U.S. President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize today, in part for leading the United States to play "a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting," according to the official announcement by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The Committee also cited Obama's "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" and "attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons."
While world leaders and former Nobel Peace Prize laureates congratulated Obama, many other observers expressed surprise or downright disapproval at the Nobel Committee's decision to honor Obama for what they see as his ambitions rather than his achievements.
Writing for The Huffington Post, Screenwriter Michael Russnow, an avowed Obama supporter, said, "I believe it is enormously premature for Obama to be getting this great tribute, which to a certain extent cheapens the prior recipients and the work all of them performed over so many years." And he adds, "Obama's designation is akin to giving an Oscar to a young director for films we hope that he or she will produce or for a first-time published author getting a Pulitzer for a book he is destined to write some day."
Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica, like many other environmental leaders, issued a statement congratulating the president, but he added: "We have concerns . . . that the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded President Obama this award on the basis of expectations that have not yet been met. While President Obama has pledged to solve climate change at the international level it is important to note the United States is still playing a counter-productive role in the ongoing climate negotiations. At this moment U.S. negotiators are in Bangkok attempting to undermine existing agreements and shirk wealthy nations' responsibility to lead the way in solving the climate crisis."
Critics of the decision fault the Nobel Committee, not Obama, and generally express their hope that receiving the Nobel Peace Prize will inspire the president to deliver on the ambitious agenda for change that he outlined throughout his campaign and has been working on during his first months in office.
But not everyone disagrees with the Nobel Committee's decision. Joseph Romm, the editor of Climate Progress and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, had a different take on Obama's Nobel Prize in a piece he wrote for Grist.org:
"While some may argue that this award is premature, I disagree. This is a clear statement by the Nobel Committee not merely of the importance of U.S. multilateralism to genuine progress toward global peace, but also of their understanding that climate change has become a critical international issue.
"Unrestricted emissions of GHGs represent perhaps the gravest, preventable threat to future world peace--a growing source of future strife, refugees, conflict, and wars. Al Gore and the IPCC won in 2007 "for their work to alert the world to the threat of global warming." Alerting the world was and is vital. Taking action is even more crucial.
"Obama and his international negotiating team led by Secretary of State Clinton have helped create the first genuine chance that the entire world will come together and agree to sharply diverge from the catastrophic business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions path. This award simultaneously acknowledges what they have achieved and pushes them and the world toward delivering on Obama's promise. It is well deserved."
As though anticipating the furor their choice would create, the members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee eloquently explained their decision to award the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama in the final two paragraphs of their official announcement:
"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population.
"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.'"
My Take on the Issue
While I applaud the Nobel Committee's desire to endorse the new course Obama is trying to chart for the United States and the world, and while I agree that he is a charismatic leader who just may be able to pull it off, I do think the Committee was premature in awarding Obama the Nobel Peace Prize before he had a chance to fulfill his early promise.
I don't mean to take anything away from Obama--his vision has helped to ignite a sense of global optimism that could lead to world-changing initiatives--but world leadership is part of his job description, and his vision is one of the reasons he was elected by the American people and embraced by the global community.
Flimmaker Woody Allen said, "Eighty percent of success is showing up." While that may be true for actors or comedians--and quite possibly for most of the rest of us--we tend to expect more from U.S. presidents and Nobel laureates. There is no question that President Obama has shown up; he has assumed the highest office in the United States and claimed his place on the world stage. Now, let's see what he can do.
Also Read:
- Obama's Nobel: But Has He Done Anything Yet? -- About.com: Middle East Issues
- Did Nobel Committee Fear Obama's Premature Death? -- About.com: US Liberal Politics
- Obama's Highly Questionable Nobel Peace Prize -- About.com: US Conservative Politics
Comments
Obama has now made the nobel peace prize worthless. He has done nothing but create a great divide amoung the people. At least Bush has class and got sadom and his sons. Sarah Palin is also a great lady you people are pissed off and angry because she was going to take your toys away the jets and freeze your pay obama has nothing nothing but lie and divide this nation. I believe in GOD and I will pray anytime I want to and anywhere I want to. He can never earase God from my heart and soul. He has left our troops with no help ignorant idoit. HE bows to his kind. I cannot stand the sight of him every other half hour on television. Hey what did he do with all the pot he covered up when is brother in kenya got busted with. Your a FREAK obama.Also I will BOW to no-one but GOD himself.
