Obama Awarded 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

[Sewer Bull]

(CNN) -- President Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.
Less than nine months into his presidency, Barack Obama has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

Less than nine months into his presidency, Barack Obama has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

The first African-American to win the White House, Obama was praised by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the committee said. "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."

The committee also said Obama has "created a new climate in international politics."

The announcement came as a surprise -- Obama's name had not been mentioned among front-runners -- and the roomful of reporters in Oslo, Norway, gasped when he was named.

In his short time in office, Obama has acted on a wide range of issues from the economy to terrorism and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Obama also lobbied unsuccessfully to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago, Illinois. After returning from Denmark, Obama expressed no regret about his trip, saying it is "always a worthwhile endeavor to promote and boost the United States."

Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, last year's Peace Prize laureate, said it was clear the Nobel committee wanted to encourage Obama on the issues he has been discussing on the world stage.

"I see this as an important encouragement," Ahtisaari said.

The committee wanted to be "far more daring" than in recent times and make an impact on global politics, said Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the International Peace Research Institute.

Wangari Muta Maathai, the Kenyan who won the 2004 Peace Prize, said Obama's win will help Africa move forward.

"I think it is extraordinary," she said. "It will be even greater inspiration for the world. He has shown how we can probably come together, work together in a cooperative way."

The award comes at a crucial time for Obama, who has administration officials dispatched on global peace missions.

Obama's envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, has returned to the region to advocate for peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. Mitchell met Thursday with Israeli President Shimon Peres. He plans to meet Friday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before talking with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton starts a six-day trip to Europe and Russia on Friday. On the trip, the secretary will discuss the next steps on Iran and North Korea, and international efforts to have the two countries end their nuclear programs.

The centerpiece of the trip will be her visit to Moscow, where she will work toward an agreement to take the place of the Start II arms control pact, which expires December 5. She will also address the new bilateral presidential commission that is working on a broad range of issues, from arms control to health.

Obama became the third sitting U.S. president to win the prestigious prize. Jimmy Carter was the fourth American leader to win, but he was long out of office when he was recognized in 2002.

This year's peace prize nominees included 172 people and 33 organizations, the highest number of nominations ever. The committee does not release the names of the nominees.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe...ize/index.html

I guess it really is just an encouragement for him to keep his plans and promises. Cos' seriously, what did he do so far, except for touring Europe, giving up the idea of anti-missile shield and giving a speech at UN?

Thank you, Norway. Type Chi-ha is just going to hate us even more for that

[Spitfire]

He has a lot of fancy plans. I wouldn't have given him crap till he actually made them all work. Seems to me they had no one better to give it to or they just got a little too excited about him.

[poiuytre]

What a joke. They should have at least waited for him to be in office for a full year before giving him the Peace award for being the first black president of the America. I'm sure he's capable of doing something that warrants a Nobel Peace Prize, but he has done no such thing so far. If you look at the time line, he was already nominated for this back in February, where he was only a month on the job. Let's stop giving out awards for good intentions and wait for some results first, OK?

The first African-American to win the White House, Obama was praised by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

They do realise that he's been refusing to meet the Dalai Lama out of fear to upset the China, right? That doesn't sound like a very extraordinary effort to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.


I just hope this doesn't cause too much of backlash to him somehow. Perhaps he should respectfully decline the prize? He's bound to get a nomination again sooner or later anyway.

::edit::
Actually looking at the previous winners, it seems like this is pretty standard fare. Looks like the Peace category isn't held in that high of a regard as the other ones either.

[Anarky]

Wow, sweet. You've got to be rather good to get a prize while not having achieved anything yet. Either that or the alternatives looked really bad. His "Come on, muslim extremists, let's simmer down and talk for a bit" is a mighty gesture, but it seems that they're a bit too quick in giving him the prize.

I hope he lives up to the prize, though. It is a healthy idea he has there.

[odupianist]

http://www.hulu.com/watch/99945/satu...ess#s-p2-sr-i1

[Candy Kappa]

It's because he looks so peaceful... The pun! THE PUN!!

Originally Posted by Mino

Thank you, Norway.

[Type 97 Chi-ha]

Originally Posted by poiuytre

::edit::
Actually looking at the previous winners, it seems like this is pretty standard fare. Looks like the Peace category isn't held in that high of a regard as the other ones either.

One previous winner was Yasser Arafat. 'Nuff said.

