COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE GUARDIAN
Unlike Donald Trump, I
embraced being Time Person of the Year
While likely very ego-satisfying, it is not a great
distinction to be Time's Person of the Year.
The old Luce Publications - Time and Life - reflected the
American power establishment's drives and tastes.
There was a close relationship between them and CIA. Luce
had Allen Dulles, long-term Director of CIA, in his close social circle.
The publications were known as frequently-used covers for
agents posing as reporters.
The magazines served as intermediaries for CIA various times
in domestic transactions, as when Life bought the famous Zapruder film of the
Kennedy assassination which was then quickly analyzed in CIA labs.
The cover person was often someone CIA was actually trying
to influence, with various other types, like artists or scientists, filling out
the balance.
Muammar Gaddafi was on the cover several times.
