Friday, October 09, 2009
Obama Wins the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize
President Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. For doing what exactly? I used to believe that the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to politicians such as President Jimmy Carter and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger for putting a great deal of effort in negotiating peace deals. President Bill Clinton failed to win one because he failed to broker a deal like Carter had. Former Vice-President Al Gore got his prize for making a movie and educating the public about the risks of climate change. Obama has just outlined his diplomatic goals, but it's too early to tell if his foreign policies are having any effect or bearing fruit. So, this seems to be more of a PR prize and an attempt to give him more legitimacy by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, than an award for accomplishing a major diplomatic treaty among factions or states. All that said, congratulations President Obama! I'm glad you won the Nobel Peace Prize. Now, please do your job and earn the peace (and arms reductions) you say you desire. With the Great Depression II in effect, the world will likely be less stable and peaceful for the foreseeable future. A depressed global economy only makes your job harder. I wonder what the average Afghan tribesman thinks about this piece of news caught between the Taliban and ISF?
This blogger has a point. All the wingnuts on Fox News and elsewhere are going to explode, so there is a humorous side to this announcement. Considering the bombastic vitriol on Fox News and talk radio though, this isn't a major insight.
This blogger has a point. All the wingnuts on Fox News and elsewhere are going to explode, so there is a humorous side to this announcement. Considering the bombastic vitriol on Fox News and talk radio though, this isn't a major insight.
Labels: 2009 Nobel Peace Prize
Comments:
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Kathy,
I hadn't heard about that. The cynical answer is likely that the U.S.'s biggest creditor is China. We can't afford right now to have them stop buying T-bills at the moment, so not legitimizing an exiled Tibetan government leader is one of those prices we pay the Chinese. Though this nonaction flies in the face of President Jimmy Carter's foreign policy on Human Rights.
The Dalai Lama is pretty popular over here. He does appeal to American ideals of freedom and nonviolence (given us by Martin Luther King and the Quakers).
John
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I hadn't heard about that. The cynical answer is likely that the U.S.'s biggest creditor is China. We can't afford right now to have them stop buying T-bills at the moment, so not legitimizing an exiled Tibetan government leader is one of those prices we pay the Chinese. Though this nonaction flies in the face of President Jimmy Carter's foreign policy on Human Rights.
The Dalai Lama is pretty popular over here. He does appeal to American ideals of freedom and nonviolence (given us by Martin Luther King and the Quakers).
John
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