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Nobel Peace Prize is unlikely to ignite momentum for Obama
TweetBy JENNIFER LOVEN
WASHINGTON (AP) — Now that he’s Nobel laureate Barack Obama, will he find smoother sailing for his plans to rid the world of nuclear weapons, to forge Mideast peace and stabilize Afghanistan, to halt climate change?
Not likely.
The Nobel committee members made no bones about it: Helping Obama achieve ambitious peacemaking goals was their goal in awarding the prize Friday to an as-yet mostly unaccomplished U.S. president.
But while the prestige could give Obama and his efforts a boost, nations steer their courses according to their own interests and little else. U.S. lawmakers, too, aren’t going to be influenced in politically difficult votes on climate change legislation or nuclear-reduction treaties by the Nobel Peace Prize, no matter who wins it.
That’s not to say it wasn’t an impressive achievement.
At just 48 years old and not even nine months in office, Obama became only the third sitting U.S. president to win the prize.
The widespread reaction, however, when the stunning news hit the nation was: For what?
Obama said so himself. “To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize,” he said hours after being awakened — and surprised — by spokesman Robert Gibbs.
Comments from Nobel committee members revealed that they fully intended to encourage, not reward. Consider this: The nomination deadline was only 12 days after Obama first entered the Oval Office. It’s an enduring myth that the prize is only about accomplishment — it actually was created as much to supply momentum for peace as to celebrate it.
Indeed, with a leftist slant, the five-member committee was applauding Obama as much for what he’s not — his predecessor. Former President George W. Bush was much reviled overseas for “cowboy diplomacy,” the Iraq war and his snubbing of European priorities such as global warming.
So some cheerleading probably can’t hurt, as Obama presses forward on efforts to repair America’s relations with Muslims, bring Israelis and Palestinians into fruitful negotiations and turn back climate change. The committee especially singled out Obama’s aims to create a nuclear weapons-free world and to set out a new, more cooperative diplomatic doctrine.
“I hope it will help him,” Nobel committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said of the award. “Obama is the right man at the right time.”
Comments
Well I guess everyone does not want to mention the little fact that the selection process ended 2/1/09. That's right 12 days in office when the process ended. The committee then had hundreds of names to go through and sort out who was winning what.
So based on the 12 days as president, and a little time as a senator, then a state senator and before that a community organizer for ACORN and a Harvard Law graduate.
I must agree with what is becoming a big joke and ask what has he done other than wishful thinking for the world. Has this just turned into a prize of hope and happiness. Based on speeches.
There is a bumper sticker that reads NOBELOL.
Wait a minute, he is now in the company of Yassar Arafat among others. I just read where he has been applauded by Fidel Castro. Now that is BIG!
The important accolades have just now begun to come rolling in!!!
Yes and Jimmy Carter and Al Gore NOBELOL
Come on now, guys. President Obama deserves this accolade. His early days of community organizing have payed huge dividends to the safety and 'peace' in Chicago!! They only have one murder every 16 hours in that city. That makes Youngstown look like Vatican City. Oops!
I cannot imagine anyone more deserving than a Commander-in-Chief who goes out of his way to not speak with top generals running a war. That obviously promotes peace!! Not to mention, his party has been waving white flags of surrender since the early days in Iraq and Afghanistan. Oops.
At this pace, we will be defending our borders with slingshots and garbage can lids. Nuclear proliferation and the elimination of missile defense shields scream tranquility. Oops.
Instead of spending time on war and violence, President Obama has focused his attention to honing his golf and basketball skills. In addition, there was that trip to Denmark last week for the fourth place prize from the International Olympic Committee. Chicago did not even receive the "Bronze Medal" in that competition!! Oops.
This is absolutely laughable, and discredits the Nobel Peace Prize for years to come.
If someone doesn't show up to support Obummer this whole response might appear to be somewhat biased. Where is cambridge, and his faithful lemings when we need them?
I forgot about the Community Organizer leadership role in Chicago. Of course his "friends" that he threw under a bus are still there.
And lets just mention his Auntie in Boston a illegal.
A half brother living in a hut in Kenya.
Another half brother busted for drugs.
A Grandmother who just recently received running water and electric in Kenya.
So I can see the Nobel committee was shipped some leftover Kool Aid and got their hands on the DVD with all his great speeches on it also
I must say this has been shoved under the bus or packed away in a box marked do not open till 2012.