October 9, 2009 at 07:17:12

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Obama Wins the Nobel Peace Prize?

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By Rob Kall (about the author) Page 1 of 2 page(s)

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For OpEdNews: Rob Kall - Writer

I woke up to a text message from CNN that Obama had won the Nobel peace prize. First thought-- "Why? What did he do to earn it? Extend the Afghan war? Send thousands of storm trooper police to Pittsburgh for G-20?

According the the Norwegian Nobel Committee, he's won it for:

Announcement
The Norwegian Nobel Committee
The Nobel Peace Prize for 2009

...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.

...For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."

http://nobelpeaceprize.org/...

Others refer to Obama's effort to reduce Nuclear weapons in the world.

Senior OEN editor Josh Mitteldorf posted an article announcing the award (notice that the word award is "war" with ad left over. How the mind wanders) and added a description, "Let us hope that inspires our new President to live up to the honor."

I thought how this award lowers the value of the Nobel Peace prize to those it's already been awarded to. That's not Obama's fault. But when the Nobel is awarded to a green president who hasn't found solid legs yet, hasn't taken a solid stand on war or torture or war crimes...

Danny Schecter had similar thoughts, writing,

"Never mind that he's involved in two wars and contemplating a third, President Obama snags the big peace prize even as he snubs the Dalai Lama, another Nobel laureate.

"Hmm.Will thus devalue the prize by further politicizing it, enhance skepticism, or give Barack a new sense of destiny?"

And the UK's TimesOnline headlines:

absurd decision on Obama makes a mockery of the Nobel peace prize

But maybe Josh is right. Maybe it will inspire Obama, who's proven to be a disappointment so far, to live up to the honor. Maybe it will give him an attitudinal boost so he finds more spine to represent the people who voted for him. Maybe it will get the right wing blowhards to STFU. Maybe it will give him the spine it takes to tell his DLC, right wing Dem advisors to STFU and maybe even leave.

Ironically, I feel little pride in this awarding of the Nobel. I don't think he deserves it. Sure, it's a nice image boost for the US and the Democrats, but it is a failure by the Nobel committee. If they had waited until Obama made his decision on Afghanistan, and he did the right thing-- stand up to a General with a hard-on for un-ending war, and all his backers, then Obama would have deserved it. I pray the Nobel committee knows something we don't know about Obama and Afghanistan.

Now, we have a "peace prize winning" president about to commit tens of thousands more troops to a never ending war in a country that has never been defeated.

Reuters reported, on October 7th,

"It's quite likely this committee will reward somebody who is engaged in current processes," said Kristian Berg Harpviken, head of the International Peace Institute in Oslo (PRIO).
"They want the prize to have an impact on things that are about to happen and want to affect events," he told Reuters.

Let's hope the prize inspires Obama, not just to be a peace maker but also to be a stronger president who stands up to the corporations which have waged war against humanity. Maybe he'll pay attention to Justice Sotomayor's questions about corporate person hood and wage the good war, ending the longest war of human history-- and kill the right of corporations to be treated as persons.

Awarding the prize to someone who is older, whose work with war and the possibilities for peace is done is a passive act. Awarding the price to someone who has the potential to make a difference, well that's a bold step to take, a gamble. I still have a little hope that Obama will find his inner strength, cast off the corporate enablers rife throughout his administration and do the right things, maybe with Michelle Obama's inspiration. Maybe this award will help. Maybe it will remind him of what he could become-- a great man who goes down in history for standing up to the powerful tides and forces within and outside his party which pushed him to do more of the same. Maybe he will reject the garbage the corpsestream media spews, the pressure the lobbyists apply and the corruption and sold out humanity within the beltway.

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Rob Kall is executive editor, publisher and site architect of OpEdNews.com, Host of the Rob Kall Bottom Up Radio Show (WNJC 1360 AM), President of Futurehealth, Inc, (more...)

