A Peace Prize – Or a Punishment?
No matter how you feel about President Barack Obama, it is very difficult to criticize him after listening to him. Every speech he gives has ingredients that perfectly counters his critics and their arguments. His remarks after winning the Nobel Peace Prize illustrates that. Here’s what he said (watch the YouTube clip above):
“I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committee. Let me be clear: I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve 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 – a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that 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.”
That’s the perfect reply to such a prestigious award – emphasize the feeling of humility, reply to any possible kind of criticism even before his detractors may have the chance to express it, and offer an alternative, attractive explanation to why he was chosen and what it means. This is the President at his best. The problem though is the fact that Obama hasn’t yet accomplished much and that he really doesn’t have a solution to the Afghanistan dilemma. He is prepared to send more troops, which might work… an Afghanistan surge, if you will… but his actions so far on this issue is hardly inspirational. In fact, one could view the Prize as kind of punishment for not having done enough in Afghanistan. Now Obama really, really, has to do something to get this war behind him.
Earlier this year, former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland was elected Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. A Social Democrat, Jagland is easily perceived as a fan of the President’s, and has been criticized as someone willing, as the new Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, to suck up to the new administration in Washington. I hate to admit it, but awarding this Prize to Obama not only makes the President’s life a lot harder, but it also cheapens the value of the Nobel Prize. Let’s reserve the award for those who have actually accomplished something in the arena; the Swedish Nobel committees do not seem to have this problem.
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A few thoughts on politics in the U.S. and, occasionally, elsewhere. All goodies brought to you by Stefan Hedmark.