in the same news article?
All these names, and more, are included in the 2004 list of the world's 100 most influential people, published in Sunday's edition of Time magazine.
Under the category "Leaders and Revolutionaries," President George Bush is listed in first place, followed by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former President Bill Clinton.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile is ranked 16th, beating out Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who took the 18th spot.
Bush's favorite author
In the category "Scientists and Thinkers," minister and former Soviet refusenik Natan Sharansky is ranked 11th out of 16.
Time attributes the high ranking to Bush's repeated praise for Sharansky's book, "The Case For Democracy." The president has often said the book outlines the exact policies he would like his administration to advance.
Topping the "Artists and Entertainers" section is award-winning actor Clint Eastwood, followed by documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. Two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank took third place.
In the "Heroes and Icons" category, the richest man in the world and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates came in at the top, followed by media mogul Oprah Winfrey in second place. The Dalai Lama is at sixth place and Nelson Mandela at seventh.
The "Builders and Titans" list is headed by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, followed by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Rapper Jay-Z is seventh, while Jewish oil tycoon and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich came in at 19th place.
