To the editor:
I am hereby nominating Vladimir Putin as Time magazine’s “Man of the Year” for 2022. In the first six weeks of the new year, he’s already:
• Exploded the prices of oil in the world market, profiting Russia in the many tens of billions.
• Exposed the weakness/lack of cohesion of NATO and western Europe.
• Rattled world markets, causing massive losses.
• Played the China card, pitting Xi Jinping against the United States.
• Twirled Trump around his pinky.
• Undermined American unity by causing many Republicans to become disloyal Russophiles.
• Succeeded in effectively creating the Finlandization of Ukraine.
• Distracted Russians at home from focusing on their many grievances against the government and the weak economy.
• Got the International Olympic Committee to allow the “ROC” to participate, and to prevent the banning of their doped skater.
• Has proven to the entire world that Russia is still a major force to be reckoned with, totally riveting the eyes of the world on Russia’s every breath.
• Gave the Russian military some real-life war games/exercises, thereby enhancing their capacity and their status.
• Make Biden and the United States look weak, incompetent, disunited and pathetic.
• Weakened Democratic prospects for ’22 and ’24.
I’ll say it again: Putin is a genius. He has accomplished many of his objectives at minimal cost. He is this century’s Metternich.
He is a powerful and dangerous man, and there’s no reason to suspect that this will be the last of his mischief-making. He’s too good at it. And he’s having too much fun.
Norm Wechsler