Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

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_46523594_008025741-1Today, Barack Obama became the third sitting U.S. President to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Obama for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” The announcement, which came as a surprise to many, drew both warm praise and sharp criticism. Later today, we’ll gauge international reaction to the announcement, and The World’s Jeb Sharp will put it into historical perspective. What do you think about Obama’s win? Leave a comment below.

Read the Transcript
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KATY CLARK: I’m Katy Clark.  This is The World.  Surprised and deeply humbled.  That’s how President Obama described how he felt when he heard he’d been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  Here’s more of what the president had to say this morning at the White House.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement.  It’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes, and that is why I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st Century.

CLARK: Only two other U.S. presidents were awarded the Peace Prize while in office.  They were Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson in 1919.  Jimmy Carter won it when he was already a former president.  The World’s Jeb Sharp begins our coverage.

JEB SHARP: Even those who support President Obama’s policies were skeptical. Charles Grant directs the Center for European Reform in London. He was chairing a conference this morning with experts and dignitaries from all over Europe. He said when the news broke people were stunned.

CHARLES GRANT: This is in a room of people who are generally sympathetic to Obama. They like his multilateralism.  They like the fact that he doesn’t talk in a unilateralist way as George Bush did, and yet the feeling was, and it’s my feeling too, how strange to award a prize to someone before they have achieved anything.  It has to be said, in terms of peace Obama has great ambitions, but has not achieved anything yet as far as we can see.

SHARP: President Obama seemed to acknowledge as much himself.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize. Men and women who’ve inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.  But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women and all Americans want to build.

THOMAS KNOCK: This does seem to be a prize that is more prospective than retrospective.

SHARP: That’s historian Thomas Knock, an authority on Woodrow Wilson, the last sitting U.S. president to win the prize.

KNOCK: I think to encourage a certain kind of initiative and a certain kind of thinking about international relations and I think that’s a good idea.  I think a lot of people will debate whether or not this was a deserved prize, and I think Obama deserves tremendous credit, should get credit, for saying that he himself wonders whether or not he deserved this.

SHARP: The prize usually, but not always, goes to someone with a considerable peace-related achievement under their belt.  Someone like Woodrow Wilson.

KNOCK: Well, Woodrow Wilson is regarded as the father of internationalism in a sense, the founder and creator of the League of Nations, which was established at the end of the First World War to lessen the possibility of another catastrophe like the First World War.

SHARP: The League was a failure in the end, not least because Congress balked and the United States never joined.  But in the sense that it was a precursor to the United Nations, the idea eventually prevailed. Theodore Roosevelt was the other president who won a Nobel Peace Prize while in office; in his case for mediating an end to the Russian-Japanese war of 1905.  Roosevelt, of course, is famous for his line “speak softly and carry a big stick.”  For all the talk of peace, President Obama finds himself using a big stick, not least in Afghanistan. The irony of giving a Peace Prize to a man prosecuting two wars was not lost today.   For The World, I’m Jeb Sharp


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Discussion

30 comments for “Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize”

  • Ricky

    I thought the Noble Peace prize was based on accomplishments, not on aspirations?

    I believe Obama has the potential to win a Noble Peace prize in the future, but this one was undeserving, because of the simple fact the President Obama has not accomplished anything as of yet.

    Its worries me that a world renown prize was awarded on the basis of hype.

    • Barb

      Considering that, as far as I know, the awarding of the NPP is not exactly a competition, I would say that the committee can award it to anyone they feel is worthy. Based on the person that I believe Mr. Obama is and the principles by which he lives and by which he is attempting to guide our country at home and as a partner in world situations, I see that, as he said, he takes the receipt of the award as encouragement to continue with his mission, in spite of and regardless of the opposition of those who try to thwart the good that he is promoting. To quote the NPP organization site: On 27 November 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament, giving the largest share of his fortune to a series of prizes, the Nobel Prizes. As described in Nobel’s will, one part was dedicated to “the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” Barack Obama has only begun to promote such deeds and if the majority will get behind him, these things can happen. Congratulations, Mr. President!!

      • Cheryl Konn

        thank you for your thought-filled comment.

    • Rebecca Bragg

      It boggles my mind when i hear or read that Obama hasn’t accomplished anything. First of all, he has accomplished something because the nobel panel thought he had. Second, and most important, the respect he has shown the world by sharing the prize with them asking people to act toward resplution with him. They say that “walk the walk” is necessary but our Congress and the Israeli PM, the Taliban, and others are hard to turn toward resolution. I think the example is turning a steamship vs turning a canoe. Plus It is ONLY 9 MONTHS

  • rina

    i think that is amazing he deserve it he has done a lot and overcome a lot

  • Raymond Rahn

    I was surprised when I first heard of the award. The Nobel Committee’s explanation made perfect sense, though, so I quickly became a supporter of the decision. Now I am even more surprised by the lukewarm, and even negative reaction by my fellow countrymen. Why are we so reluctant as a nation to accept praise for our leaders? It’s almost a psychological condition.

