Obama Nobel Peace Prize---a Joke, a Mistake

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According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize should be awarded "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.""

--wilipedia

Here are two comments: one from times-on-line and from an Israeli source.

Jerusalem, Israel; News that President Obama received the Nobel Peace elicited a gasp from the anchor of afternoon newsreel of Israel Broadcasting Authority Radio on Friday - "Well, now that is a surprise", she said with some spontaneity.

Within an hour of the announcement, Reuven Rivlin, veteran speaker of the Israel Knesset Parliament, warned  that "Someone who gets a peace prize should not force-feed Israel with his version of peace",  going on to say that he hoped that the peace prize would not inspire the president to "dictate a peace accord to Israel"

Israel has reason to be concerned.

The committee that awards the Nobel Peace prize is comprised of officials from the Norwegian political elite, as opposed to other Nobel prizes for excellence in science, education, health or other scholarly concerns.

The announcement of this prize occurs at a time that Norway remains almost the only European nation to recognize, aid and abet the Hamas regime in Gaza, at  a time when Norway sanctions boycotts of some Israeli companies, and at at time when Norway openly funds movements in Israel that advocate the expulsion of Jewish communities from Judea, Samaria, the Golan and Jerusalem.

Things are so bad between Norway and Israel that the Israeli Foreign Ministry is now considering filing  a formal request to expel Norwegian peace keeping observers from Hebron.

In other words, for many Israelis. the Norwegian endorsement of a peace initiatives of President Obama reads like a kiss of death for Israel, conveying a message, which is that the US should lead the world community to establish a Palestinian state, even if that state would launch aerial attacks on Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, much as the Palestinian entity in Gaza now fires freely on Sderot and the Western Negev.

Will the Nobel Peace Prize give President Obama the leverage that he needs to lower the boom on Israel?

Time will tell.

David Bedein can be reached at bedein@thebulletin.us

This is what the Times-On-Line had to say. Pretty Harsh comments and it appears to reflect the sentiment globally.

"The award of this year’s Nobel peace prize to President Obama will be met with widespread incredulity, consternation in many capitals and probably deep embarrassment by the President himself.

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Rarely has an award had such an obvious political and partisan intent. It was clearly seen by the Norwegian Nobel committee as a way of expressing European gratitude for an end to the Bush Administration, approval for the election of America’s first black president and hope that Washington will honour its promise to re-engage with the world.

Instead, the prize risks looking preposterous in its claims, patronising in its intentions and demeaning in its attempt to build up a man who has barely begun his period in office, let alone achieved any tangible outcome for peace.

The pretext for the prize was Mr Obama’s decision to “strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples”. Many people will point out that, while the President has indeed promised to “reset” relations with Russia and offer a fresh start to relations with the Muslim world, there is little so far to show for his fine words"

I don't find it surprising at all, though it's a complete disgrace and has reduced the value of the Nobel Prize to that of a plastic turd.Which is fitting, given the land of the plastic people (America, and spreading rapidly through Western Europe) are a people increasingly stupefied and awed by the superficial, zero substance celebrities - of which Obama is.Since Obama has basically followed Bush on everything so far, I feel it should be a joint award for him and Bush. (That's assuming Obama really exists and isn't simply Bush in fancy dress - which judging by policies has yet to be determined.)I also feel bad for the past recipients who's achievements were really outstanding, and the people who really have made changes to the world and haven't simply talked from a teleprompter, done nothing good for the people, and lied constantly, who haven't won this award.But hey, sorry, you're just not as cool as Obama. Nor do you have the mainstream media brainwashing the world to worship you.You people who believe Obama really deserves it need to start looking at the disparity between talk and actions, then you might realize nobody is more consistent in talking one thing and doing the opposite than Obama is.Of course, the Nobel idiots clearly overlooked that Obama is expanding the wars in the middle east into Pakistan and the US are the ones showing aggression to Iran despite knowing of the nuclear reactor long ago, and, Iran posing no threat to anybody - let alone America or their beloved Israel.But apart from that... Obama is a man of peace (snigger).If ANYBODY in American politics deserves it, it's Ron Paul - a GENUINE man of peace with a 30 year track record of doing the right thing for the American People; he's consistent and truly for the people. Of course, he's old, not cool, and that just doesn't do it for the Plastic People.Mandatory idiot disclaimer: It's not left or right. It's the fact whoever is in control the people lose more freedom and rights and government grows. Start looking behind the curtain and stop worshipping false Gods. If you refuse to, you deserve all you get.

Personally I think its his symbolic election that got him this nomination. Do you think he has accomplished enough during his nine months in office to deserve this prize? VOTE here >>> www.dipoll.com/index.php?poll_id=527

Thanks .  The Nobel nuts should be bombarded with mail . Seriously.  Not threatening but listing all the truth about the Non Transparent man.

