Nobel Peace Prize to Obama!
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:13
#1
Nobel Peace Prize to Obama!
Fri, 2009-10-09 06:11
#2
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10nobel.html?ref=global-home
OSLO - In a stunning surprise, the Nobel Committee announced Friday that it had awarded its annual peace prize to President Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."
"He has created a new international climate," the committee said in its announcement. President Obama's name had not figured in speculation about the likely winner until minutes before the prize was announced here.
Likely candidates had been seen here as including human rights activists in China and Afghanistan and political figures in Africa.
The committee said it wanted to enhance Mr. Obama's diplomatic efforts. "We are awarding Obama for what he has done," the committee said. "Many other people and leaders and nations have to respond in a positive way" to President Obama's diplomacy.
The prize was announced as the Obama administration wrestles with global crises from the Middle East to Iran to southwest Asia while American military forces are still deployed in large numbers in Iraq and the White house is considering whether to increase troop levels in Afghaninstan.
Fri, 2009-10-09 07:20
#3
In a stunning surprise
I suppose stunning would be one word for it. I guess the advantage in following an act like Bush 43 is that it's easy to look good by comparison.
Fri, 2009-10-09 07:22
#4
Diogenes
Yup, it's almost as silly as Stephen Harper receiving a human rights award from the Canadian Jewish Congress.
Al Jazeera is reporting that President Obama's agenda today was to be dedicated to discussing increasing troop levels in Afghanistan. Writing his acceptance speech may get in the way of that.
Fri, 2009-10-09 07:22
#5
yes, but that point was already made by the Jimmy Carter Nobel ....
Fri, 2009-10-09 07:34
#6
Jimmy Carter, Al Gore and now Barack Obama. What does Bill Clinton have to do to get some Nobel lovin'?
Fri, 2009-10-09 07:38
#7
Ok, What?!?!? I seriously thought this was a complete joke and didn't click on it, but I just the story on cbc. Wow. Even if he had not been so intent on changing nothing from the previous administration...he has been there nine months and accomplished nothing! Just goes to show that the Nobel Peace Prize is still a complete and utter joke.
Fri, 2009-10-09 07:42
#8
I wonder if he was a compromise candidate. Anyone know who was in the pool this year?
Fri, 2009-10-09 07:52
#9
Ok, What?!?!? I seriously thought this was a complete joke and didn't click on it, ....
I thought I had clicked on The Onion link by mistake ...
Fri, 2009-10-09 07:57
#10
I wonder if he was a compromise candidate. Anyone know who was in the pool this year?
[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8298580.stm] BBC: [/url]
There were a record 205 nominations for this year's peace prize. Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Chinese dissident Hu Jia had been among the favourites.
Fri, 2009-10-09 08:04
#11
Wow. Expand the war in Afghanistan and then get a PEACE prize!
The Nobel Peace Prize is nothing but a joke.
Fri, 2009-10-09 08:11
#12
This from the BBC article linked by Ghislaine is interesting:
"His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population."
Asked why the prize had been awarded to Mr Obama less than a year after he took office, Nobel Committee head Thorbjoern Jagland said: "It was because we would like to support what he is trying to achieve".
"It is a clear signal that we want to advocate the same as he has done," he said.
Fri, 2009-10-09 08:15
#13
So they agree that the President of the United States should "lead the world". No questioning of that assumption at all.
Fri, 2009-10-09 08:17
#14
stellersjay
So now you can prosecute wars on two fronts and be contemplating a third, but still win the Nobel Peace Prize. The apparent reason, “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples” is a joke. I guess the Nobel committee doesn't distinguish between blather, which he does very well, and action, a concept he doesn't seem to be clear on.
Fri, 2009-10-09 08:33
#15
So they agree that the President of the United States should "lead the world". No questioning of that assumption at all.
I noticed that too. They all conceded that he has not acheived anything at all - as they are awarding it based on what he is "trying to acheive". Apparently nominations closed Feb 1st - meaning he would have been president for 10 days at the most when nominated.
Fri, 2009-10-09 08:33
#16
Honest to God, like Dave I thought my kid had left The Onion up on the screen when I saw it.
Fri, 2009-10-09 08:42
#17
You people have really lost it. Read the reports more carefully. He won the Fiction prize.
Fri, 2009-10-09 08:42
#18
Okay, so what would people like Obama to do to be worthy of this award?