This sorry display further diminishes the status of this award. It’s bad enough that he was given it after his naive policies and apologies encouraged N.Korea & Iran to undertake agressive actions in regards missile testing and nuclear aquisitions and escalated the level of violence in Afghanistan (more American deaths in the past 6 months than in the first 8 years of conflict), but the nominations for the award were closed only 12 days after his inauguration!
Can we now expect the Academy Awards to be announced a year or two before the movies are made?
Tina, if you had any idea of how the US is regarded in Europe you would shudder. We believed Bush when he said that there were ‘weapons of mass destruction’; there were not, this was a lie.
If Iraq produced carrots instead of oil there would have been no invasion, but Iraq has all but been destroyed by Bush’s actions and ambitions and our countries finest killed in order to cary them out.
Saddam and his sons were certainly evil, so would you consider that all evil people be “got” as well? If so, who then decides who is evil? You say you believe in God, so how do the words of The Prince of Peace in Matthew 5:44 fit in with your views?
Who cares what Europe thinks of us? Does it make you feel better to know that our enemies in Iran, Venezuela & Al Qeada like Obama, while our allies in eastern Europe have been forsaken by him and left vulnerable to strangulation via oil embargo by Russia now?
-Kinda makes you wonder whose side he’s on, doesn’t it? Remember that half of his shadow govt is ex-Weathermen and such who were bent on destroying The USA back in the 60s.
I think the Nobel Prize for Peace has been awarded to Prresident Obama in a rash haste and prematurely. Awards of any type are always given for achievements and not in anticipation of achievements. Both the giver and the receiver should ponder over it so as not to downgrade this prestigious Prize. The Nobel Committee should be frank to admit its miscalculations and not stand on prestige issue. Hopefully, President Obama may justify his selection at some future period. Good luck to him.
guidoLaMoto, you miss the point…
Europe knows that Obama is the only hope the free world has and that with him things may change from the present disaster the world has been lead into thanks to George Bush.
No, Not- you miss the point. Our foreign policy should not be driven by our desire to be “liked”, but rather to first support American interests, and secondly to benefit others. Bush didn’t change anybody’s attitude towards us: remember, “The Ugly American” was written a half century ago. They’ve been jealous of our economic success and resentful of their own dependence upon us for economic and military security since WWII. They don’t like our troops quartered on their soil, but are frustrated by their own inadequacy to provide for their own defence. (Can’t blame ‘em for that.)
-after some deeper thought: I wonder if this award was given as an attempt by those Scandanavian descendents of the sissies left behind by the Vikings to influence our foreign policy? It will now be harder for Obama to escalate things in Afghanistan having been given a “Peace Prize”.
“Ugly Americans”! I think that is the best description. Americans always try to show that they are here for human wrights. Then why are u going to Libya to kill people?? Why u care more about about lesbian rights then about teachers being fired for the last couple months so your country would have money to go Libya to get some oil?? There are ssssssooooooo many other people that are killed by their government, but America doesn’t seem to care. Why is american education level the worst among developed countries??
Noble Prize for being the first black president!!! Way to go America!!!
PEOPLE…PEOPLE…PEOPLE. As bad as we have been
looked upon by the rest of the world in the last 8-10
years, we need to have some one representing us that
promises to LISTEN, and ENGAGE others, instead of
dictating. The world has so much to change, and we need to include everyone on the Planet. God gave us TWO ears…and ONE mouth.
Incidentally, all of the Former Recipients, (ALL OF THEM), ever saw their IDEALS, or platform put into place. The committee votes for the person they feel has the best IDEA for the improvement of Mankind.
Well said, Guido. Thoughts, attitudes and prejudices of most non-Americans are guided by envy, spite and malice. Non-Americans are so low on self esteem, they actually resent America for its self confidence. So much so they confuse leadership (which they sadly lack) with bullying.
