Person of the Year: The Notorious Mr. Putin

In December, however, Moscow signaled plans to take over the Sea Launch program and use it to collaborate with Brazil or other so-called BRICS countries… “Now, after the latest events in Ukraine, one may forget about industrial production [there], let alone high-tech manufacturing. It’s dead,” he said, citing the Sea Launch platform’s proximity to the U.S. coast near Los Angeles. “Naturally we will take it away for our own use.”

A joint US-Canada project? Sure. US-UK? Sure. US-Germany? Sure. Heck, US-Anybody-In-NATO? Sure. But teaming up with nations that have the distinct potential of nationalizing industries, or undergoing severe political reversals? Not such a wise idea.