President O'Bama Nobel Laureate...

[InsaneApache]

....pour quoi?

[Rhyfelwyr]

Not everyone is as refined in foreign languages as yourself.

[Furunculus]

"for what reason?"

jolly good question.

obama hasn't done anything yet, so this only devalues the Peace Prize further, and gives Obama's critics a comedy stick to beat him with.

[CountArach]

Link

Not really sure why to be honest...

• Hasn't achieved anything conrete on Palestine-Israel, whilst not condemning Israel strongly for their invasion.
• Pursuiing nuclear disarmament without... you know... disarming himself...
• Continuing and perhaps escalating Afghanistan
• Withdrawing from Iraq, but not totally

Surely there are far better people than this?

Oh and I realise that I am going to be agreeing with Conservatives on this one... yes I am confused too.

[Fixiwee]

Link

Not really sure why to be honest...

• Hasn't achieved anything conrete on Palestine-Israel, whilst not condemning Israel strongly for their invasion.
• Pursuiing nuclear disarmament without... you know... disarming himself...
• Continuing and perhaps escalating Afghanistan
• Withdrawing from Iraq, but not totally

Surely there are far better people than this?

Oh and I realise that I am going to be agreeing with Conservatives on this one... yes I am confused too.

Obama has improved the diplomatic relationship with

• Russia
• The muslim world
• Europe
• Iran

He got the nobel prize for those achievments. This prize is a hint that this path is the only one for global peace. Something the former administration did not realize.
He did not start the two wars that you are talking about. Starting wars is easy y'know.
Nuclear disarmament is a long process. You can't think that the 3 weeks since the UN meeting is enough time y'know.

[CountArach]

Obama has improved the diplomatic relationship with

• Russia
• The muslim world
• Europe
• Iran

He got the nobel prize for those achievments. This prize is a hint that this path is the only one for global peace. Something the former administration did not realize.
He did not start the two wars that you are talking about. Starting wars is easy y'know.
Nuclear disarmament is a long process. You can't think that the 3 weeks since the UN meeting is enough time y'know.

If he achieves... hell... even two of the things on the list I posted then I would support him getting it. He hasn't, so he doesn't deserve it - at this time.

[HoreTore]

If he achieves... hell... even two of the things on the list I posted then I would support him getting it. He hasn't, so he doesn't deserve it - at this time.

A common misconception about the peace prize is that it's given based on what someone has already done; while in fact it's actually given just as much on the basis on what soeone might do in the future.

The peace prize is at its best when it works like a kick in the behind. It's not something you go into retirement with, it's a tool you're given to make your future work easier.

Do they (the NPP selection team) ever reveal who came in 2nd, or runner-up?

No.

[Aemilius Paulus]

I would rather have sources on that HoreTore... And not jsut from some random blogger...

[rajpoot]

A common misconception about the peace prize is that it's given based on what someone has already done; while in fact it's actually given just as much on the basis on what soeone might do in the future.

Was just watching the news, they were showing what people from New York thought about it, asking questions from pedestrians and stuff. A guy said the exact same thing....the very same words nearly.

Well, if that is the case then I think they need to rethink when do they give away a Nobel prize....it's normally given when people actually do something....not for planning to do something.
On the other hand, if it's just for the Cario speech as everyone here is assuming.....then again....well....I don't know, compare it with when they gave the prize to the Lama or Mother Teresa, this seems kind of weak and pointless.

[Crazed Rabbit]

A common misconception about the peace prize is that it's given based on what someone has already done.

Why, because that's how Alfred Nobel wanted it to be done?

Giving it to someone because of what they might achieve is just plain stupid. Why not give me the award, or any other random person?

Awards are meant for people who have accomplished something. Giving them to people because of what they might do is meaningless.

CR

[The Stranger]

Obama has improved the diplomatic relationship with

• Russia
• The muslim world
• Europe
• Iran

He got the nobel prize for those achievments. This prize is a hint that this path is the only one for global peace. Something the former administration did not realize.
He did not start the two wars that you are talking about. Starting wars is easy y'know.
Nuclear disarmament is a long process. You can't think that the 3 weeks since the UN meeting is enough time y'know.

he didnt get it yet right? hes just nominated, if im correct. it would be weird if he would win...

[InsaneApache]

he didnt get it yet right? hes just nominated, if im correct. it would be weird if he would win...

US President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8298580.stm

[Fixiwee]

he didnt get it yet right? hes just nominated, if im correct. it would be weird if he would win...

No he won.

@Count. Have you listend to the speech in Cairo and are you aware on the efect it had on the relationship between the muslim world and the USA?

edit: As far as I know, the peace nobel prize is awared for the endavor, not the results. And you can't argue that Obama is not trying to improve the worlds situation.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Quite extraordinary.