How many European leaders decided that Saddam Hussein was a threat when he invaded Kuwait in 1990? Would they have intervened? Not without America in the lead. And THIS is what they resent.
However, now that President Hussein Obama has apologized to everyone for his country’s leadership role over the years, he’s now busy tearingup the US Constitution and reducing the US to the level of a Third World country. For this alone, he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.
Every day I get a little more scared of Obama. Just when you start to think he’s feel good, lets smell the roses type of guy something like this happens. How many people are smart enough to get a kickback in the form of a Nobel Peace Prize? Not many. Yea he may seem like a huge change from Bush but the truth is that Bush was just to stupid to hide his real agenda. Watch your backs people and don’t believe everything the media shouts at you.
OBAMA, is a God sent to the world not only to America, the young man really deserve the award. For anyone who love peace there is a need for peace thoroughout the world, lack of peace have been contributing to a lot of problems facing the earth, calimatic changes, was due to scientific discovery of and producing of war instruments which eventually creating chemical that continue to destory both biotic and abiotic things. With peace killing today, destroying tomorrow will stop, Iran or Iraq, Isrealite and Palestian will see themselves as God created neighobour and see the need for them to love each other. Obamna is my man even if there is any award on peace the man deserve it.
Pete, your comments that the
“Thoughts, attitudes and prejudices of most non-Americans are guided by envy, spite and malice. Non-Americans are so low on self esteem, they actually resent America for its self confidence”
are so wide of any mark I am amazed.
We do thank you for your entry into WW2 in 1942 though, even though for us it started in 1939. You did so well in Vietnam, you surely must remember the Tet Offensive, the North Korean invasion of South Korea, your ill-fated 1993 attempt to capture Somali warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid, the Bay of Pigs incident, and you did, of course, actually have the world’s largest torture centre, Guantanamo Bay, and just where are the WMD’s Pete, have you found them yet?
Those that speak against the established power base in your country do at their own risk.
Even if you don’t, we remember Karen Silkwood, an employee of a nuclear facility a woman who drove to a meeting with a reporter from the New York Times and never got there.
She was a metallurgy worker at a plutonium processing plant who was purposefully contaminated, psychologically tortured and possibly murdered to prevent her from exposing blatant worker safety violations at the plant.
Yeh, Pete, we are SO envious… not.
I can’t believe someone would actually say “Who cares what Europe thinks about us.” Seriously? Far too many Americans think we are the only ones who matter and that anyone else’s opinions, feelings, issues, etc are worthless and meaningless. We NEED Europe (and a majority of the rest of the world, for that matter).
Suppose the rest of the world ceases to import our goods and stops exporting THEIR goods to us, then what, Mr. Who cares what Europe thinks?
Then there’s Tina. Why would you even begin to speak of Obama wanting to “erase God from your heart?” Again, is this serious?? You right wing conservatives want to hold onto your money, your guns and your God, without even looking at the bigger picture…but have fun sounding extremely ignorant.
So now on to the subject of him winning the peace prize. Far too many people are crying out that it is too soon and that he hasn’t done anything at all. What these people are not taking into consideration is that Obama has been involved in foreign affairs for a lot longer than he’s been president of the United States. Obama has made countless efforts in the quest for world-wide peace over the last 5 years or so. For examples:
His co-sponsorship of the Darfur Peace & Accountability Act, as well as the March 2007 bill to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to strengthen public health efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He introduced the DRC Relief, Security and Democracy Promotion Act in 2005.
He co-sponsored the Advance Democracy Act of 2005 which sought sought to reinforce the US commitment to promoting democracy around the world.
There are so many more things I’ve researched regarding Obama and steps towards world peace but I’ve got some little kiddos that want to play with mom so I can’t go on too much further.
If you go back and look at the past winners of the peace prize a majority of them were awarded for EFFORTS and never saw their ‘agendas & goals’ set in place. I would also bet a lot of money on the fact that most of you crying foul would have never known who won the prize had it NOT been Obama.