[BoggleKng]

Hmmm, still fighting a war and you get the Noble Peace Prize?!!! Not that I don't like Da Bamba but right now he is a lot of talk and promises... Actions speak louder than words in the long run... This award makes Noble Peace Prize look like a joke and the Noble Committee a bunch of ass kissing fools... His Holiness the Dalai Lama received the prize before... talk about someone committed to peace...

[Raph's Girl]

Well... I guess since he didn't get the Olympics they decided to give him a consolation (nobel peace) prize.

[Ninjinister]

Sideshow Bob made it perfectly clear that Nobel Prize is not awarded for attempted physics... what makes attempted peace any different?

[Type 97 Chi-ha]

Originally Posted by Mino

Thank you, Norway. Type Chi-ha is just going to hate us even more for that

Nah. Not when even Obama's most ardent supporters are calling the whole thing ridiculous.

[PAAATE]

In Sweden we've always made jokes about Norwegians being stupid...

... But are they really just jokes?

[Type 97 Chi-ha]

Just when you thought the news couldn't have gotten worse...

I since learned that nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize have to be submitted by February of the awarding year. So Obama had to be selected when he wasn't even president for more than a month or so!

With that in mind, he could have refused it without shame to himself, as he could honestly claim he hadn't earned it yet. But by accepting it now, with no good reason to, he ends up looking like a foolish egotist. If Karl Rove had set the whole thing up to greatly embarrass the Obama administration, he couldn't have done better!

[愛]

I'd be angry about Obama winning, too, if this was actually anything important.

[Canadian Turtle]

Wow... I wouldn't have guessed everyone would be so negative about this. I guess you wouldn't have any idea what he means unless you live outside the US.

I am not saying he has done anything special in office, I am sure that people are frustrated with him, but I would argue that you can't blame him completely, you have no idea what kind of crap system he is dealing with. In fact his lack of action might actually show America the flaw in the system, as the president actually doesn't have much of any power.

ANYWAYS back to my point. The fact that he was voted in DRAMATICALLY changed the world view of the US. Just the act of becoming the first black president did more than any of us can ever appreciate. That is all I will say about that.

[BoggleKng]

I take your point... just seems like a lot of hype, just way too soon..

[ThirdMarioBro]

I consider myself an Obama supporter, but this is a crock. Its like giving a kid a trophy for showing up to school on time. He's done absolutely nothing so far outside of setting the FCC on Net Neutrality (thank heavens), and "considering" repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell (which he needs to get done now). He's still committed to fighting two wars we can't morally or financially afford, we're still in Iraq, Guantanamo will probably still be open in 2012, meaningful health care reform isn't coming because of his corrupt constituents in congress, and he just told the Dali Lama to GTFO so the American landlords in China don't ruffle their panties (shows who the real world leader is, eh?). He deserves no such award because he isn't really doing anything worthy of the award.

Frankly, I'd be really freaking pissed about this if not for what Ai just said.

Originally Posted by Ai

I'd be angry about Obama winning, too, if this was actually anything important.

Exactly.

[Type 97 Chi-ha]

Originally Posted by Canadian Turtle

Wow... I wouldn't have guessed everyone would be so negative about this. I guess you wouldn't have any idea what he means unless you live outside the US.

I am not saying he has done anything special in office, I am sure that people are frustrated with him, but I would argue that you can't blame him completely, you have no idea what kind of crap system he is dealing with. In fact his lack of action might actually show America the flaw in the system, as the president actually doesn't have much of any power.

ANYWAYS back to my point. The fact that he was voted in DRAMATICALLY changed the world view of the US. Just the act of becoming the first black president did more than any of us can ever appreciate. That is all I will say about that.

Well, if the US is getting any benefits out of this new world opinion, I sure see no sign of it. It's beside the point anyway. All we care about is whether he can do the job-and it is looking more and more like he can't, not even with his party having a solid veto-proof majority in Congress. Just because he may be loved outside the US (which may not be for very much longer at the rate things are going) doesn't prove he's a good President. Ask the Russians how they liked Boris Yeltsin.

[GK Punk]

Jesus Tap dancing christ. He we go again.

[Cipher]

Probably chiming in too late, but yeah, this is kind of a load of sh*t. I voted for Obama, I generally support him, but what exactly did he do to get this? He got elected. In all likelyhood he was a shoe-in the moment he took office, as long as the world didn't erupt into nuclear war during his term.

And yet, the world goes on. There have been plenty of undeserving recipients of this award.