How did Barack Obama get a Nobel Prize for Peace whilst still at war?

How did Barack Obama get a Nobel Prize for Peace whilst still at war?

I was shocked to read the headlines today that President Obama had been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples”
This must surely be the quickest prize ever given in the shortest possible time.

Was it given as some sort of consolation prize after loosing the Olympic bid?
Was it given to him as a reward for delaying the Israeli War Crime process?
Was it given to him for pretending to pull his troops out of Iraq but allowing private military security firms to put thousand of their people in and continue clandestine operations?
Was it given to him for extending the war in Afghanistan and wanting to put thousands of troops into the war zone?
Was it given to him for wanting to reduce nuclear weapons but in disguise creating many more smaller conventional weapons of mass destruction?
Was it given to him for standing by Israel and giving in to all their demands?
Was it given to him for applying continues pressure on Iran that is no threat to the US?
Was it given as a reward for propping up the financial institutions and making the poor pay the price?

I am sure that once we have all recovered from this shock we could list many other reasons.
So what are his achievements that justify such a prestigious prize?

Before we take a closer look at this man we must remember that most of the speeches and actions taken by any President or Prime Minister are pre written by their appropriate advisors. Let’s just take a moment and look at the promises he made to his people and the world upon taking office as the 44th President of the United States.

Barack Obama promised a new era of American leadership in which military might would be tempered by humility and restraint.
Mr Obama reached out to the Muslim world and said that America must earn its greatness once again.
Mr Obama promised to rebuild alliances and said that Americans must recognise their duties “to ourselves, our nation and the world”. He said that the military might of America did not entitle the US “to do as we please”.
“But know this, America: they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord,” he said. “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.”

To Muslims he offered a “new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect”, but warned terrorists that they would be defeated. To those watching, he added, “know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity; and that we are ready to lead once more.”
His promise to close Guantanamo Bay and some of his key quotations were extremely powerful but will time reveal the true identity of this man of words.

So far we have seen a weakness in his Guantanamo Bay promise, a weakness towards bringing Israel to order and unnecessary aggressive words to Iran.
We again see another President pushing his hidden agenda as to why they are in Afghanistan and using similar scare tactics with other world leaders that we must complete the job. He agreed with a new surge tactic and delivered more troops to Afghanistan and even changed the US Commander with little result to date. We now have this new commander saying that if more troops are not provided the war will be lost. The President even told the British Prime Minister that the streets of Britain were now more at risk than those of the US. Since when as the Taliban carried out terrorist attacks in Europe or the USA?

We see another President taking control of the United Nations by publically announcing what others countries should or should not do and clearly leaves the UN surplus to requirements. Maybe we will see Ban Ki–moon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize next year for his service to mankind! I am sure there are many more people out there that so deservedly qualify for this award and this surely makes a mockery of the whole process.

Peter Eyre – Middle East Consultant 9/10/2009