Basically, this prize isn’t limited to what he has done in 2009, but in the years before that. We need to stay in this as a unified whole instead of a country divided by parties. We’re all Americans no matter who you voted for and we have to be in this together for the betterment of our future and more specifically our children.
Let’s accept the fact that Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between the masses. He has actually promoted peace over AT LEAST the last five years and while some say it’s ‘too soon’ I say I just hope it isn’t too late to put a dent into this planet we call home.
Pete! I just read your comment about Non-Americans being jealous and resentful of America’s self-confidence. I think I lost my ass because I laughed it off after reading that one.
Have you forgotten that American is literally THOUSANDS of years YOUNGER than the rest of the world in terms of civilization. How naive of you to ever think that America would be better than civilizations that out number our years by so many.
BUT, it is a typical American to think that we know so much more than anyone else does…that Americans are smarter, more assertive, more politically smarter and so many other things. The ignorance of America as a whole makes my head want to explode (but maybe that would be a good thing so I wouldn’t have to read such remarks as the ones above).
Hell in a handbasket, thats where this country has been headed for a very long time.
And yes, Tina, I referred to Hell…I hope that doesn’t take God from your heart.
Not in the US:
Your thoroughly mixed-up bag of historical references would be amusing if it weren’t what you base your anti-American angst on. Let’s just conclude you just simply hate Americans on principle. After all, America invented War, Slavery, Political Assassinations, Racism, Colonialism, and (why not?) Terrorism. The whole world–especially Europe–didn’t manifest any of these evils before dastardly America came on the scene. Sancta Simplicitas!
Incidentally, the Somali warlord attack failed because Aidid and his henchmen were tipped off by American ‘allies’ in Somalia: the Italians.
And, perhaps you’d like inmates of Gitmo released in your neighbourhood where they can mix and mingle with your kids. In any case, I don’t believe three square halal meals a day and complete religious freedom can even remotely be confused with torture–unless you’re European, of course.
Perhaps kidnappings and mysterious deaths NEVER happen in Europe so you guys can afford to be smug about how bad the problem is in US.
Remember that adage: everytime you point a finger at someone, three of them are pointing straight back at you.
BTW: I am not American. I’m Canadian. If America were as terrible as you lot say it is, isn’t it interesting that there NO Canadian troops stationed along the US/Canada border to forstall American aggression? As it happens, a stormy debate is raging in Canada over whether our border agents should be armed.
ThePearl echoes the mindlessness of liberals who have beatified/deified a man who has done nothing–nada–to deserve accolades for contributing to world peace. She claims to have thoroughly researched Obama but mysteriously knows nothing about his dealings and connections with convicted Rezko, ACORN, Ayers, and the depressingly long list of people who feature prominently on the corruption-is-me list. But that’s another liberal trait. See only what you want to see. Reminds me of a horse wearing blinkers.
I agree with a few of her comments, however.
America is a relatively young country. So what? Evidence seems to indicate America is too naive to produce European giants like Hitler, Mussolini, Lenin, Stalin and Putin (the architect of the Chechnya and Georgia invasions).
And that’s why it’s the height of hilarity to hear Europeans whine about American ‘culture’–in the form of Coca Cola and MacDonalds–invading their fair shores. Maybe if someone had fed Hitler and his coterie of Nazi sycophants supersized servings of MacDonalds meals and gallons of Starbucks coffee, they’d have thought twice about invading Poland in 1939.
I also agree that America is heading for hell in a handbasket. Thanks to a Marxist President Hussein Obama, that’s become closer to reality than it has ever been.
Sarah Palin in 2012!
Pete- I understand the Assumption of thinking I’m a liberal, but you’d be incorrect. Nor am I a conservative and the idea of Sarah Palin being ANYWHERE near the White House is even to keep me shivering with fear in the night.
Americans aren’t SMART enough to storm the borders of Canada. Remember, they’re all sitting over here listening to what the brats of South Park are singing about Canada. It would take something HUGE to get people fleeing north of the border, and I don’t see anything like that happening any time soon.