  • Lori

    I’m delighted that President Obama won the prize. It is obvious that the rest of the world values his vision more than his own country does. I’m grateful that we have a leader who is able to articulate a vision for world peace.

    • Barb

      Amen, Lori!!!!

  • Lorre Lei Jackson

    He won it for what? Talking, and talking (mostly using the first person singular)and posing for photo ops with leaders of other nations at every opportunity? Or perhaps it was for repeatedly apologizing for the country he is supposedly leading; or is it for which he is undermining. The selection deflates the importance of the award.

    • Rebecca Bragg

      I wonder why the Nobel committee would vote unanimously for a person that you describe.

    • Cheryl Konn

      Maybe you should read Barb, Raymond, or Lori’s reply.

      I wonder if these are REALY your thoughts? And…who do you get your information from? My guess is from other sourse than theworld.org

  • juliane

    I think the prize represents the world’s hope in America’s leadership in the world.

  • Jack

    I think the country and the world have been fooled by this man. He has don’t nothing to earn this, unless you want to count the national debt. He policies are outlandish, he is just a talking head. The prize in my eyes is tarnished. 1-20-13.

  • Tom

    - 1993: As president of South Africa, Frederik de Klerk was instrumental in ending his country’s white-minority apartheid system and paving the way for majority rule. His government released from prison the man who succeeded him, African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela. The two won the prize jointly in 1993.

    Hey, maybe this is the same perspective that the Nobel committee had in giving Obama the prize. From the view of other countries, our election of a black president was just as significant to America as South Africa ending apartheid…another country ended a long history of blatant racism.

  • http://kpbs,sandiego S. Parry

    I am elated that Mr. Obama was the recipient of the 2009 Nobel Peace Price.

    Our president has (from the time he ran for office) been clear about wanting peace for our country and for the rest of the globe. Diplomacy being a big part of the way the USA would engage with other governments. Threats, bombs and calling of names would have to stop (at least) during his presidency.

    I hope that Mr. Obama will help plant the seeds of dialog in this our country. If this happens, the USA will be part of the peace process, instead of being the bully of the block.

    On the other hand, it was a true insult to have Henry Kissinger as the recipient of the 1973 Nobel Peace Price.

  • Rex Valentine

    Never in the history of the United States have we witnessed a person who inspired the world to HOPE. Here’s a person who can attract thousands upon thousands of non Americans to come out and here him speak. The message of HOPE has inspired most of the world as evidenced by the photos taken election eve when it was certain he would be the next U.S. President. Lets not be hasty in discounting what many on the Globe considers our best chance at HOPE and CHANGE in a long time. Congratulations, Mr. President!

  • Joan Nevills-Staveley

    I am flabbergasted! The Nobel Prize recognized superior efforts and accomplishments in many fields; setting a standard, if you will.
    President Obama has done nothing or perhaps to be fair – very little. I feel this is another denigration to the American people – something for nothing.

  • http://www.opihi.com/sovereignty Poka Laenui

    The prize serves many purposes, one is a recognition of achievement, another is as a marker of hope. What has Obama achieved? He finally beat back the American aggressiveness and audacity reflected in the Bush and Reagan years. The impact has had both national as well as international implications. He beat back the continued Euro-White monopoly of leadership in America, and thus the world, with his White-African racial mix, his Hawaii cultural experience, his formative years shared in Hawaii influenced America and in Asia. He has addressed the world and reframed international perspectives, showing the possibilities of a new dawning.
    He has not yet brought peace in Iraq, Afghanistan, and there continues to be rattling of war in Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, etc. His administration still has a distance to go. But the changes already brought has been tremendous.
    Are there others more deserving of the Prize. Maybe, for work in teaching, in proposing new analytical frameworks for peace, etc. But with Obama, he has brought hopefulness when there appeared to be no hope. For that alone, he is far ahead of the crowd. Aloha

  • Marie

    While he has expressed a vision of the world that seems to communicate belief in and support for a harmonious, respectful co-existence among nations, Mr. Obama has done nothing to date to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. It is a great disservice to the nominees who have devoted their lives to the accomplishment of a more peaceful world. I see this as another instance of an almost messianic worship of Mr. Obama, primarily driven by the fact that he is such an outstanding orator. Whether Mr. Obama proves to be a leader worthy of this type of “worship” remains to be seen. I am deeply disappointed in the Nobel committee’s selection.

