Obamas Nobel peace prize

[jake-the-peg]

Should Barak Obama have been given the Nobel Peace prize so soon?

Or should the comittee have waited a few years?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8298580.stm

[Gromit]

No, this is way too early. He is unproven. He has been saying the right things during his election campaign and his few months in office which are encouraging, but there hasn't really been any action.

Wonder what they will give him if he solves the israel/Palestine conflict?

[naomi24]

No. Whilst I've nothing against him, I can't see what he's actually done to warrant this.

[Gromit]

Hmmm, I beginning to spot a trend...

2002 Jimmy Carter (Democrat)
2007 Al Gore (Democrat)
2009 Barack Obama (Democrat)

[informashun]

yes. hes done more in his short time than many others have in years so time is irrelevant its action that counts.
the world is a much better place because of him.

[VINNY100_2]

Blimey...he's only been in office 1 year.as much as I like him .How can the leader of a nation at war be given a prize for 'Peace'?(:O)

[jake-the-peg]

Not sure of that logic Gromit

Clinton?

Kissinger?

Seriously though scientists typically have to wait 20 years to be honoured - the Physics prizes were for fibre optics and CCDs.

Obama has too much time left to seriously blot his copybook!

[Gromit]

Curious that he qualifies for a Peace Prize while he is still presiding over the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

I wonder what the people in Kabul think?

[naomi24]

Informashun, could you elaborate? What has he done?

[ludwig]

Jake, I don't think they should have waited a few years, I think they should have waited until he did something to deserve it.

[jno]

yes, it's customary to award prizes to someone who's actually done something (I'm trying not to think about Kissinger for the moment). Carter got his for his post-presidential work, which has been considerable (in fact he's probably had more effect on the world at large than any other former president), and Gore for his work on climate change, ditto. But Obama.... uh, what?

[rov1200]

I was quite surprised when I heard it on the news. Normally scientists don't get a prize until after a lifetime of achievement and it has been justified in practice. Up till now Obama has achieved little although his intentions are good. This rushed decision may turn round and haunt the committee for years to come. Maybe because its a US president they are not able to give postumus awards knowing the history and demise of those in the post.

[smudge]

Obama's only been in office since November last year! Much too soon for him to be given the Nobel Peace prize & puts him under an enormous amount of pressure to make & keep peace.

Virtually impossible in such a short amount of time!!

[LoftyLottie]

Very surprised. Far too early/

[R1Geezer]

well the guy who's done the most for world peace, ie George W Bush, didn't get one! they give the new boy one and he ain't even finished probation yet. WTF is ocurring?!

[jno]

well, I am in the running for the Nobel Medicine Prize this year, for the cancer cure which I will discover in 2037.

[anotheoldgit]

According to their web site Barak Obama was awarded the prize, for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples???????????????

I agree with others, how can he be given the Nobel Peace Prize, when he is considering sending more of his troops into Afghanistan, and has been on the telephone to Brown about increasing our force out there.

Now if as Gromit said started some action to solve the israel/Palestine conflict.

Or withdrawn his troops from Afghanistan.

Or reduced by a considerable amount America's nuclear weapons.

Or lifted sanctions against Cuba.

Or improved relations with North Korea.

Or stopped sabre rattling against Iran.

Then, and only then would he be a touch nearer to being on the short list for the award.

[craft1948]

This is a truly ridiculous award and makes a mockery of the prize. The deadline for nominations was February 1st...when Obama had been in office for 2 weeks!!

[Gromit]

On the other hand,...

...just by ousting George W. Bush he has made the world a safer place and brought hope where previously there was non.

Maybe the American voting public should have got the award.

[jake-the-peg]

Didn't know that Craft - that really does strain credibilty

Do we know who nominated him?