You say I ‘mysteriously’ didn’t know about the ’shit’ things Obama has done, yet you never asked me about that, so wonderful ASSumption again your part. I know plenty of the stuff he’s done, just like any…other…politician has done. I was speaking of the works toward peace (which the prize IS given for) and the many things he has done have been toward peace (which the prize IS given for). I’m not some dumb ass liberal as you think I am. I know what I see…I KNOW how to research things PROPERLY, unlike the a majority of the freaking monkeys wandering around this damn earth. I get it, Pete, just like I know you do too. I just say Obama HAS done PLENTY to work towards peace over the last five years (if not more). The out cries we all keep hearing is that it’s ‘too soon’, ‘he’s only been president for 9 months’…what I am saying is, “jackasses, he’s been in international affairs longer than hes been president and the only reason you even KNOW who won the damn thing is because it WAS Obama.”
People suddenly become cultured when bitter feelings are brought to the surface. It’s irritating and I can’t stand God being discussed with politics. I understand that people NEED faith. I totally understand that, but just because someone is of the same faith as you that doesn’t automatically mean they’re the best person to run your country. AH!
Okay. That’s all I’ve got for now.
Hey Pearl!– the best thing American can do for Americans is to pull up the draw bridge and shut the rest of the word out. We have the resources here to fill any of our own needs. Our staggering foreign trade deficit is killing us and only helping every one else. Isolationism would save the USA at the expense of the rest of the world.
=As a Chicagoan, let me assure you Obama’s “experience” is limited to being a foot soldier in the city political machine- a block captain and nothing more. He was placed as the Dem candidate by the “money” as a pretty face with a good speaking voice.
=”Co-Sponsoring” a bill only means he signed a paper with someone else’s work & ideas on it. He’s an intellectual lightweight who follows the advice of people who have publicly vowed to bring down the US. Check the credentials & history of his “czars.”
Sorry to disappoint you guys but GOD has nothing to do with the Nobel Peace Prize. Obama won the award no matter who agrees or disagrees, so let’s be proud of him. He sure is taking on a Big nation and plenty of left over disgraces from Bush, and he will deal with all of it but my goodness he can’t do it in a year or two. He will do this slowly and with concern for the American people. Bush made this mess in 8 yrs so how is Obama going to clean it up in 1? It may take 4 yrs or longer just like he said when he was running for office remember? Give me a break. President Obama will shine and then what will the Republicans say? Always quick to point fingers and lie, cheat and steal but that’s OK? Come on people look back thru the years and see how corrupt the Bush family really is. Obama wins this prize for what he has tackled in less than a year and for his actions on many policies he has taken on. I congratulate him…
Obama wins the price for what he was only talking about. The whole country is in debt, but nobody seem to acknowledge it. I am neither Republican, nor Democrat, just a person who wants the americans to see the truth. Ur country is in huge debt. I see people protesting against naming your animal a “pet” than asking questions, like why the whole world despise America!! U r the only nation hated by so many other countries>
That’s very noble and oblique of you, Linda. However, to blame previous administrations for disasters President (Pinocchio) Obama is currently inflicting on America is an old, hackneyed political ploy.
I didn’t care much for Bush (in his latter years) but he fought Al-Qaeda to a standstill and kept America free from 9-11-like attacks for 8+ years.
‘Disgrace’? Please elaborate, Linda.
For years, Americans abroad were targets of opportunity for every freelance terrorist going (It was in the papers, you know). With Bush running the country, terrorists found themselves hunted down in their own backyards. Suddenly, killing American civilians on public streets was no longer a popular sport in Europe and the ME. From pure contempt, people (who had reason to feel so) began to fear America. And, like typical bullies, they started wailing about being ‘afraid’ (to terrorise Americans,of course). This HAS to count for something, Linda.
Bush did his job of protecting America so well, shallow brained liberals–who seem to have learned nothing from terror attacks in Spain, Britain and, lately, Pakistan–are now questioning whether there had ever been a threat. It is THEY who are a disgrace.
We can only watch in dismay as the current hopelessly incompetent President progressively snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.
