Obama won the Nobel Peace prize?
I'm not quite sure I understand what the thinking was behind the Nobel committee's decision, but as usual, I find it fascinating to watch the political sphere react en masse to this kind of political hand grenade being tossed into the mix.
Let's start with a snippet of the announcement itself from the Nobel committee:
Sounds good, but they seem to be awarding the prize for simply starting down this path, not for having achieved any particular milestone.
The RNC reaction, is somewhat predictable:
As is the response from the right-wing extremists who're part of the newspapers/Taliban.
Limbaugh says it's a sign that the world loves an emasculated US.
Shockingly, I think John McCain has the smartest thing for Republicans to say on the topic, politically speaking, which hasn't been true of him since he won the nomination last year.
The DNC is apparently equally combative in their response:
The reaction from the netroots is one of, well, confusion. We're not gonna go all crazy n' stuff and try and make this into some sign of how Obama's evil, but we generally agree that at best, this is premature.
DailyKos is scouring international news, in order to get some perspective. TPM, in my opinion, nails it exactly. According to Josh Marshall's reasoning, it's really about a return of the world's largest superpower returning to the international community as a law-abiding citizen generally on board with the goals of that same community.
Glenn Greenwald is, to say the least, less charitable than anyone from the right, mostly because he's coming at it from a, uhh, well, you know, human perspective. He's also pissed about the RNC/Taliban link the left is halfheartedly pushing, which is fair.
For what it's worth, Obama himself seems to be taking this as a call to action, rather than a recognition of anything he has done so far.
Mostly I'm just amazed that all the above ink was spilled before lunchtime.
Let's start with a snippet of the announcement itself from the Nobel committee:
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.
...snip...
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.
Sounds good, but they seem to be awarding the prize for simply starting down this path, not for having achieved any particular milestone.
The RNC reaction, is somewhat predictable:
The real question Americans are asking is, 'What has President Obama actually accomplished?' It is unfortunate that the president's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights. One thing is certain - President Obama won't be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action.
As is the response from the right-wing extremists who're part of the newspapers/Taliban.
Limbaugh says it's a sign that the world loves an emasculated US.
Shockingly, I think John McCain has the smartest thing for Republicans to say on the topic, politically speaking, which hasn't been true of him since he won the nomination last year.
The DNC is apparently equally combative in their response:
The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists — the Taliban and Hamas this morning — in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize. Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize — an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride — unless of course you are the Republican Party. The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It’s no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore – it’s an embarrassing label to claim.
The reaction from the netroots is one of, well, confusion. We're not gonna go all crazy n' stuff and try and make this into some sign of how Obama's evil, but we generally agree that at best, this is premature.
DailyKos is scouring international news, in order to get some perspective. TPM, in my opinion, nails it exactly. According to Josh Marshall's reasoning, it's really about a return of the world's largest superpower returning to the international community as a law-abiding citizen generally on board with the goals of that same community.
Glenn Greenwald is, to say the least, less charitable than anyone from the right, mostly because he's coming at it from a, uhh, well, you know, human perspective. He's also pissed about the RNC/Taliban link the left is halfheartedly pushing, which is fair.
For what it's worth, Obama himself seems to be taking this as a call to action, rather than a recognition of anything he has done so far.
Mostly I'm just amazed that all the above ink was spilled before lunchtime.
17 Comments
Ryjkyj"I'm not quite sure I understand what the thinking was behind the Nobel committee's decision, but as usual, I find it fascinating to watch the political sphere react en masse to this kind of political hand grenade being tossed into the mix."
AHHH! It's like you're in my brain!!
EDIT: It's amazing that we humans are still in a place where someone can win our highest honor for trying to create peace by simply saying "let's talk to these guys a little more before we kill them".
OrnthoronI'm as flustered as the rest of the world by this decision, but as a representative for NorwaySift, I guess it's up to me to defend some of the thinking that is the rationale behind this year's award.
It should be clear to everyone that Obama did not receive this prize for any accomplishments so far. The decision of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee rather fits in with a policy they have pursued from time to time of trying to use the prize to influence current affairs and/or gather momentum for a cause, instead of giving a pat on the shoulder for a job well done. Examples of this are the 1971 award to Willy Brandt, the 1973 award to Henry Kissinger and Lê Ðức Thọ, and the 2007 award to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Aung San Suu Kyi might also fit into this picture. What's extraordinary this year is that it happens so soon after his inauguration, but I think the committee thought that the time to act was now instead of next year, since the whole world is still anticipating and judging what Obama is going to do. Besides, we can compare to Willy Brandt who received his prize only two years after becoming Chancellor. Obama HAS done some small moves to improve the international climate, such as opening for talks with Iran and his Cairo address. Words CAN be effective, and I suspect the latter has been an important contribution to the committee's decision. Obama's shelving of the eastern european missile shield has also been mentioned, but I don't think that qualifies at all for the Peace Prize. It was more of a reassessment of USA's strategic needs than a call for peace, or if you will a revision of the previous administration's bad strategic decisions.
But my main point is that Obama did not receive the Peace Prize FOR his deeds so far, but rather that his actions symbolize a sentiment that the Nobel Committee want to encourage. Whether their judgment is sound, only time will show. The Nobel Peace Prize has a far from perfect track record, so I won't be surprised if this award turns out to be a mistake. But I think it's too early to tell.
NetRunner^ That makes a lot of sense. I hope it works.
EndAllDoesn't Obama have a meeting with the National Security Council today, to discuss ramping up the war effort in Afghanistan? Kind of ironic.
