Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize.

mike65

Just breaking.

M007

strange one indeed. Alas he didn't win the olympics!

MagicMarker

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8298580.stm

Obama wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize


US President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel Committee said he was awarded it for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples".
There were a record 205 nominations for this year's prize.
The laureate - chosen by a five-member committee - wins a gold medal, a diploma and 10m Swedish kronor ($1.4m).

Were all these efforts during his short presidency?

mike65

I'm scratching my head as to whats he has done to "deserve" this award.

hblock21

?!?!?!!?

I don't understand this. He hasn't done anything yet.

There still in Iraq and the war has gotten worse in Afghanistan. Two things he said he was going to change!?!?!?!?!?!

kippy

He didnt get the olympics so he had to get something.

Fr Tod Umptious

wow, it must have been a poor pool of candidates this year if he won it for that

Who else was up for it Ahmadinejad

banquo

Probably Europe's way of rewarding the changing the USA's previous foreign policy.

Still, it's a bit mad.

Voice of America News wrote:

Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize
By VOA News
09 October 2009


U.S. President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo recognized Mr. Obama for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

The committee said it had attached special importance to the president's vision of and work for "a world without nuclear weapons.

In announcing the award, the Nobel committee said that under Mr. Obama's leadership "dialogue and negotiations" are preferred as instruments for resolving "even the most difficult international conflicts."

The committee said the U.S. leader has "captured the world's attention" and "given its people hope for a better future."

It added that thanks to Mr. Obama's initiative, the U.S. is now playing a "more constructive role" in meeting the "great climatic challenges the world is confronting."

The peace prize comes as the U.S. is involved in two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The prize is worth almost $1.5 million and will be handed over on December 10.

Mr. Obama, who has been in office for less than a year, is the first African American president. His mother was from Kansas, his father from Kenya.

Nodin

mike65 wrote: »

I'm scratching my head as to whats he has done to "deserve" this award.

Well he did say something about trying to reduce them. Mind you Kissinger took it for his peace efforts when the war was still going on, so theres precedent...

Black Swan

One word: premature.

jank

Redneck US of A is going to make a lot of hay out of this.

steve_oh

Wow. I'm surprised to hear all the negative opinions. I think its great. What did people expect from the guy? News programmes dont do reports on problems that get solved. Obama is healing rifts and bringing the world together. It's happening all around us, right now. Nevermind the republican smear campaign - the guy does the work of 50 men. He's fighting republicans and lobbyists with one hand and saving the world with the other. Call me hopelessly optimistic - but I believe in this guy. Big time!

JohnMc1

mike65 wrote: »

I'm scratching my head as to whats he has done to "deserve" this award.

The Apology World Tour most likely. He was only just Inaugurated when the deadline for nominees was due.

Overheal

jank wrote: »

Redneck US of A is going to make a lot of hay out of this.

Jank I am really not liking your negativity anymore. You need to go to your happy place and re-center yourself. Especially your spinning and stereotyping and labeling - its abusive and nauseating. Particularly how, i voted for the guy, live in south carolina, where many people have what can only be referred to as the drawl and yes i did commute home last night behind an F-350 with the tailgate down because he probably thought it would give him better mileage and he was wearing a hat and a denim vest i noticed at the red light on berlin g meyers.

But are you basically telling us you dont see a problem with awarding obama the nobel peace prize? really?

axer

THey said it is because of the change of approach he is taking. Don't forget that the USA has the power to f'uck up the world whereas Obama is taking real steps to try and fix the crap the USA has been invovled in too long.

At least you know with Obama if he does end up attacking a country like Iran, he will already have exhausted all other options and will have much more support from other countries around the world.

Manic Moran

steve_oh wrote: »

Wow. I'm surprised to hear all the negative opinions. I think its great. What did people expect from the guy? News programmes dont do reports on problems that get solved. Obama is healing rifts and bringing the world together. It's happening all around us, right now. Nevermind the republican smear campaign - the guy does the work of 50 men. He's fighting republicans and lobbyists with one hand and saving the world with the other. Call me hopelessly optimistic - but I believe in this guy. Big time!

Look at the recipients of the Peace Prize in the past. Are you seriously telling me that his accomplishments to date (and I'm curious to know which they are.. it's not as if Israel/Palestine has been brought to a conclusion, or North Korea has stopped lobbing rockets) have been on a par with last year's winner Martti Ahtisaari who has been negotiating international peace deals for thirty years, Medecins Sans Frontiers who have been in the world's trouble-spots for decades, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, or Martin Luther King?

It was four decades before the scientists were awarded their Physics prize for fibre-optics and CCDs. Obama's not even been in power for his first four.

NTM

RedPlanet

Yeah it's AMAZING.
Fair play to Obama.
How many Nobel Peace Prizes did George Bush win after what, 8 years?

Poccington

steve_oh wrote: »

Wow. I'm surprised to hear all the negative opinions. I think its great. What did people expect from the guy? News programmes dont do reports on problems that get solved. Obama is healing rifts and bringing the world together. It's happening all around us, right now. Nevermind the republican smear campaign - the guy does the work of 50 men. He's fighting republicans and lobbyists with one hand and saving the world with the other. Call me hopelessly optimistic - but I believe in this guy. Big time!