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:07
#19
stellersjay
If he's going to insist that Iran submit to nuclear inspection, he should stop shielding Israel from similar demands for inspection of its well-documented nuclear facilities at Dimona and elsewhere.
http://www.atomicarchive.com/Almanac/IsraeliFacilities.shtml
According to the Pentagon’s 2008 “Base Structure Report,” its annual unclassified inventory of the real estate it owns or leases around the world, the United States maintains 761 active military “sites” in foreign countries. He'd have a lot more credibiity talking about peace if some of those were shut down.
Listening (on the early CBC news) to the rationalization of this award on the basis of the hope he offers the world makes me feel like I'm having a bad dream. Why not the Catholic Church: they offer heaven?
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:12
#20
Okay, so what would people like Obama to do to be worthy of this award?
The Peace Prize? A number of things:
1. Stop making war.
Actually, that would be good enough.
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:14
#21
Well, for a start, anyhow. The guy is expanding the war in Afghanistan, and ignoring the millions of people at home who want a public option for their health care (one of the big reasons so many "ordinary Americans" voted for him to begin with) and he wins a PEACE prize? Seriously, WTF?
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:17
#22
Wow! Obama now joins such prestigious company as Jimmy Carter and Yasser Arafat!
The award should have gone to the pro-democracy movement in Iran.
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:18
#23
Yeah, SSC, because Iran is one of the most aggressive countries in the world today and the pro-democracy movement is brining peace to the region. I get it.
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:22
#24
My question was serious. What serious steps do you think that the current US President could take to be worthy of the award?
I'm not contesting the general displeasure over him receiving it; I'm asking what is your blueprint for him being worthy of it.
Or this can go become a ritualistic bash Obama thread of which this site has had many.
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:36
#25
Boom Boom
"It was because we would like to support what he is trying to achieve". Where's the 'rolling eyes' smiley when you need it?
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:37
#26
Saturday night live got it right......What has he done? NOTHING. Talk more talk.
As long as wall street and the insurance companies run things he still will do NOTHING.
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:41
#27
stellersjay
I named two concrete things that he could do. That's two more than he's even made vague gestures toward. Is the suggestion that no one has the right to be critical of the award unless they can come up with a full blueprint for peace, love and brotherhood?
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:44
#28
a mistake:
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:47
#29
Okay, so what would people like Obama to do to be worthy of this award?
The Peace Prize? A number of things:
1. Stop making war.
Actually, that would be good enough.
Exactly. [url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize/St... This comment [/url] from the selection committee is interesting:
"We have discussed the situation in Afghanistan. We understand the foreign policy of the United States has to be a very complex one with many different considerations. But we point particularly to the overall approach."
It is all quite obvious - the foreign policy of the US is complex, so he cannot be expected to end a war to win a "peace" prize, can he?
Caissa - it seems like people are shocked by this on all sides. It just seems not only wrong-headed but extremely premature. He has not accomplished anything yet and seems on track to break all of the promises he did make (closing Guantanamo, leaving Iraq, ending torture, wiretappings, etc.)
There were over 200 other nominees - surely there was a better option.
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:48
#30
Okay. I think we have three so far thanks to Unionist and Stellersjay.
1. Stop making war
2. Shutdown some active military sites in other countries
3. Insist Israel agree to inspections of its nuclear facilities.
Any more?
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:53
#31
stellersjay
You can't beat swords into ploughshares with one hand and shovel cash at Litton and Raytheon with the other. Reducing their economic dependence on the euphemistically named defense industry would also help.
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:53
#32
Sky Captain
Ok, What?!?!? I seriously thought this was a complete joke and didn't click on it, but I just the story on cbc. Wow. Even if he had not been so intent on changing nothing from the previous administration...he has been there nine months and accomplished nothing! Just goes to show that the Nobel Peace Prize is still a complete and utter joke.
'Oh geez, a man I can't stand has won the Nobel, and the world's gone to hell-whatever will do?'
You sound just like the extreme right-wing who hate his guts and want him to fail because he didn't act with enough speed-oh well, what else is new?
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:55
#33
Okay. I think we have three so far thanks to Unionist and Stellersjay.
1. Stop making war
2. Shutdown some active military sites in other countries
3. Insist Israel agree to inspections of its nuclear facilities.
Any more?
How about stopping their own aggressive nuclear proliferation. Instead of being total hypocrites. The US cannot be trusted with nukes.
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:57
#34
Ok, What?!?!? I seriously thought this was a complete joke and didn't click on it, but I just the story on cbc. Wow. Even if he had not been so intent on changing nothing from the previous administration...he has been there nine months and accomplished nothing! Just goes to show that the Nobel Peace Prize is still a complete and utter joke.
'Oh geez, a man I can't stand has won the Nobel, and the world's gone to hell-whatever will do?'