The Nobel Peace committee has long bounced between respectability and sheer political fawning (with occasional visits to La-la Land) but this is weird even by their standards.

Good intentions are the road to Hell, not to a Peace prize. If President Obama wants to show class and his commitment to change, he'll refuse the award. In his shoes, I'd be too embarrassed to show up.

[Husar]

It still seems weird even to me, if it's just about effort you could just as well give it to me, I'm really thinking about world peace often and haven't hurt any muslims.

And what Banquo just said.

[CountArach]

@Count. Have you listend to the speech in Cairo and are you aware on the efect it had on the relationship between the muslim world and the USA?

Yes... so what? He still perpetuates the status quo on the Israel-Palestine situation.

edit: As far as I know, the peace nobel prize is awared for the endavor, not the results. And you can't argue that Obama is not trying to improve the worlds situation.

I'm not arguing that he isn't trying, but thousands of other people are working towards it as well. He is simply in a high-profile position and has a penchant for oratory.

Fixiwee - would you say that ramping up activity in Afghanistan, thus conducting an action that will harm relations with the Muslim world, is a move that is becoming of a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize?

[Furunculus]

This prize is a hint that this path is the only one for global peace.

never have i seen a more glorious example of hubris.

tho as yet i am not sure whether it belongs to a bunch to scandinavains for thinking they know best on matters of world governance, or to you for ascribing such divine judgement to those same scandinavians.

[Fixiwee]

never have i seen a more glorious example of hubris.

tho as yet i am not sure whether it belongs to a bunch to scandinavains for thinking they know best on matters of world governance, or to you for ascribing such divine judgement to those same scandinavians.

(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding

Anyway. It's quite funny that you use words like hubris concerning my post, yet also remarking sarcasm like "divine judgement". If I am presumptuous, then so are you.

[Furunculus]

This prize is a hint that this path is the only one for global peace.

never have i seen a more glorious example of hubris.

tho as yet i am not sure whether it belongs to a bunch to scandinavains for thinking they know best on matters of world governance, or to you for ascribing such divine judgement to those same scandinavians.

(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding

Anyway. It's quite funny that you use words like hubris concerning my post, yet also remarking sarcasm like "divine judgement". If I am presumptuous, then so are you.

nothing merely your assumption that some random scandinavians are qualified to sit in judgement on success not yet gained.

again, it is not i that ascribes such wonderful foresight to the nobel muppets, but you.

[Tellos Athenaios]

• Russia
• The muslim world
• Europe
• Iran

He got the nobel prize for those achievments. This prize is a hint that this path is the only one for global peace. Something the former administration did not realize.

So essentially he gets a Nobel Prize for doing his job and he has not actually achieved too much of that. I really do think that while it is admirable work he's done and all; it is not really Nobel Prize material: not yet. Nobel Prizes should go to continuous & sustained efforts, for perseverance in the face of difficulty and to exceptional breakthroughs in the field of endeavour. So far Obama has done a lot but it is mostly symbolic and certainly not a continuous & sustained effort (he's been in office for less than a year); though it is certainly better than the rile-up-the-rest-of-the-world-and-do-not-care attitude that the previous administration was so successful at.

[Fixiwee]

So essentially he gets a Nobel Prize for doing his job and he has not actually achieved too much of that.

In a nutshell: He does his work a lot better then his predecessor

I really do think that while it is admirable work he's done and all; it is not really Nobel Prize material: not yet. Nobel Prizes should go to continuous & sustained efforts, for perseverance in the face of difficulty and to exceptional breakthroughs in the field of endeavour.

From the NY times:
As to whether the prize was given too early in Mr. Obama’s presidency, he said: “We are not awarding the prize for what may happen in the future but for what he has done in the previous year. We would hope this will enhance what he is trying to do.”

The prize committee said it wanted to enhance Mr. Obama’s diplomatic efforts so far rather than anticipate events in the future.

So far Obama has done a lot but it is mostly symbolic and certainly not a continuous & sustained effort (he's been in office for less than a year);

Sometimes a symbol is all it takes. Thes speech of Cairo cannot be downplayed.

though it is certainly better than the rile-up-the-rest-of-the-world-and-do-not-care attitude that the previous administration was so successful at.

So?

[Tellos Athenaios]

Sometimes a symbol is all it takes. Thes speech of Cairo cannot be downplayed.

Yes but my point is that is a symbol from a man who's been in an office from which we expect symbols like that on a regular basis; also a man who's promised lots of stuff but so far has yet to deliver much of that too -- when there are so many other and at the moment certainly more deserving candidates with a much more inspiring track record?

As it stands it's a bit of a waste of a Nobel Prize moment, really.

CountArach summed it up nicely:

I'm not arguing that he isn't trying, but thousands of other people are working towards it as well. He is simply in a high-profile position and has a penchant for oratory.