Saving the world? Wow.

Completely ridiculous that he was awarded this by the way.

RedPlanet

Ok i'm not sure he's saving the world, but he's not hurting it too badly so far.

Mr. Incognito

i think it's great and a very shrewd move but the nobel committee that may spurn Obama to achieve something concrete and lasting in Israel, Iraq, reduction of nuculear arms etc.

he full citation read: “The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama’s vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

“Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama’s initiative, the United States is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.”

Zardoz

A farcical decision.
More of the Emperors new clothes syndrome .
This time next year the US could be fighting 3 wars .
Its highly disrespectful to the other nominees but yet again talk wins the day.

fenris

It's simple, he got it for NOT being Geroge Bush!

Black Swan

Zardoz wrote: »

A farcical decision...

Its highly disrespectful to the other nominees but yet again talk wins the day.

Any more "disrespectful" than awarding a peace prize to Yasser Arafat, the former head of a terrorist organisation?

snow scorpion

So where's my Nobel Prize?

I haven't accomplished anything noteworthy in the last nine months either.

JohnMc1

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Any more "disrespectful" than awarding a peace prize to Yasser Arafat, the former head of a terrorist organisation?

I guess its safe to say that Nobel Prize isn't as prestigious as it used to be.

Black Swan

JohnMc1 wrote: »

I guess its safe to say that Nobel Prize isn't as prestigious as it used to be.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Don't let anyone know, but I have to agree with you on this post.:D

Smurfpiss

So I'm doing my PhD in physics at the moment...
could I have next years prize in physics, for the work you guys anticipate me to do.
I'll be super I promise.

JohnMc1

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Don't let anyone know, but I have to agree with you on this post.:D

I'm sending you a copy of Sarah Palin's book for Christmas.

transylman

fenris wrote: »

It's simple, he got it for NOT being Geroge Bush!

You're right. It makes more sense to think of this as a Nobel anti-peace prize for Bush.

Black Swan

JohnMc1 wrote: »

I'm sending you a copy of Sarah Palin's book for Christmas.

Oh grand, now I'll have something to burn and stay warm when it's cold this recessionary winter. Thanx!

JohnMc1

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Oh grand, now I'll have something to burn and stay warm when it's cold this recessionary winter. Thanx!

Hey its the thought that counts.

mike65

The shortlist was compiled two weeks after he took office!

MagicMarker

mike65 wrote: »

The shortlist was compiled two weeks after he took office!

It must have been a pretty short list indeed.

Flamed Diving

This the same 'peace' prize that was awarded to Kissinger and Arafat?

JIZZLORD

to be honest i support the man but i think it's ridiculous to award it to him so early. after 1 term perhaps, but a few months in is ridiculous.

metaoblivia

I agree with the majority here. I like Obama and support him and would like to think that he will one day be worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize, but today is obviously not that day.
Although I did just read that he is going to donate all of the prize money to charity (about 1.4 million in US dollars), and that gave me some warm fuzzies. However, it shouldn't have been his prize to give away in the first place.

kleefarr

I missed the list of countries that have dumped Nuclear Weapons.
Anyone got it?

imokyrok

fenris wrote: »

It's simple, he got it for NOT being Geroge Bush!

What did the Romans ever do for us :

3/18/8 – Obama caught world-wide attention for his moving speech on race relations

7/24/8 - Obama lays the foundation for a new era of international relations and began inspiring renewed hope in American leadership during his campaign speech in Berlin

11/6/8 – Obama’s victory was hailed as a promise of hope for the world.

12/1/8 – Obama began plans to restore U.N. ambassador to cabinet rank.

1/22/9 - Appointed a Special Envoy for Middle East peace

1/22/9 – Ordered the closing of Guantanamo Bay

1/22/9 – Ordered comprehensive review of detention policies

1/22/9 – Prohibited use of torture

1/22/9 - Signed an executive order to close CIA secret prisons

1/23/9 – Lifted “Global Gag Rule” on international health groups

1/26/9 – Began to address climate change by increasing fuel standards for automobiles

1/26/9 – Appointed Special Envoy for Climate Change

1/27/9 - Signs Lily Ledbetter “Fair Pay” Act

2/1/9 – Expanded healthcare for children by signing SCHIP

2/5/9 - Again addressed energy conservation by increasing standards for appliances.

2/24/9 – Directed almost $1 billion for prevention and wellness to improve America’s health

2/25/9 - Initiated international efforts to reduce mercury emissions worldwide

2/27/9 – Committed to responsibly ending the war in Iraq

4/1/9 – Agreed to negotiation of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia.

4/1/9 – Enhanced U.S. – China relations

4/2/9 - Led global response to the economic crisis through the G20, obtaining commitments of $1.1 trillion to safeguard the world’s most vulnerable economies

4/4/9 - Renewed dialog with NATO and other key allies

4/5/9 – Announced new strategy to responsible address international nuclear proliferation

4/13/9 – Began easing tension with Cuba through new policy stance

4/17/9 - Secured $5 billion in aid commitments "to bolster [Pakistan's] economy and help it fight terror and Islamic radicalism"

4/22/9 - Developed the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents.