And, unless he is mercifully impeached, he still has over 1,000 days to accomplish this feat!
Also please note that Bush made the decision for “the surge” in Iraq despite the obviously unpopular response of the public and without regard to its political implications. His concern was American interesrts and security.
Obama, OTOH, has delayed his decision on Afghanistan for an unconscienable, indefensible length of time strictly to contemplate the political implications and pandering to his left wing, with no regard for American interests and the safety of American servicemen. If he goes against the advice of his military advisors and buckles to political pressures and we fail, how will exlpain it? “I ignored the advice of military experts and relied on my own vast experience as a community organizer and the advice of my socialist shadow govt!”
Interesting points you raise Pete.
1. “3 square meals a day and religious freedom”… perhaps, but you forgot to mention all the waterboarding, electric shocks and mock executions as well.
2. As for “European giants like Hitler, Mussolini, Lenin, Stalin and Putin” the U.S. did rather well with the My Lai massacre so perhaps the US does not need any lessons in human nature from elsewhere.
3. As for Afghanistan, isn’t the Afghans’ the West are fighting the same ones that the U.S. trained and armed in order to fight the Russians when they invaded?
4. I am critical of events in my country as well.
5. You say ” it’s the height of hilarity to hear Europeans whine about American ‘culture’”. You are bringing into the discussion something that was never said, why?
6. Where are the WMD’s?
Here’s a hurried response to your questions, Peter.
1. “3 square meals a day and religious freedom”… perhaps, but you forgot to mention all the waterboarding, electric shocks and mock executions as well.
Ah, waterboarding, that dreadful form of torture that, incidentally–and only incidentally–led to the arrest of numerous terrorist operatives in the US who were determined to inflict many more 9-11’s on the hated infidel (us). Like most decent people, we abhor torture and maltreatment of all forms. But, to quote Joseph Farah, a famous blogger: “it was used successfully to learn about terrorist operations planned by two of al-Qaida’s top operatives: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, involved in the planning of the Sept. 11 attacks, and Abu Zubaida, another leader of the terrorist organization. Imagine American law enforcement or military authorities have captured a terrorist mastermind who has knowledge about an imminent nuclear detonation in an unknown American city. He knows the time, the location and the details about the warhead. The bomb could be going off at any minute. It could kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people. Would you really want waterboarding to be banned? What alternatives would you suggest for quick results? Should we call in top negotiators from the State Department? Should we play loud rap music? Should we force the prisoner to listen to Hillary Rodham Clinton speeches? While I also find those experiences unpleasant, I don’t think they would produce the needed results in time to defuse the bomb.”
Remember folks, “We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.”–George Orwell
2. As for “European giants like Hitler, Mussolini, Lenin, Stalin and Putin” the U.S. did rather well with the My Lai massacre…
Yes, My Lai, will always be quoted as evidence of the existence of evil within US armed forces. Again, decent people were appalled when reports of these outrages filtered out. The My Lai massacre was committed by an American soldier gone bad. He was ‘outed’ by an American reporter and was held accountable. But let’s keep out perspective here. While we’re in Vietnam how many of us remember the Tet offensive of 1968? The communists launched a major attack on the US and its allies in South Vietnam. Fighting was bloody and vicious and one major city, Hue, was briefly occupied by Vietcong forces. Here’s an account of ensuing events:
“After Hue was finally recaptured at the end of February South Vietnamese officials sifting through the rubble found mass graves with over 1200 corpses and-sometime later-other mass burials in the provincial area. The total number of bodies unearthed came to around 2500 but the number of civilians estimated as missing after the Hue battle was nearly 6000. Many of the victims found were Catholics who sought sanctuary in a church but were taken out and later shot. Others were apparently being marched off for political “re-education” but were shot when American or ARVN units came too close. The mass graves within Hue itself were largely of those who had been picked up and executed for various “enemy of the people” offenses. There is some doubt that the NVA/VC had planned all these executions beforehand but unquestionably it was the largest communist purge of the war.”
