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U.S. President Barack Obama's efforts advocating for a world without nuclear weapons, as well as his support for international diplomacy and institutions such as the United Nations, have earned him the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced today.
"The Committee attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons," according to a committee press release issued Friday morning. "The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations."
In April, President Obama told a crowd of 20,000 in Prague that the U.S. had a "moral responsibility" to take the lead in ridding the world of nuclear weapons. He also noted in that speech, "Today, the Cold War has disappeared but thousands of those weapons have not. In a strange turn of history, the threat of global nuclear war has gone down, but the risk of a nuclear attack has gone up."
The committee chose Obama to send a clear signal to the world that it want to advocate for international diplomacy, strengthen international institutions and work for a world without nuclear arms, Norwegian Nobel Committee President Thorbjørn Jagland said at the press conference to announce the Peace Prize winner. Jagland, who is also secretary general of the Council of Europe, added that the committee hopes the award will "enhance a little bit" Obama's peace efforts.
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26 Comments
Add CommentJob well done Mr. President. America should be very proud of you and I know this American is very proud to have a president with a Nobel. That is two Nobel Peace awards for the democrats; we haven't forgot about you, Vice President Al Gore. When are you republicans going to come off your waring horses and join the peace making ranks?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thislol... talk about counting your chickens before they've hatched. A Nobel Peace award for saying we shouldn't have nuclear weapons... What a joke.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisJust look at all his accomplishments:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this- Made an anti-nuclear weapons speech
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And all this in just the first few months of his Presidency!
Who said that change will take time? All our problems are already solved.
This has got to be a joke! The Noble Peace prize is officially just as manipulated as Congress! I feel sad for people who can't see this blatant manipulation for political means.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisObama is as big, if not a bigger, war monger than Bush. He doesn't keep any promises, says one thing but then only helps out his buddies like Goldman Sachs & the Privately owned corrupt & unconstitutional Federal Reserve who bought his presidency.
How can a man who doesn't close Quantamo, who sends more troops to Afghanistan, who gets US citizens to police each other, who furthers the Patriot Act & domestic spying, who doesn't put an end to the invasion of Iraq & who is now trying to push for conflict in Iran deserve this prize?
The Iranians have kept their Nuclear agreement but try getting Israel to agree to similar standards. The Israelis point blank refuse, yet the receive something like $30,000 per person in donations from the US.
The guy can't even provide a US birth certificate to prove even has the right to be a US President! I smell a lot of rats here!
Mr. President of the United States of America: Thank you!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisToday, it was announced that you are the recipient of the Nobel Peace Price this year. Congratulations, Mr. President! Congratulations, USA!
As a world citizen, I believe this is the exactly the right time for you to be lauded with this price. In fact, I feel good about being a Norwegian today. Usually I feel good about other things...
To see progress in the world wide scale of humanity, requires broad perspective. Without such perspective, it is extremely difficult to narrow down the focus - to take the first step in the right direction.
We can all stumble. And when the fall is deep, we so easily loose sight of the horizon and the perspective. That is when it becomes difficult to know where the next step will take us.
Mr. President - your words, perspective, focus, and deeds so far, have given the rest of us inspiration to keep looking for that direction - reaching for true progress for us all.
This price is a recognition of how the change in the USA's vision and role has been instrumental to bring a whole world back to the track of progress. Thank you!
Yes in fact he is an alien sent to earth to destroy the human race ^o)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe prize has given once Again to someone who tries with all his powers to something relevant for the humanity.
They do this in hopes that his word will permeate the brain of some thickheaded persons.
George W B, also had a lot of great speaches like the one that he talked about a cruzade and propthed the hatred of millions of muslims and depise world wide...
Obama speaches of peace and compreension like the on cairo give him standing up ovations, and most importanty, sway not only the public opinion of the people but also of their rulers.
So dont undestimate the power of speaches...
But the truth is that i too has surprised because pretty speaches and a few results souldnt be enougth to win this prestigius prize, but afther thinking a while i totaly agree with them, this way it will be easier to make words into action for Obama and he will have even further pyscological pressure to make things go, =D
Way to go Nobel Comite you sure are a smart bunch ;)
The prize has given once Again to someone who tries with all his powers to something relevant for the humanity.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThey do this in hopes that his word will permeate the brain of some thickheaded persons.
George W B, also had a lot of great speaches like the one that he talked about a cruzade and propthed the hatred of millions of muslims and depise world wide...
Obama speaches of peace and compreension like the on cairo give him standing up ovations, and most importanty, sway not only the public opinion of the people but also of their rulers.
So dont undestimate the power of speaches...
But the truth is that i too has surprised because pretty speaches and a few results souldnt be enougth to win this prestigius prize, but afther thinking a while i totaly agree with them, this way it will be easier to make words into action for Obama and he will have even further pyscological pressure to make things go, =D
Way to go Nobel Comite you sure are a smart bunch ;)
p.s.
Ignore all the false word above the truth is that he is an bloodcraving alien sent to earth to destroy the human race, and all top democrats know he is an 'illegal' alien :P ^o)
Im portuguese but american policy especialy that coming from republic party would make me laugth if it hasent so sad... have fun being braiwashed by fox and good studing in you creacionist classes :P
C ya
Hugo F
I decided to research Obama's accomplishments in order to better understand the committee's decision here. The nomination deadline for the Nobel Peace Prize was February 1. That means his accomplishments as President that qualified him for this award must have occurred between January 20th and January 31st. A short period of time to be sure, even for one with such abilities and prowess.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPerhaps it was his signing of the order to close down Gitmo within 1 year on January 22nd. This is about the only "accomplishment" of significance during that time period that I can find. Never mind that it hasn't happened and won't happen as ordered.
