So, one of the relentless Barbara Walters’ fave things to do around the holidays is to count down her list of the “10 Most Fascinating People” of the year. This time, mixed somewhat awkwardly in among the likes of Sandra Bullock, Justin Bieber and royal-wedding-mania inducer Kate Middleton, was none other than … America’s top military commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus. Right. Wait, what? –KA

People:

Although Petraeus, 58, was honored alongside entertainers like Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and freshly-minted American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez, Walters cited his compassion for civilians and his impact in Afghanistan.

“In life, it seems, there are people who break things and people who fix them,” Walters said. “This man is a fixer.”

Read more

WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...

This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.

At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.

Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.

Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.

Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.

Donate now.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG