President O'Bama Nobel Laureate...

[HoreTore]

Then if this really is the case, it's a big huge joke. Whether I or anyone else supports is entirely relevant. A well-off person can easily create a foundation and a system for recognizing accomplishments, but if people view it as a joke or a farce, what good is it? Before you try to pull something out of your hat on that one, look at what exactly is going on by giving Obama this award. People are heavily questioning both the actual awarding and the award itself now. I will say this much, your words have given me enough incentive now to go research this and the process. As you say, if it does also cover intent and not action only, then that's one more person who now could care less.

Thing is, Whacker, people do care about it. This thread is proof of that, isn't it? So.... Logic Fail.

Your logic fails. Nothing BUT accomplishments and deeds will bring about peace. Here's another analogy for you. This is like awarding a child a gold star for their intent to go read a book and write a book report, instead of actually rewarding them for performing the actions.

Again, this prize isn't about this. The peace prize is created to further peace in the world, how many times do I have to say that? It is not a reward for achieving peace. There are other awards for that.

The peace prize has never been about rewarding someone. It has always been a political tool to further an agenda. That was its intent.

Write this down. Intent is nothing. Action is everything.

I will most certainly not.

[Viking]

Again, this prize isn't about this. The peace prize is created to further peace in the world, how many times do I have to say that? It is not a reward for achieving peace. There are other awards for that.

According to the NPP's homepage, you appear to be wrong...

[...] As described in Nobel's will, one part was dedicated to "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses".

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/p...hortfacts.html

[HoreTore]

According to the NPP's homepage, you appear to be wrong...

As you should know, Viking, Nobel's thoughts were a bit more detailed than what he wrote in his will.

His vision was a world without war. His contribution to that end was the peace prize. So.... How can it be anything other than a tool for creating peace? Do you really think Nobel wanted it to be a passive reward for someone, instead of an active tool to further his agenda?

[Viking]

As you should know, Viking, Nobel's thoughts were a bit more detailed than what he wrote in his will.

His vision was a world without war. His contribution to that end was the peace prize. So.... How can it be anything other than a tool for creating peace? Do you really think Nobel wanted it to be a passive reward for someone, instead of an active tool to further his agenda?

At the same time, I doubt he wrote that passage without really meaning it. 'Cause...if it is used as tool; some kind of prod; then the award is going to become disrespected and eventually useless. You cannot ignore that it is commonly known as an achievers prize, and that this is one of the reasons why it has been relatively respected to this date.

[HoreTore]

At the same time, I doubt he wrote that passage without really meaning it. 'Cause...if it is used as tool; some kind of prod; then the award is going to become disrespected and eventually useless. You cannot ignore that it is commonly known as an achievers prize, and that this is one of the reasons why it has been relatively respected to this date.

Are you sure we live in the same country? Because.... Here it's been viewed as a political tool more than an award for a long time.... Haven't you noticed that when there are discussions about who to give the prize to, it's a discussion of "which area deserves some focus this year" much more than "who's done some good"?

[Viking]

Are you sure we live in the same country? Because.... Here it's been viewed as a political tool more than an award for a long time.... Haven't you noticed that when there are discussions about who to give the prize to, it's a discussion of "which area deserves some focus this year" much more than "who's done some good"?

It is a tool for peace, but if those who receive the awards hardly have done anything; it will eventually become a worthless prize since achieving it means close to nil. The tool will loose its power.

Obama has done something though; so upon thinking more about this award and comparing it to previous ones (the 2004 laureate got it for planting trees); and what it should take in general to get this award...the awarding makes more sense.

[Beskar]

Pathway to Hell is paved with Good Intentions.

[HoreTore]

Pathway to Hell is paved with Good Intentions.

Fortunately, we're all atheist social democrats, so religious mumbo-jumbo doesn't concern us

[Beskar]

That is actually being ignorant and not understanding the meaning behind the saying. It is more philosphorical than religious.

[Subotan]

One point Four million Bucks ($425K, after taxes). Any bets on what Mr. O will do with the prize money?

Maybe try and get across a cliff?

Fortunately, we're all atheist social democrats, so religious mumbo-jumbo doesn't concern us

Well, at least two of us are

[Banquo's Ghost]

Robert Fisk delivers a crushing analysis of why awarding President Obama the Peace Prize is an act completely out of touch with international reality - even if one is arguing that it's all about the hope.

His Middle East policy is collapsing. The Israelis have taunted him by ignoring his demand for an end to settlement-building and by continuing to build their colonies on Arab land. His special envoy is bluntly told by the Israelis that an Arab-Israel peace will take "many years". Now he wants the Palestinians to talk peace to Israel without conditions. He put pressure on the Palestinian leader to throw away the opportunity of international scrutiny of UN Judge Goldstone's damning indictment of Israeli war crimes in Gaza while his Assistant Secretary of State said that the Goldstone report was "seriously flawed". After breaking his pre-election promise to call the 1915 Armenian massacres by Ottoman Turkey a genocide, he has urged the Armenians to sign a treaty with Turkey, again "without pre-conditions". His army is still facing an insurgency in Iraq. He cannot decide how to win "his" war in Afghanistan. I shall not mention Iran.

...

Oh, go on then, it's good:

Then, after stroking the Iranian pussycat at the Geneva nuclear talks, the US president discovered that the feline was showing its claws again at the end of last week. A Revolutionary Guard commander, an adviser to Supreme Leader Khamenei, warned that Iran would "blow up the heart" of Israel if Israel or the US attacked the Islamic Republic. I doubt it. Blow up Israel and you blow up "Palestine". Iranians – who understand the West much better than we understand them – have another policy in the case of the apocalypse. If the Israelis attack, they may leave Israel alone. They have a plan, I'm told, to target instead only US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and their bases in the Gulf and their warships cruising through Hormuz. They would leave Israel alone. Americans would then learn the price of kneeling before their Israeli masters.

For the Iranians know that the US has no stomach for a third war in the Middle East. Which is why Mr Obama has been sending his generals thick and fast to the defence ministry in Tel Aviv to tell the Israelis not to strike at Iran. And why Israel's leaders – including Mr Netanyahu – were blowing the peace pipe all week about the need for international negotiations with Iran. But it raises an interesting question. Is Mr Obama more frightened of Iran's retaliation? Or of its nuclear capabilities? Or more terrified of Israel's possible aggression against Iran?

But, please, no attacks on 10 December. That's when Barack Obama turns up in Oslo to pocket his peace prize – for achievements he has not yet achieved and for dreams that will turn into nightmares.