Exactly, the verb thing... Barack will play his part for the better or for the worse in world history... but not as a verb.

I think they will verb him. Anyways, have to go compose some coffee... Later.

Back. I'd like to stress that my indignation is also largely due to the fact that it's Norway that's playing this charade on the Anti-War Movement etc, for which I'm deeply sorry and very shameful. Basically it's just one Norwegian politician - Jagland.

Agree. It's pretty obvious he didn't formally deserve it. I don't think this thread would be here if he did.

To me, the real danger lies in the slippery slope the Peace Prize is now on - that is, unless we stop Obama's prize.

Top 10 Obama Unfulfilled promises-from the Telegraph

My life is full of empty promises
And broken dreams
I'm hoping things will look up
But there ain't no job openings
I feel discouraged hungry and malnourished
Living in this house with no furnace, unfurnished
And I'm sick of working dead end jobs with lame pay
And I'm tired of being hired and fired the same day [... Rock Bottom - eminem]

mind you- we must remember- that obama and any other presidential "head" is just that.. a head. there are cords to pull- and who does the pulling?

Hi, ahs..

You're right, he didn't deserve it. I'm from/in Oslo, and I heard a rumour..

They say the Peace Prize needs the attention it gets from Celebrities receiving it, so it's an attention-grabbing thing. And maybe next year a worthy candidate will get it, and thus get more attention because Obama got it this year...

A lame excuse, but maybe it makes some sense?

It is too early, should have gone to Morgan Tsvangirai, who has stood up to a tyrant and almost payed for it with his life. Maybe to Obama in a few years when he has actually achieved something. Hes about to put 40,000 extra troops in Afghanistan, this is going to put pressure on him

"celebrities" to achieve media status? hardly.  funny, though on his comment after the award- "thinking of his children to keep him grounded" and " a 3 day holiday coming up" .. touching..

DO YOU HAVE A " BUSH DERANGEMENT SYNDROME"?

Fair point sundial, Morgan Tsvangirai a good shout. He has been hugely influential and took very high personal risk too. Obama is ineeded about to put 40,000 extra troops into Afghanistan, but it's not as simple as that... sometimes you have to take 2 steps back to move 3 steps forward. IF they pulled 100% out of Afghanistan today it would be wholly irresponsible not to mention a local blood bath in months ahead as the country nose dived into virtual certain civil war (killing many more innocents than potential collateral damage or cross fire from sending in the fresh 40,000 troops).

First stabilisation is required... just like the recent meltdown in global markets. Then... and only then... you can build. Dramatically more troops needed in Afghanistan to help stabilise the place (local attacks been rising a lot in recent months) - then later can pull out more troops and start BUILDING... building schools, roads, hospitals etc. which Obama will deliver on. He's a humanitarian as well as U.S. President. Afghanistan will be helped considerably, but only AFTER stabilisation... before stabilisation makes no sense.

Obama also knows more than anyone that Islamic government eyes globally are on him, not to mention the West... and now the Nobel Prize Committee. He has a lot of responsibility, but if anyone can deliver, he can.

Bottom line: his overall direction and ideas are very good and sound. Unlike some others.

Also I agree with what Stephanus said above. Sensible chap. Main reason Nobel committee gave him the prize was to "motivate him to continue to strive towards a better future on MANY fronts" as Stephanus put it. So true.

It's just a shame there are so many negative and critical people out there that can not see this as a genuine reason for the award. If Obama delivers on even half his plans MORE human lives will be saved and LESS human suffering will occur than by the actions of any other one man globally.

Funny, AP. Maybe the nazis should have stayed here longer, in Norway, I mean? Perhaps 8 or 10 or 12 years, to stabilize us so we didn't resist and sabotage their efforts anymore? Hell, I don't know!

And incredible how all the propaganda about extending the Iraq and Afghanistan war is just swallowed wholesale, even by people perporting to be pro peace - that was my point above, if anyone were in doubt.

So you can edit the conversation? Does the starter of the conversation also get a log of it all, from start to finish?