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105 comments

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Stunned Disbelief by August Adams on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 7:41:13 AM

I say......... by Michael Morris on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 8:15:19 AM

You are right Mr Rob by Muhammad Khurshid on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 8:50:48 AM

Peace in our Times by tjb on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:22:53 AM

It may be by Archie on Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 at 4:24:56 PM

Obama and the Reliable Replacement Nuclear Warhead by Ann Garrison on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:25:13 AM

embarrassing by doc on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:33:31 AM

And who that you know was better by BFalcon on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:01:01 AM

Indeed by Starbuck on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 11:55:53 AM

Peace Prize by thomas unger on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:33:52 AM

Obama's Peace Prize by G J Lau on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:38:39 AM

Isn't it by Archie on Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 at 4:28:07 PM

Here's the deal. by daveys on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:41:08 AM

War is peace. Slavery is freedom. Ignorance is power. Hail by Mark Adams on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:41:23 AM

Hypocrites all by Bia Winter on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:00:17 AM

I am new here, but I like what your saying and wondering.... by Pesty on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 11:38:14 AM

National Initiative for Democracy (WWW.NI4D.US) by Anton Grambihler on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 3:37:47 PM

Just suggestions by BFalcon on Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 11:06:58 AM

Just suggestions by BFalcon on Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 11:11:37 AM

Nobel Committee Trying to Stop Afghanistan? by Joel Myron on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:41:28 AM

9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB by abe ramsay on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 1:50:03 PM

And those who dont believe that have a right to their by Steven Leser on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 5:15:02 PM

It Has Nothing To Do With Beliefs by abe ramsay on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 12:25:20 AM

I know that you are basing YOUR beliefs by Steven Leser on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 10:52:15 PM

Hope? by Elaine Brower on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:41:32 AM

Agreed by James McKinzie on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:03:34 AM

AUDACITY of True Hope and Opportunity is Knockin' by Eileen Fleming on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:43:15 AM

Will He Listen? by LiveFree on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:39:04 AM

Wheeeeeeeeu! by GLloyd Rowsey on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 7:53:54 PM

Wheeeeeeeeu! by GLloyd Rowsey on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 7:54:06 PM

Though by sliphoch on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:14:36 PM

Take it easy, extreme positions by BFalcon on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 9:47:21 AM

And Read This! by LiveFree on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:42:24 AM

Obama was not elected.... by richard on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 1:34:58 PM

No, not at all by BFalcon on Monday, Oct 12, 2009 at 6:39:55 AM

On the Bright Side... by Bia Winter on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:18:33 AM

The Peaceman Can by Harvey Solomon on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:18:59 AM

Another Dumb-Down by Mad Jayhawk on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:22:56 AM

I thought it was a practical joke by The Onion...no kidding by Marilyn Noyes on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:24:41 AM

I said, "What?" by Joe Walsh on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:28:00 AM

Change of Direction by LiveFree on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:28:40 AM

You said "Norwegian Nobel Committee placed high value on ... by Pesty on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 11:27:58 AM

The felt sorry for him? by Gallaher on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:31:22 AM

Obama's a puppet of Wall St. by ronheri on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:35:26 AM

Orwellian by Michael Lee on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:41:05 AM

Cotton Candy by Ivan Hentschel on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:41:35 AM

A surprise Indeed! by Michael Shaw on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:57:45 AM

Obama's peace prize by Pesty on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 11:13:00 AM

Excellent Analysis, Pesty by abe ramsay on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 3:15:27 AM

Obama's peace prize by Pesty on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 11:39:45 AM

Disturbing the Peace by Lynn Petrovich on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 11:43:17 AM

Better the Nobel than the Olympics by Babette Hogan on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 11:54:02 AM

Obama's curse by Paul Kruger on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 12:03:23 PM

Allow the light of optimism to soften Obama's curse by Bill Parlette on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 1:18:47 PM

I find this statement ludicrous...... by richard on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 1:43:44 PM

