THREE PERSONS THAT CHANGE WORLD SCENARIO

THREE PERSONS THAT CHANGE WORLD SCENARIO

Mohmoud Ahmadinejad

President, Iran

Iran's leader, who took office in 2005, has been the symbol of Islamic

Republic's defiance of the west in its pursuit of a nuclear programme even

if he is not regime's ultimate decision-maker. He was reelected in a

controversial poll in 2009 during which his opponents alleged widespread

fraud leading to protests throughout the country. His belligerence however

eroded the Islamic Republic's legitimacy and turned many Iranians against

their rulers.

 

Osama bin Laden

Al-Qaeda Leader

The leader of al-Qaeda was the mastermind behind the September 11,

2001 attacks on the US which epitomized the past decade more than any

other event. The attacks triggered the US-led invasions of Afghanistan and

Iraq and were precursor to a wave of terrorism that hit Britain, Spain,

India and Indonesia. Mr Bin Laden remains the spiritual leader of al-Qaeda

and the global jihad. Western Intelligence is confident that he is alive in

the Pakistani trivial areas, protected by several hundred followers. Even

today, his death or capture would be a colossal blow to the jihadist

insurgency in south Asia and the wider world.

 

 

Tony Blair

Former Prime Minister, UK

New Labour's "straight kinda guy" dominated British politics in the first half

of the decade. But the "cool Britannia" euphoria of his first election victory

in 1997 was wearing thin by the time he won the third term in 2005. Mr

Blair has promoted "liberal intervention" in countries with brutal dictators

as far back as 1999. Bur he was widely seen in Britain as former US

president George W. Bush's poodle as he followed the US into Iraq in

2003. Mr Blair's energy was sapped by his constant feuding with Gordon

Brown, who eventually succeeded him in 2007. He now makes millions of

pounds making speeches and representing banks; he is also a Middle East

peace envoy.