WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama has regained the top spot in
Forbes magazine's list of the world's most powerful people, edging out
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and last year's winner, Chinese
President Hu Jintao, who slipped down to third.
Obama, who topped
the list in 2009 only to be dethroned by Hu in 2010, has had a difficult
year at home as the American economy struggles to emerge from a
crippling recession, but he did enjoy a number of foreign policy
successes.
"Sure, his jobs bill was gutted, his debt-ceiling
negotiating was derided and his popularity has plummeted, endangering
his reelection, but Obama regains his position as the most powerful
person on the planet this year," Forbes said.
"Why? Despite
faddish American declinism, the US remains, indisputably, the most
powerful nation in the world, with the largest, most innovative economy
and the deadliest military.
"Plus, Obama's only legitimate rival
for the title, last year's number one, Chinese President Hu Jintao, is
diminishing in influence as he gives up political office."
Forbes
lists Obama's 2011 highlight as a Navy SEAL raid the president ordered
inside Pakistan that killed the world's most wanted man, Al-Qaeda leader
Osama bin Laden.
"In second place is Russian Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin, who is poised to regain the Russian presidency this year
from his loyal underling President Dmitry Medvedev," Forbes said.
German
Chancellor Angela Merkel was ranked fourth, followed by Microsoft
chairman and philanthropist Bill Gates, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah,
Pope Benedict XVI, US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Facebook
founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron
nailed down the number 10 spot, followed by Indian National Congress
President Sonia Gandhi, the European Central Bank's Italian president,
Mario Draghi, and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France.
