Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said, citing his outreach to the Muslim world and attempts to curb nuclear proliferation.
The stunning choice made Obama the third sitting U.S. president to win the Nobel Peace Prize and shocked Nobel observers because Obama took office less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 nomination deadline. Obama’s name had been mentioned in speculation before the award but many Nobel watchers believed it was too early to award the president.
The man has done nothing in nine months. He’s had a ridiculously short career. If there are liberals out there who think he actually has done something noteworthy since January, I’ll give you the chance to make that case, but what did he do between January 20 and February 1 that makes him even remotely qualified to do anything or win anything?
I guess freeing captured terrorists earns you the Nobel Peace Prize?
UPDATE, by Mark Noonan:
Comment: absurd decision on Obama makes a mockery of the Nobel peace prize
The award of this year’s Nobel peace prize to President Obama will be met with widespread incredulity, consternation in many capitals and probably deep embarrassment by the President himself.
Rarely has an award had such an obvious political and partisan intent. It was clearly seen by the Norwegian Nobel committee as a way of expressing European gratitude for an end to the Bush Administration, approval for the election of America’s first black president and hope that Washington will honour its promise to re-engage with the world.
Instead, the prize risks looking preposterous in its claims, patronising in its intentions and demeaning in its attempt to build up a man who has barely begun his period in office, let alone achieved any tangible outcome for peace.
I doubt, however, that Obama is embarrassed – he probably thinks he’s earned it…
UPDATE: Cartoonists respond.
UPDATE III, by Mark Noonan: What the heck; might as well help Obama win the Heisman.
UPDATE IV, by Mark Noonan: Harvey over IMAO notes we’re being unfair:
Three dead Somali pirates.
When was the last time you read a front page headline about a Somali pirate attack on an American ship?
It’s more than Carter or Gore did.
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