EndAll>> ^Ornthoron:
What do you think of this Norwegian's take on it?
Ornthoron>> ^EndAll:
>> ^Ornthoron:
What do you think of this Norwegian's take on it?
I saw that comment on reddit earlier today, and I don't agree. It's too simple to blame the decision on a mere political suck-up. The Norwegian Nobel Committee is completely detached from the Norwegian government, so if our government actually had a conspiracy going to get Obama to Norway, there would have been easier avenues than the Nobel Committee. I find the insinuation that the Committee is merely a bunch of fawning bobbleheads to be rather ignorant, and a big insult to the work they have put down over the course of half a year.
rasch187Those damn Norwegians are crazy. Let's nuke 'em.
gwiz665Bombing from orbit seems like the only way to be sure.
mentality>> ^Ornthoron:
But my main point is that Obama did not receive the Peace Prize FOR his deeds so far, but rather that his actions symbolize a sentiment that the Nobel Committee want to encourage. Whether their judgment is sound, only time will show.
I've done some cancer research. Maybe I should get a Nobel Prize in Medicine because my actions symbolize the sentiment that cancer is bad.
Instead of celebrating human achievement, the Peace prize is used to push the Nobel committee's political agenda. It's a fucking joke when compared to the other categories.
longde^apples and oranges
You can't compare the criteria for an award that recognizes scientific accomplishment and one which deals with human affairs.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
That's a great write up NetRunner, I enjoyed following your links. *quality
siftbotAwarding NetRunner with one star point for this contribution to VideoSift - declared quality by dag.
rebuilder>> ^mentality:
Instead of celebrating human achievement, the Peace prize is used to push the Nobel committee's political agenda. It's a fucking joke when compared to the other categories.
It's a prize for political activity. Of course it's going to be used to push an agenda. I don't see how it could be any other way.
mentality>> ^longde:
^apples and oranges
You can't compare the criteria for an award that recognizes scientific accomplishment and one which deals with human affairs.
>> ^rebuilder:
It's a prize for political activity. Of course it's going to be used to push an agenda. I don't see how it could be any other way.
That's my whole point. A political prize that deals with human affairs and a myriad of subjective viewpoints is a fucking joke and has no place alongside prizes that celebrate actual achievement.
NetRunnerI read a diary at DailyKos that made an interesting observation about the Nobel Prize. The overall tilt of the piece is pretty partisan, but I do think they've got the right lens for sorting out the answer to whether the question of whether Obama deserves the Nobel Prize. The core argument goes like this:
This makes a lot of sense to me, and actually fits with my initial emotional reaction to the news -- pleased surprise. The question "why?" was the next thought I had about it, but figured they undoubtedly would explain the decision.
In reading more, I think Rachel essentially has it right on their reasoning, coming as it is from an international/European viewpoint.
Bush had effectively turned the United States into the most dangerous rogue nation the world had ever seen, and Obama has entirely reversed that course. There's no more nascent resurgence of a Cold War with Russia. There's no more open disdain for the European powers. There's no more disregard for the UN. There is no more flagrant mockery of environmental issues. America has returned to being a citizen of the world.
There are still two active wars the US is engaged in, but one is being drawn to a close, and the other is under review, with a goal of establishing an exit strategy.
I do think it's more aimed at encouraging Obama to "stay the course", than a recognition of any tangible goal achieved, and it seems clear to me that Obama recognizes it as such.
Sounds like a good idea to give Obama a strong push to follow through on his promises. Again, I hope it works.
marinaraThe Nobel Prize gives Obama legitimacy, which will be very useful to Obama. <--- I read that on huffpost.
dannym3141>> ^Ornthoron:
I'm as flustered as the rest of the world by this decision, but as a representative for NorwaySift, I guess it's up to me to defend some of the thinking that is the rationale behind this year's award.
It should be clear to everyone that Obama did not receive this prize for any accomplishments so far. The decision of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee rather fits in with a policy they have pursued from time to time of trying to use the prize to influence current affairs and/or gather momentum for a cause, instead of giving a pat on the shoulder for a job well done. Examples of this are the 1971 award to Willy Brandt, the 1973 award to Henry Kissinger and Lê Ðức Thọ, and the 2007 award to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Aung San Suu Kyi might also fit into this picture. What's extraordinary this year is that it happens so soon after his inauguration, but I think the committee thought that the time to act was now instead of next year, since the whole world is still anticipating and judging what Obama is going to do. Besides, we can compare to Willy Brandt who received his prize only two years after becoming Chancellor. Obama HAS done some small moves to improve the international climate, such as opening for talks with Iran and his Cairo address. Words CAN be effective, and I suspect the latter has been an important contribution to the committee's decision. Obama's shelving of the eastern european missile shield has also been mentioned, but I don't think that qualifies at all for the Peace Prize. It was more of a reassessment of USA's strategic needs than a call for peace, or if you will a revision of the previous administration's bad strategic decisions.
But my main point is that Obama did not receive the Peace Prize FOR his deeds so far, but rather that his actions symbolize a sentiment that the Nobel Committee want to encourage. Whether their judgment is sound, only time will show. The Nobel Peace Prize has a far from perfect track record, so I won't be surprised if this award turns out to be a mistake. But I think it's too early to tell.
Yeah i buy into this a little.
Still, there are so many people out there who have worked tirelessly towards peace in various countries. Many, many leaders before Obama have done it. Probably done it better too. He's just got a lot of press. What a world.
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