That hardly seems sufficient to merit a Nobel prize. Perhaps it was something he did during the campaign. He did promise to do away with all the infringements on the rights of US citizens resulting from the Patriot Act. And he promised an end to rendition and indefinite detention. Wait, that can't be it. He has already broken those promises in the face of reality. Of course, he has never credited his predecessor for those ideas, but imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
It must have been something he did over his distinguished 2 year US Senate career. All I can find after extensive research on that topic is a pattern of ducking important issues and keeping a low profile. He missed 24% of the votes. On the plus side, he did sponsor the "Pigford Claims Remedy Act" and the "Health Care for Hybrids Act". These don't quite rise to the quality of Nobel Prize material though.
So, at the end I was stumped. Then I remembered that they actually awarded this thing to Al Gore in the past and I concluded that it must be more a political statement than an actual award based on accomplishments.
sooooo....where's the science related coverage?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisClearly, the award was given to encourage Obama to be on the right track, as Norwegian stated so well (My ancestors are Norwegian and Native American). It is nice to know that the world has become willing to reconsider America. I was made to kill for my country a few decades ago. We have been the nation of war for too long, while we have no reason to be scared of anything. All I have to say to the republicans is, "if you're scared, move somewhere else."
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHjlfsilph...cheers to you too, brother!!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisso in other words, you and norwegian are saying it's appropriate for an autonomous institution to treat it's own criteria as arbitrary, in the interest to encourage the pretense that a new president, of a sovereign nation apart froma ny other, is magically more qualified and more likely to promote peace and solidarity for the world, because an award will give them that qualification, and motivation? what a bunch of pretentious, idealistic kangaroo feces. when I read norwegians take, I thought they were joking. a genius of word smithery and satyrical verse, because the surreality any could be so naive and detached from reality is something typically found in asylums.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI was under the false impression that the man made the sword, the sword didn't make the man.
To "JamesDavis"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt will happen when people like former president george w. Bush stop being born or even think about running for president seat
The thing I dont get is where were all of u Obama haters when Bush was playing with the amendments and our rights, were u hiding in a hole or something, afraid that if u say something the homeland security will come and take u away?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGitmo prison hasn't been closed yet because of the pressure from republicans and "the fear" that terrorists will strike again if they close it down. Do more research maybe it will hit the mark("fact")
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHe freakguy,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYour comments do not reflect well on your your grasp of current events.
Democrats have absolute, fillibuster-proof control of the Senate and absolute control of the house in addition to the Oval Office. The only thing that could potentially stop them from closing Gitmo is the Supreme Court, and that's pretty unlikely. And yet, it still will not be closed even close to the deadline if ever.
So, how are the Republicans even relevent in this issue?
@JamesDavis - You might not have forgotten Al Gore, but you do seem to have forgotten Jimmy Carter and Woodrow Wilson. And you forgot Theodore Roosevelt, who was the first American to win the prize, and of course, a Republican.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGo to the SciAm summary of the recent Nobel prize winners and play the childhood game - Which of these Things Doesn't Belong with the Others? Quite obviously, it's Obama who didn't actually do anything to deserve it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.scientificamerican.com/report.cfm?id=nobel-prizes-2009
The cut off for nominations was Feb 1, 2009, and by that time Obama had done nothing and had no history or creditiblity. Awarding him the prize has cheapened the prize and disrespected the other candidates who actually put forth tremendous personal effort and accomplished something. This prize is clearly now just another cheap political prize.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe Nobel committee had already cheapened the prize beyond belief when it awarded it to Al Gore for his powerpoint slide show when other worthy people were ignored. This caps the cake ,showing that the Nobel Peace Prize is worthless.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSo, notslic and Norwegian seem to be saying that this award was given, not for actual accomplishments, but as a Skinneresque "doggie bone" to reward the President for moving in the right direction.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSort of like a rat in a maze.
I wonder what they will use for the "aversion" part of their training.
Roosevelt received a Nobel Prize for brokering a peace treaty between Russia and Japan; a significant accomplishment.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWoodrow wilson received a Nobel for his efforts to ratify the Treaty of Versaille and form the League of Nations; a significant accomplishment
Jimmy Carter, regardless of his recent descent into massively illogical behavior, was given the Nobel Prize for his involvement in the Peace Accords signed by Israel, Egypt and Jordan and other international efforts including Habitat for Humanity; significant accomplishements.
The Nobel went to Barack Obama for "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."
These efforts are hardly quantifiable.
The NPP has been awarded to Yasser Arafat, a known terrorist, and the incredibly corrupt Kofi Anan.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRonald Reagen and others were instrumental in bringing down the Berlin wall. George Bush saved almost 10 million lives (you can read it yourself right here on the liberal CNN's website: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/15/frist.bush/index.htm l)
No one with a brain, which makes one wonder why this article is on the SA website, gives any credibility to the NPP.
You forgot to mention Jimmy Carter, didn't he also receive a Nobel Peace Prize? Oh not to forget Yasser Arafart - everybody knows how peaceful a terrorist he was.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPresident Obama is in very good company, but I think the Swedes have mistaken him for Pavlov's dog.
You forgot about Jimmy Carter, another great Democrat that received the Nobel Peace Prize. Not to mention Yasser Arabfart, we all know how peaceful a terrorist he was.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPresident Obama is indeed in good company but I think the swedes have mistaken him for Pavlov's dog
In Turkey, as I observe my people I can say that Obama is regarded as a peaceful president compared to G.W.Bush. However, what has he done yet? Did we miss something? I only listened a speech of him everybody mentiones here.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMany people talk about nuclear weapons, concern about the future! Is that eneough to deserve this prestigious prize?! Just talking and giving promises?