5/8/9 – Proposed International Affairs budget that included funds to create a civilian response corps -- teams of civilian experts in rule of law, policing, transitional governance, economics, engineering, and other areas critical to helping rebuild war-torn societies; Provide $40 million for a "stabilization bridge fund," which would provide rapid response funds for the State Department to help with an international crisis situation.

6/4/9 - Gave historic address to the Muslim World in Cairo - "American is not at war with Islam" Foreign affairs experts insist that Obama's engagement with the Muslim world has been remarkable. "He has been able to dramatically change America's image in that region"

8/4/9 - Used DIPLOMACY to free 2 American journalists from a North Korea prison

9/18/9 - De-escalation of nuclear tension through repurposing of missile defense prompting Russia to withdraw its missile plan.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/9/791412/-30+-Reasons-Obama-deserves-the-Nobel-Peace-Prize

Nodin

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Any more "disrespectful" than awarding a peace prize to Yasser Arafat, the former head of a terrorist organisation?

"former"? He never retired. Nelson Mandela did retire but that was after he won it, and some time after he refused to renounce 'armed struggle' re the ANC.

JohnMc1 wrote: »

I guess its safe to say that Nobel Prize isn't as prestigious as it used to be.

Well, since they gave it to Kissinger, its been downhill all the way, hasn't it?

JohnMc1

Nodin wrote:

Well, since they gave it to Kissinger, its been downhill all the way, hasn't it?

I consider it as legit as the MTV awards. A wrothless bauble.

Overheal

fenris wrote: »

It's simple, he got it for NOT being Geroge Bush!

Hmmm... the NotBush Peace Prize....

jank

Overheal wrote: »

Jank I am really not liking your negativity anymore. You need to go to your happy place and re-center yourself. Especially your spinning and stereotyping and labeling - its abusive and nauseating. Particularly how, i voted for the guy, live in south carolina, where many people have what can only be referred to as the drawl and yes i did commute home last night behind an F-350 with the tailgate down because he probably thought it would give him better mileage and he was wearing a hat and a denim vest i noticed at the red light on berlin g meyers.

But are you basically telling us you dont see a problem with awarding obama the nobel peace prize? really?

LOL, maybe you take this board too seriously! If you have a problem with my posts report it.:) But I dont think the term red neck is abusive.

The only problem I see with this is a) how did he deserved it & b) gives the GOP more ammo to fire at him for being a peace loving hippy.

Overheal

I do love happy vibes jank. happy vibes. Cookies and rainbows. cookies and rainbows. That and Ive been on a Scrubs marathon so a Coxian rant was inevitable.


My eyes just roll when I hear polarizing comments. Like When Limbaugh made a great point about Reagan not having a peace prize - then he went too far for me by insinuating the only reason this was so was because Reagan was a Republican. Which has got to be silly.

jank

Overheal wrote: »

I do love happy vibes jank. happy vibes. Cookies and rainbows. cookies and rainbows. That and Ive been on a Scrubs marathon so a Coxian rant was inevitable.


My eyes just roll when I hear polarizing comments. Like When Limbaugh made a great point about Reagan not having a peace prize - then he went too far for me by insinuating the only reason this was so was because Reagan was a Republican. Which has got to be silly.

You dont like polarizing comments but listen to Limbaugh? A word of advice, maybe you shouldnt.

Overheal

Or Jon Stewart. Or Colbert. But what can I say, I'm human.

jank

Overheal wrote: »

Or Jon Stewart. Or Colbert. But what can I say, I'm human.

They might be centre left but to compare them to Limbaugh is laughable. Also they appear on the comedy channel and take the piss out of the whole system, both dems and repubs.

Limbaugh is deadly serious on the hate he preaches.

jank

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/252013/october-08-2009/bend-it-like-beck

Great stuff from Colbert.

Overheal

jank wrote: »

They might be centre left but to compare them to Limbaugh is laughable. Also they appear on the comedy channel and take the piss out of the whole system, both dems and repubs.

Limbaugh is deadly serious on the hate he preaches.

Naturally. But in this scenario I tended to agree with Limbaugh's sentiments regarding Reagan. The rest of his show he was talking about swine flu or something and being fat and smug per usual.

jank

Overheal wrote: »

Naturally. But in this scenario I tended to agree with Limbaugh's sentiments regarding Reagan. The rest of his show he was talking about swine flu or something and being fat and smug per usual.

A broken clock is right twice a day!

Nodin

Overheal wrote: »

Naturally. But in this scenario I tended to agree with Limbaugh's sentiments regarding Reagan.

I'd say Latin American death squads and Guetamala/Nicaragua had considerably more to do with it than his party affiliation.

sceptre

mike65 wrote: »

The shortlist was compiled two weeks after he took office!

That's not quite true. The closing date for nominations from the massively long list of those who can nominate was two weeks after he was inaugurated. Any shortlist would presumably have been assembled long after that.