  • Ralph M Bohm

    It’s absolute political BS

  • Jeff Calkins

    My first reaction was What the ????. Mother Teresa must be turning over in her grave. I mean you’ve got to be kidding me! He’s been in office for nine months and as of yet done nothing of substance in promoting world peace, this is a factor of time not intent. His speeches are very good, while words are important, he will be judged by results at the end of the day. So far he’s let Europe, Russia, North Korea and Iran walk all over him and Norway wants to give him the award for that? President Obama would have gained alot of my respect, if he would have refused to accept the award at this time in his presidency as the university ASU refused to give him an honary degree.

  • Mike W

    Obama won the award for positive world diplomacy so far. It is a statement that this is a welcome change in tenor from the last president, whom he inherited both wars from — found a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth

  • Anna

    I think there is something deeper at work here – something archetypal about Obama as a figure: the young man from an orphaned background emerging as the hero/messiah heralding not only “change” but promising a new sort of order on earth. It is that by itself which I think the Nobel Committee was responding to in giving him the award, but also the underlying fear surrounding such a figure, namely that he will be assassinated/sacrificed, so that in some sense the award is both forward-looking and retrospective at the same time, defining very clearly the stakes involved.

  • richard

    I initially heard this news about the award of the Peace Prize from a short NPR news segment and it was immediately followed up by another story that said Obama was considering options for sending more troops to the “graveyard of imperial hubris” Afghanistan. I don’t know how the commentator kept from laughing.

  • http://www.dancautrell.com daniel cautrell

    Obama’s first task as president was to climb out of the dark, dank, abysmal hole created by eight years of the Bush Administration…A task worthy of praise in itself. Once he establishes his ground level footing only then can he begin to climb the mountain of establishing a more peaceful world…He has single handedly changed the international discourse from threats and bluster to diplomacy and cooperation…which again is worthy of admiration and praise.

  • Pingback: Awards and Analogies « jeb sharp – work in progress

  • Cheryl Konn

    Maybe you should read Barb, Raymond, or Lori’s reply.

    Theirs are more thought-filled and informed

  • Fuzion

    I laugh at these comments promoting Obama as this great messiah when he has done NOTHING as of yet. Yes, he may do something in the future…but I doubt that because he is a Democrat and like his Republican compatriots is just as inept. Give the prize to someone who has DONE something already.

  • JAMES

    (This may be a little long.Please bear with me.)
    First, I have not heard, from anyone, an outline or proposal about how THEY might dig the country out of the ugly hole which the previous administration demonically dug for us…internationally and here at home. Bush and his neo-cons were close to universally hated.
    Our president, in a manner and substance similar to Kennedy and King, has kindled hope in us.. a people who spent quite a bit of the Bush years in narcosis and paralasis. We even opted, in our stupor, to allow Bush to have a second chance to fiost his craziness upon us. I carefully watched the whole process from 9-11 to the end of his time in office.
    Now, as deadened as we have been for at least a decade, there are a few thing at which we, as a nation, have maintained at a high level of skill. And that is the development and excersise of a gluttony, a greed and a self centeredness which reached such monumental proportions that we choked on them. We choked so violently that our knees hit the ground. And we took the rest of the world with us. It was interesting to have watched this process…and it was no surprise.
    So, what has this to do with the prize that our President recieved? Well my fellow citizens..it is clear that, our participation … almost the last person, state and corperation.. in the collapse of the financial world, reflects an emotional state which is astounding in its scope. It is one in which we have attempted to use massive consumtion and aquisitiveness in order to fill the vacuous emptiness in ourselves. And in this process, we have lost Joy. It is simply our great feeling of hoplessnes which disallows some of us to give our President the nod and the handshake for the recognition of the hope which he is giving us. Let us not harp on what he has not done. As if he had not produced his quota on a Chrysler assembly line.
    The economy, the wars? Do it NOW? Immediately? Think about that fellow citizens.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_A3REJ3TNOO7UDOGZQVWH5OHIBQ 杨昌势YangChangshi

    Africans, arabians, asians, latin americans are all tired of a u.s. president who wages one war after another, so let a wise global peace-maker president who uses creative diplomacy & solutions be voted in 2012 to lead the world to peace & prosperity! u.s./vatican/west are all anti-african/arabian/asian/latin american! so why waste valuable latin american/asian/arabian/african time & money on such low down u.s./vatican/west nations?