President Barack Obama comments on winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize while delivering a statement in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, October 9, 2009. REUTERS/Jason ReedObama Is Surprise Winner Of Nobel Peace Prize -- Reuters
WASHINGTON/OSLO (Reuters) - Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a stunning decision that honored the first-year U.S. president more for promise than achievement and drew both praise and skepticism around the world.
The bestowal of one of the world's top accolades on a president less than nine months in office, who has yet to score a major foreign policy success, was greeted with gasps of astonishment from journalists at the announcement in Oslo.
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My Comment: I have been lucky in my life to be in an audience in which I had the opportunity to listen to four Nobel Peace Prize winners .... Andrei Sakharov, Lech Walesa, Desmond Tutu, and (this past weekend in Montreal) the Dalai Lama.
President Obama does not measure up (even close) to these men. Maybe he will one day .... but not today.
The intent and purpose of the Nobel Committee in selecting President Obama for this year's prize was obvious .... to influence and manipulate U.S. foreign policy in Afghanistan and Iran. How can President Obama now send 40,000 troops to Afghanistan and/or permit an attack on Iran's nuclear faciltiies when he now has this honor ..... at least that is the Nobel Committee's intent.
On a personal note .... when I heard the news this morning .... I had to laugh at the Nobel Committee and .... which is something that I have never have done to any President before .... I was laughing at President Obama. I can also add that after reading the international news media outlets .... with the exception of those who are devoted to President Obama in the United States and the entire country of Norway .... the rest of the world is also laughing.
I can also guarantee one more thing, tonight's Jay Leno, Conan O'Brian, David Letterman, John Stewart shows are going to be a must see tonight .... I am sure the jokes are going to fly.
If there is one person in the world who must not be happy with this selection .... it has to be President Clinton. After all the work that he has done .... his Global initiative, raising billions to fight poverty, foreign aid and promoting world peace .... he is ignored (again). Sighhh .... don't worry Mr. President .... if President Obama can get the Prize, you are a shoe in for the next one.