You sound just like the extreme right-wing who hate his guts and want him to fail because he didn't act with enough speed-oh well, what else is new?
I sound like the extreme right-wing because I'm angry he has kept Bush's policies and hasn't left Afghanistan (let alone Iraq) yet?
Fri, 2009-10-09 09:57
#35
I was reading some other threads on other sites. I can't believe what those racist right wing tight ass conservatives say.
Some people in here don't think he should win but at least we are civil about it.
Fri, 2009-10-09 10:03
#36
Sky Captain
Okay. I think we have three so far thanks to Unionist and Stellersjay.
1. Stop making war
2. Shutdown some active military sites in other countries
3. Insist Israel agree to inspections of its nuclear facilities.
Any more?
4. Stop being Friday-morning quarterbacks
5. Tell Unionist, al-Qa'bong, Ghislane that they're just being the equivilant of the extremists on the far-right who hate Obama's guts, and to stop, their behaviour is coming close to trolling
6.Let the man try and fix the problems he's got to solve at a realistic speed (relates to point #5)
Fri, 2009-10-09 10:04
#37
Sky Captain, please try to stay civil. I don't think your attacks on other posters here is going to do anything other than start flame wars. Thanks.
Fri, 2009-10-09 10:24
#38
Frankly, I think the REAL outrage is that Obama was passed over for Nobel Prizes in physics and chemistry!
Fri, 2009-10-09 10:25
#39
I thought you were going to suggest Medicine, SSC. 
Fri, 2009-10-09 10:28
#40
Snert
The Nobel Peace Prize is nothing but a joke.
I think it kind of jumped the shark when it was awarded to Arafat. But the good news is that Obama and family get $100,000. [i]Put that meatloaf back in the freezer, honey! Trip to Chuck E. Cheese!!![/i]
Fri, 2009-10-09 10:41
#41
Sky Captain
Ok, What?!?!? I seriously thought this was a complete joke and didn't click on it, but I just the story on cbc. Wow. Even if he had not been so intent on changing nothing from the previous administration...he has been there nine months and accomplished nothing! Just goes to show that the Nobel Peace Prize is still a complete and utter joke.
'Oh geez, a man I can't stand has won the Nobel, and the world's gone to hell-whatever will do?'
You sound just like the extreme right-wing who hate his guts and want him to fail because he didn't act with enough speed-oh well, what else is new?
I sound like the extreme right-wing because I'm angry he has kept Bush's policies and hasn't left Afghanistan (let alone Iraq) yet?
No, you sound like the armchair quarterback who thinks that everything can be done lightening fast, and and that wrapping up a war is as easy as snapping one's fingers. Keep on being secure in your delusion that he hasn't accomplished anything-I now return you to that.
Fri, 2009-10-09 10:43
#42
Please don't imply that babblers are delusional. Thanks.
Fri, 2009-10-09 10:48
#43
Keep on being secure in your delusion that he hasn't accomplished anything
Fri, 2009-10-09 10:54
#44
[off-topic] Snert, that might just about cover a trip to Chuck E. Cheese. Just about. That place is friggin' expensive! [/off-topic]
Fri, 2009-10-09 10:56
#45
Skycaptain: he's not even trying to slowly or gradually wrap up a war. He has increased troops there and there are indications that he might even increase them again.
Fri, 2009-10-09 11:03
#46
Why the shock and outrage? War criminal Henry Kissinger won this award. So did Yasser Arafat. Did anyone still think that this award means anything?
Fri, 2009-10-09 11:31
#47
They were clearly correct in awarding it too him as a consolation prize for not getting the Olympics. I wish Vancouver had lost the Olympics and got a peace prize instead.
Fri, 2009-10-09 12:03
#48
Boom Boom
CBC just said Obama's vision of a world without nuclear weapons was a reason he won the prize. What a joke. When has the US ever shown an interest in disposing of its nuclear arsenal?
Fri, 2009-10-09 12:29
#49
Some say its a slap in the face to the Bushes.
Fri, 2009-10-09 13:42
#50
I know, the award should have gone to the American people, who had the wisdom to elect him in the "hope" for something better...some of them anyway, for a while. Last year, perhaps? I thought that segment of Jimmy Carler's 1980 speech shown in Capitalism: A Love Story, was the most honest language of any president. Period. He actually told the American people to get with it, prepare to do more and ask for less. Love to have seen it all. "The people" have not invited such honesty since. Can't remember such honesty north of the 49th either, come to think of it.
Fri, 2009-10-09 14:40
#51
Sky Captain, please try to stay civil. I don't think your attacks on other posters here is going to do anything other than start flame wars. Thanks.
Who's Sky Captain?