How many Vietnamese went on trial for these outrages? Did these excesses get more than a couple column inches in the local media? Where are the calls for ‘independent tribunals’ to condemn the murderous entity America was fighting in Vietnam? And, why is it we only began to hear about ‘boat people’ after the Communists took South Vietnam? Is it possible people feared totalitarianism more than they feared My Lai, napalm, bombings and war? In truth, liberals in the West suffer from a deep-rooted and insidious form of racism: That those ‘foreigners’ routinely massacre each other doesn’t merit a second thought–that’s what they do. Thus, Russia’s rampage in Chechnya and Ossetia is promptly forgotten. Saddam’s rape rooms and systematic gassing of villages in Iraq to assert himself, and suicide bombers routinely blowing up people in marketplaces is par for the course for those ‘savages’. Palestinian terrorist depredations in Israeli cities are explained away as a natural reaction to ‘oppression’ and glossed over. On the other hand, Israel is promptly criminalized when it tries to end violence against her citizens.
To me, true liberalism is based on the strange notion that every one–no matter what his race, politics or religion–should be held accountable for his actions. Today’s liberalism has become so intertwined with Leftism they’re indistinguishable. No single group of people is more ecstatic about hearing about negative reports concerning US armed forces than liberals. Naturally, they make the usual outraged noises and do everything they can to make political capital out of it. This has become so lucrative, a lot of hack journalists have based their careers on zeroing on (only American) excesses on the battlefield. If they can’t find any, they make some up. The so-called Haditha massacre (http://www.kmike.com/Haditha.htm) is a prime example.
3. As for Afghanistan, isn’t the Afghans’ the West are fighting the same ones that the U.S. trained and armed in order to fight the Russians when they invaded?
Probably. America can hardly be responsible for the fact that the Mujaheddin who fought the Russians morphed into the Taliban. Speaking as a Canadian liberal, these guys–with Bin Laden’s help–did it to themselves. Yes the US could/should have taken the place of Russian troops and helped Afghans build their country right then. Isn’t hindsight a wonderful thing?
4. I am critical of events in my country as well.
Well, that’s your democratic right. There are people in Iraq and Afghanistan who’re dying to preserve your right to be critical.
5. You say ” it’s the height of hilarity to hear Europeans whine about American ‘culture’”. You are bringing into the discussion something that was never said, why?
Actually, you’re wrong. thePearl mentioned rather promiscuously that Europe is thousands of years ahead of America. I felt compelled to respond and elaborate on European culture, not least of all because the Nobel award to Obama amounted to European endorsement of his socialist policies.
6. Where are the WMD’s?
Glad you asked, Peter. A book published in 2006 by Georges Sada, one of Saddam Hussein’s generals, answers that question. The book, “Saddam’s Secrets: How and Iraqi General Defied and Survived Saddam Hussein”, describes in detail how, in 2001, after Saddam concluded Bush was serious about going after Iraq, transferred his WMD arsenal to Syria. Thanks to the dithering that went on prior to the actual American invasion, he managed to secret almost all of it out of the country. I personally have no doubt mainstream media was aware of this fact but cynically let Bush hang. When it becomes possible to embarrass President Bush, why let a few inconvenient truths get in the way, eh?
Yes! Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. He is the latest best thing that has happened to the United States and the world
I feel Obama does not deserve the Nobel peace prize as he has not earned it yet. The Nobel peace prize is about recognising achievements in the pursuit of peace. It is far too early in Obama’s presidency to give him the award. The Nobel committee said that Obama was a symbol of hope. But I merely feel he was awarded the prize for not being George W Bush. Now this raises a troubling point for me, have the Nobel prize committee not been impartial? And if so how many other Nobel prize winners were honoured, not just on personal merit alone in the past? I feel President Obama receiving the Nobel prize cheapens the value of it.
Consider the Nobel Peace Prize a JOKE. Major joke since it was given to Obama. So many other are more worthy of this. Obama barely stepped into office and has to YET complete all he has promised. I am sorry I voted for him. There has been NO CHANGE! NONE. Assumption and Hope is not the way to award such a prestigious award. Like I mentioned, the Nobel Peace prize is a JOKE!