http://www.difesaonline.it/mondo-militare/abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-%C3%A8-luomo-dellanno-il-time

(Franco Iacch)
12/03/15

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, born Ibrahim al-Samarrai, proclaimed himself Caliph of the Islamic state, could be consecrated by TIME magazine as the most important figure of the year.

It is just a proposal that is flashed between the editors of the authoritative magazine, but in the next issue (due out Dec. 9), usually dedicated to the most important figure of the year, we will know the truth.

This means that public enemy number one of the United Nations could be the man (or person) of the year for TIME. It is noted that the cover of TIME should not be considered as a premium, but it is a recognition of actions, for better or worse, that has made a subject X. Just think, for example, that even Adolf Hitler and Stalin were " Man of the Year ". So then, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi could really deserve the cover of one of the world's most influential weekly.

For the Caliph would be the pinnacle of his career as a murderer, but it is undeniable that Samarrai has already written pages of history for having exterminated under his reign of terror, thousands of civilians. Perhaps no one like him, in 2015, changed the course of events. If this were the case, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi would exceed the other candidates as Vladimir Putin (for his intervention in Syria) and Angela Merkel (for its openness to refugees).

The efforts of Ibrahim al-Samarrai to bring the war in the world are the most significant of the peace process of John Kerry, the US Secretary of State who has reached the nuclear deal with Iran in July. The criminal, who in a few weeks in the summer of 2014 has won over thousands of square miles in Iraq and Syria, could "earn" the cover of "Man of the Year" for TIME.

The problem, if anything, is another: the Western recognition for its brutality, could be used for propaganda purposes and internal sanction the consecration of the world Caliph in the eyes of his followers. It could be a risk that the editors of TIME should keep well in mind.

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IZAKOVIC