I'm not being negative. It's just that in our part of the world, the German Nazi occupation for 5 years is the only historical parallell to the Afghan war. And I can't understand how reasonable people can urge Obama to keep trying for a few more years before pulling his troops out. How on earth can that make things better for the Afghans?!

It's not just about Afghanistan... This Nobel Prize is all about how Obama has managed to shift the U.S. government's whole attitude to foreign affairs dramatically for the better in the interest of world peace.

From the BBC overnight... a news channel well worth following for reasonable independent insight into what's going on out there:

The US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, in Moscow at the end of a five-day European tour, told a joint news conference with Mr Lavrov (Russian Foreign Minister) that Russia had "been extremely co-operative in the work that we have done together" on Iran.

President Barack Obama, who met Mr Medvedev in July, has pledged to reset relations with Russia.



How is this a bad thing for the planet?

The BBC is not independent...

And military intelligence is above the Beeb.

No.. but i think he deserve Salsa Award

nice salsa moves, but you don't see so much... now check this out... unreal. basketball-obama, especially the 3 point jump shot near the end of the video. respect.

Just posted my own Obama complaint to the

NObamaPeacePrize.com forum.

Does anyone know where the largest Sweedish protest againt the Obama Peace Prize is at?

Norwegian papers today tell of a 3-2 majority AGAINST awarding the Prize to Obama.

That's a 3-2 majority in the Nobel Committee of Oslo.

Here's the story, if you dare read it (in Norwegian).

- HE WAS AN INCURABLE GIT! Former Australian Foreign Secretary Alexander Downer on the awarding of this year's Peace Prize to Barack Obama, and his negative experiences with Thorbjørn Jagland.

Obama should come to Copenhagen, not Oslo

Obama fights back!!!    couldnt embedd but you can see it here!

Hi Codexgigas! I understand you are trying to access this Obama Peace Prize chat debate from the UK. Hope to see you pop up here soon.

Its amazing to see how many people are opposed to the awarding of this prize. Frankly I dont think in the real world it matters that much although I am not opposed to Obama getting it. I think the Nobel foundation was struggling for publicity ...and what better way to regenarate interest than to a political celebrity of the moment. People say he has done nothing ..but think back to previous winners, lets say Mother Teresa ..her aim was to end poverty, but we still have poor in the world. So its not the actual achievement but rather the intention, dedication, conviction and desire to reach a goal which makes the difference. Futhermore ..who else would be in contention? ..

All fair points I'd say Code, also looking at the Mother Teresa award your point makes sense. Indeed I am also amazed about how many people (on this discussion - and in global media circles) are so heavily opposed to it!

poor guy didnt ask for it!

codex gigas    i was wondering what it was

Its the Devil Bible ..

haha

Interesting stuff...

I have neard many counter arguments suggesting possible conteders for the prize ranging from Morgan Tsvangari (Zimbabwe) to Norwegian negotiators in Palestine! But I think this are largely localised to an area and not inthe ineterst of world peace ...even though you can argue Palestine is a potential flash point, we all know previous attempts very much depend on how Israel responds. So I think Obama's peace call to Iran, offering Olive branches to the Arab world (Cairo University speech) and generally encouraging a view point that's peaceful on a global basis and back in the US is what endears me to say ...Maybe he does deserve it ..

This is why they have to be in Afghanistan

BN 10:47 *AFGHAN, COALITION CLASH WITH MILITANTS KILLS 2 CIVILIANS: ISAF

Agreed they have to be in Afghanistan until they stabilise the place. Just packing up and leaving early with the country in a total mess is wholly irresponsible not to mention very dangerious for what would happen to the millions of innocent civilians still living there? What would happen to them if the U.S. just packed up and left overnight? The Taliban would take care of their own people, feed them, cloth them, provide them with clean water and sanitation... and motivate them all to work together in rebuilding their own country, right?? Somehow I doubt the Taliban would govern quite like this if left to their own devices.

Exactomondo.