WHAT PEACE? by Caronome on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 12:12:03 PM

Obama Wins the Noble Prize by Rob Kall by syed mahdi on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 12:13:52 PM

I have to agree with this as well... by James McKinzie on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 11:54:22 AM

Do More Than Hope by Carol Davidek-Waller on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 12:19:06 PM

Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize by Rolland Miller on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 12:33:58 PM

Obama has already proven himself by richard on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 1:49:34 PM

I find it ludicrous... by Terry Adcock on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 12:37:17 PM

Who cares? by r m reddicks on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 12:56:20 PM

Wrong definition of Peace by Devaron DLH on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 1:07:59 PM

What has Barack Obama done for peace? by David Schwab on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 1:12:59 PM

Audacity by Cheryl Biren on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 1:13:09 PM

I find it rather ironic that an award for "Peace" is created by Stanimal on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 2:10:08 PM

It Was A Candy Thrown At Him by abe ramsay on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 2:18:44 PM

Clearly many here need to step back and look at things from by Steven Leser on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 2:21:37 PM

Perspective by Cheryl Biren on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 3:21:57 PM

Fair enough, but... by Steven Leser on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 3:50:40 PM

Please view Rethink Afghanistan by Kevin Gosztola on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 4:49:28 PM

Oh there is no question that we can Liberate them by Steven Leser on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 5:12:50 PM

As you know by sliphoch on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 4:04:53 PM

speeches are easy...... by richard on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 7:21:06 PM

The Silent Majority's Point Of View ?? by abe ramsay on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 4:08:42 PM

Intellectuals outside US are universally in favor of Obama by Steven Leser on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 4:37:04 PM

This Is What I Usually Write, Mr Agnew's Clone by abe ramsay on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 5:17:26 PM

And those who defend the fascists by richard on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 7:27:13 PM

Let's face it by Archie on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 2:56:58 PM

Bad logic and by Michael Lee on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 6:24:52 PM

Ah, I get it..... by joe r on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 3:56:11 PM

Ah, I get it..... by joe r on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 3:57:23 PM

F'd from the Getgo by Adam Smith on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 5:17:10 PM

A little perspective may explain this award... by Jerry Lobdill on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 5:51:05 PM

Talk the talk by shirley reese on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 6:32:12 PM

Could it be? by Michael Lee on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 6:35:56 PM

"Unless We Have A False Flag Operation by abe ramsay on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 12:49:07 AM

I hope NOT! by Michael Lee on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 11:00:57 PM

..What do you expect from the guy who made WWI possible? ;) by Steve Windisch (jibbguy) on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 6:49:42 PM

I'll repeat what I said elsewhere at OEN on the subject: by GLloyd Rowsey on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 7:13:59 PM

my bet is that the members of the Nobel Peace Prize Committe by richard on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 7:33:02 PM

Prize is for recognition and nail in non-imperialist policy by TomK on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 10:53:33 PM

Assumptions by Michael Lee on Friday, Oct 9, 2009 at 11:41:16 PM

A Leap of Faith by Eugene Elander on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 6:17:45 AM

Spot on Rob.. by Dan Koch on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 9:07:06 AM

Obama's Nobel Peace Prize by joanakelly on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 4:10:57 PM

Through European eyes. by Bryan Emmel on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 5:47:47 PM

well said Bryan by Steven Leser on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 11:04:08 PM

Propaganda is working by Michael Lee on Sunday, Oct 11, 2009 at 8:48:12 AM

"The Orwell Peace Prize" by Michael Lee on Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 at 9:23:20 PM

Enjoy the demoralizing effects on the Right by Perry Logan on Sunday, Oct 11, 2009 at 6:11:10 AM

A Very Premature Choice by J. Edward Tremlett on Sunday, Oct 11, 2009 at 12:21:53 PM

Civil Discourse by Richmond Shreve on Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 12:32:23 PM

Civil Discourse by Richmond Shreve on Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 12:35:20 PM

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