Good ol' Obama and his Nobel Prize

s.b.f —

The Nobel Peace Prize 2009 went to Barack Obama

"for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples"


Nobel prize 2009


US President Barack Obama has said he was "surprised and deeply humbled" to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, less than 10 months into his presidency.


Speaking at the White House hours after the Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee named him as a surprise winner, he said the award should be a "call to action".


The world faced challenges that "cannot be met by one person or by one nation alone," Mr Obama said.


The committee said he won for efforts to boost diplomacy and co-operation.


"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 Norwegian committee said in a statement.


"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."


....


He said he did not feel he deserved to be in the company of some of the "transformative figures" who had previously received the award.


Some of his aims, particularly the goal of universal nuclear disarmament, would be difficult to achieve even within his lifetime, let alone his presidency, Mr Obama said.


....


In the US the chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele, asked a simple question: "What has President Obama actually accomplished?"


Attributing Mr Obama's win to his "star power", Mr Steele said it was "unfortunate" he "outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights".


Iran's foreign minister said the decision to give the award was taken too "hastily".


Nobel prize win 'humbles' Obama


Past winners of the Nobel Peace Prize: Ken Oprann in 2008, Al Gore (2007), Muhammad Yunus (2006)...


Did Obama deserve the Prize?


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TPOS — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 - 18:13

[quote=wednesday][quote=ThE pOwEr Of SiLeNcE]He didn't deserve it.[/quote]

why don't he?


Who else were in the list for this prize? [/quote]


because he didnt do anything!


You — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 - 19:54

erm... he is already the president of a country - he needs no other motivation (IMO).


So far, he has not delivered on his promises. Guantanamo is not hidtory, there are still troops in IRaq and Afghanistan, with a chance that their number will increase in the latter, he has not deelivered on american healthcare yet. He has not delivered in the middle east either where after some luke warm words, he has backed down and is continuing to do so more and more day by day. He has also not delivered on the Amercian civil liberties where he has extended and continued the programs that were started by his predecessor.


In short, while he has promised loads, he has not delivered yet - and for many7 things he has not had a chance either as they are not one day things, but things that take time and effort.


(He is also loaded and does not need the money.)


By all means give him an award, but wait for him to accomplish something first. IMO.


s.b.f — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 - 19:58

[quote=You]erm... he is already the president of a country - he needs no other motivation (IMO).


[/quote]


I agree with that. I think as a leader, it should be natural in him to have so much motivation, charm, enthusiasm. But now he has the award...I wondered whether it may stimulate him to do more...as in actually deliver his promises one by one.


Joie de Vivre — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 - 17:40

A sad indictment of the world this year. Not sad that Obama won per se, but he only had to look like he supports peace in order to win; not to mention a lot of Americans will be incensed at the partisanship. But who did make peace happen this year? Bueller? Bueller?


TPOS — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 - 18:57


David Beckham is just like Barack Obama

Maybe it was the new beard. Fabio Capello could think of no other explanation as to why David Beckham had been picked out for the man of the match award after his half-hour cameo during England's World Cup qualifier against Belarus.


Beckham hit the post and touched the ball in the build-up to England's second and third goals in their 3-0 win, but that didn't convince Capello. The Italian augmented his reputation as an erudite and likeable chap by comparing Becks' award to Barack Obama's recent Nobel Peace Prize.


It is a comparison that gets more astute the more you analyse it. Here's a sample of criticism of President Obama's Peace Prize award last week:"It is unfortunate that the president's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements..." Sound familiar?


The 'style over substance' criticism is just as appropriate for Beckham. The odd nice touch, bending cross and publicity-conscious facial hair is not enough of an argument for giving the 34-year-old a place at the World Cup.


With Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon all other options on the right side of midfield, persisting with the one-paced, one-footed Beckham (no international goal since June 2006) is beginning to look like blind faith.


Beckham's name may fill Wembley seats and please the FA's commercial department, but Capello needs to build a team capable of beating the world's elite next summer. Bit-part attention-seekers are not the way forward.


ok that was slightly off topic


malik — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 - 19:31

Kafir Nobel prize is corrupt. They take bribes and give awards to each other. how can they give peace award to Obama the satan who is sending more troops to slaughter Muslims in Afghanistan. You just cant expect kafirs to do the right thing.


Joie de Vivre — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 - 20:17

Bruce defended his selection of Beckham saying: [quote]He had, for me, the biggest impact on the game even though he was only on for 35 minutes. He’s desperate to get on that plane to South Africa. He lifted the whole occasion.” Owen Hargreaves, Bruce’s fellow pundit, said: “His passing is second to none. He is a difference-maker. At this level of the game that is what you need.[/quote]


But he also said:[quote]I couldn’t give the man of the match to Crouchie as he turned me down in the summer.[/quote]


So his first reason was highly contrived because he didn't initially want to acknowledge the bias. Slimy stuff coming from Steve Bruce then.


Perhaps it isn't off-topic at all.


You — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 - 18:36

He gave a speech in cairo... He managed to become president... he has managed to not get assassinated.


and I think that is about it.


He may or may not manage to reform the US healthcare system - but even if he manages to, its not definitely better (making it mandatory for people to join up to some healthcare plan will not necessary give them peace of mind if the healthcare companies are not tackled head on and made... sane.)