If the giving of this award to Obama were not so sickening it might be something to laugh about.  Obama's selection for this one time prestigious prize has diminished, perhaps destroyed the significance of the prize.  If I were a previous recipient of this prize I would be glad that I spent the money but would toss any medal, citation or letter of commendation from the Nobel Commitee into the trash. Giving this award to Obama is an overt attempt to undermine the US and the great standards of democracy and freedom established by our founding fathers.Shame on all of those who support such political manipulation.

I laughed when I heard this on T.V. this morning......then I thought maybe I was tuned into the comedy channel!

I admire Mr. Obama greatly.  I think his accomplishment of being the first black President in the USA, and coping with such remarkable grace with all that entails, is worthy of honour and note.  It is not, however, Nobel Prize worthy.  It's terrible that the Obama haters have this to chew on and that few except the fanatical will disagree with them, because it gives too much ammunition and nonsense to these people.  However I regret that I do agree with this piece, more or less.  I don't agree with his opinion on the President for the most part, but I do agree this award cheapens the value of the prize.  Since when was it given for "hope" rather than actual accomplishments?  He should return it and they should graciously accept the return and award it to someone who has already earned it.  If Obama has what it takes to be worthy of this award (and I think he does) he can earn it in his own good time just as anyone else will do.

Thanks for your thoughts.  I recommended in another piece that folks should look at the list of nominees of little people doing big things.

I should not have been surprised by this as the whole world has done a complete flip flop. Bad is good and good is bad. Nothing makes sense anymore. I wonder who paid these people off?

There is no prerequisite that a Nobel Peace prize recipient must be a president of a country so Obama's time in office isn't relevant. Indeed, most of the recipients are not presidents of any country. He's been a voice publicly calling for diplomacy and peaceful resolution of conflict since he began his campaign for president more than two years ago. The award is not for being president, it is for advocating for the use of diplomatic means to settle disputes and for advocacy on behalf of engendering peaceful interactions among nations. All past members have not necessarily been succesful at accomplishing their goals; many have failed. President Woodrow Wilson received the Nobel Peace prize for his efforts to start the League of Nations which ended up being a dismal failure, primarily due to the United States refusal to be bound by the tenets of the League. The current United Nations evolved out of the ash heap of residual ideals left from Wilson's efforts.

I'm not interested in debating whether you share my belief that Obama does deserve the honor bestowed upon him. I know that you can't change my mind and I doubt that I can change anyone's mind who doesn't agree with me. However, I do think that the discussion needs to be framed in relevant facts.

In addition, the Nobel Peace prize has never been awarded based on world consensus. The nominees do not nominate themselves and they don't campaign to win. The nominees are not even made aware of their nomination until the winner is announced. President Obama did not seek this honor. I've read comments on other sites where people have taken him to task for not refusing to accept the award. What an insult to the selection committee and the entire process for him to do so! He respectfully and with humility thanked the committee. To do otherwise would contradict all precedent.

Finally, if we examine past recipients, this isn't a new thing to select a winner based on that person's philophical ideology, a person who has not brought about peace or brokered a treaty. Desmond Tutu and Mother Theresa come to mind. Tutu was recognized for his message of reconciliation in South Africa. He has never ruled a country or held a political office. Mother Theresa was recognized for her leadership and self-sacrifice in ministering to the needs of those living in poverty. Again, she was not a ruler or elected to public office. I don't note this to disparage the selection of Tutu or Mother Theresa. To the contrary, I believe that both were deserving based on their commitment to offering a consistent message regarding our obligations to humankind, especially those who have the least of any of us.

I have nothing against the man, Obama...I have everything against what he is doing as President. He is chaning the original purpose of the President. that our forefathers intended for that office.  His own oath that he took says it all..."to preserve, protect and DEFEND the CONSTITUTION.  Show me anywhere in the constitution, Bill of Rights, Federal papers, anywhere...where it says "dictate to countries what they can and cannot do???????

Show me anywhere in these same documents that HE is supposed to (as president) make the world a peaceful place.

Show me where He has accomplished this noble cause so far in his presidency....or even in his first 15 days (of which he was nominated for this prestigious award).

I dont know about you, but when I win an award, it is for something that I HAVE DONE not am GOING TO DO...

how about you???

The fact is that nominations had to be submitted by Feb. 1 the latest.  Obama became President on Jan. 20...by my count that is 12 days.  Someone tell me what peace Obama brought about in those 12 days?  NOTHING!!! They gave this award to terrorist Yasar Arrafat, now Obama, what a joke!!! what a policital ploy on the people of planet Earth!!!