Njaco
The Pop-Tart Whisperer
Hey, I want a piece ....ummm....peace too!
Will someone nominate me?
Will someone nominate me?
Surprised, humbled Obama awarded Nobel Peace Prize
- Thread starter Lucky13
- Start date
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wheelsup_cavu
1st Sergeant
It wasn't an award I paid much attention to before it was awarded to him.
It still isn't an important award in my life, I'll never get it, but it did make me aware of it and not in a good way.
Wheels
It still isn't an important award in my life, I'll never get it, but it did make me aware of it and not in a good way.
Wheels
ToughOmbre
Senior Master Sergeant
I broke up a fight at a local bar last week; got the adversaries to shake hands and buy each other drinks.
Question: Does that make me more qualified than Obama to win the prize?
Answer: No. Because I'm not a far left radical.
(And that's as political as I'll get with regard to this topic)
TO
Question: Does that make me more qualified than Obama to win the prize?
Answer: No. Because I'm not a far left radical.
(And that's as political as I'll get with regard to this topic)
TO
ToughOmbre
Senior Master Sergeant
Well, you sound like a lefty hippy "peace brother"
Even though I was in college from 1967 to 1971, I was never a hippie.
Hippies? When I was in ROTC we used them for target practice!
(That's a joke)TO
Even though I was in college from 1967 to 1971, I was never a hippie.
Hippies? When I was in ROTC we used them for target practice!
TO
Ah, that's why they always wear their guitar (body) around their neck
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Even though I was in college from 1967 to 1971, I was never a hippie.
Hippies? When I was in ROTC we used them for target practice!
TO
Hm. I always thought that was the National Guard.
**ducks**
- Thread starter
- #48
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
By IAN MacDOUGALL and KARL RITTER, Associated Press Writers Ian Macdougall And Karl Ritter, Associated Press Writers – Tue Oct 13, 9:40 pm ET
OSLO – One judge noted with surprise that President Barack Obama "didn't look particularly happy" at being named the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Another marveled at how critics could be so patronizing.
In a rare public defense of a process normally shrouded in secrecy, four of the Nobel jury's five judges spoke out Tuesday about a selection they said was both merited and unanimous.
To those who say a Nobel is too much too soon in Obama's young presidency, "We simply disagree ... He got the prize for what he has done," committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland told The Associated Press by telephone from Strasbourg, France, where he was attending meetings of the Council of Europe.
Jagland singled out Obama's efforts to heal the divide between the West and the Muslim world and scale down a Bush-era proposal for an anti-missile shield in Europe.
"All these things have contributed to — I wouldn't say a safer world — but a world with less tension," he said.
For nine-year Nobel committee veteran Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, Obama's demeanor spoke volumes when he first acknowledged the award during a news conference Friday on the lawn of the White House Rose Garden.
"I looked at his face when he was on TV and confirmed that he would receive the prize and would come to Norway, and he didn't look particularly happy," she told the AP by telephone.
"Obama has a lot of problems internally in the United States and they seem to be increasing. Unemployment, health care reform: They are a problem for him," she said.
She acknowledged there was a risk the prize might backfire on Obama by raising expectations even higher and giving ammunition to his critics. "It might hamper him," Ytterhorn said, because it could distract from domestic issues.
Still, she added: "Whenever we award the peace prize, there is normally a big debate about it" so the Obama controversy was not unexpected.
It was unusual, however, for the Nobel jury to speak out so candidly about their selection.
Even the most seasoned Nobel watchers were surprised by Obama's Nobel — they hadn't expected the U.S. president, who took office barely two weeks before the Feb. 1 nomination deadline, to be seriously considered until at least next year.
Jagland said that was never an issue for the Nobel committee, which followed the guidelines set forth by Alfred Nobel, the Swedish industrialist and inventor of dynamite who established the prize in his 1895 will.
"Alfred Nobel wrote that the prize should go to the person who has contributed most to the development of peace in the previous year," Jagland said.
"Who has done more for that than Barack Obama?"
Aagot Valle, a left-wing Norwegian politician who joined the Nobel panel this year, also dismissed suggestions that Obama was undeserving of the honor.
"Don't you think that comments like that patronize Obama? Where do these people come from?" Valle said from the coastal city of Bergen. "Well, of course, all arguments have to be considered seriously. I'm not afraid of a debate on the Peace Prize decision. That's fine."
World leaders have reacted positively to Obama's Nobel in most cases, the committee said, with much of the criticism coming from the media and Obama's political rivals.
"I take note of it. My response is only the judgment of the committee, which was unanimous," Jagland said.
In announcing the award Friday, the committee, whose members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament, applauded the change in global mood brought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation. They also praised his pledges to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms, ease U.S. conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthen the U.S. role in combating climate change.
The White House declined comment on the Nobel judge's latest statements.
However, Obama expressed surprise and humility at Friday's news conference, saying the prize should be considered not a "recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations."
Nobel Peace Prize selections have often been surrounded by fierce debate. Controversial awards include the 1994 prize shared by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli leaders Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin for Mideast peace efforts, as well as the joint prize to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and North Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho for a 1973 cease-fire agreement. The Vietnam War continued for two more years.
So the Nobel jury "expected that there would be a discussion" about Obama's award, said Kaci Kullman Five, a former Conservative Party parliamentarian and longtime Nobel committee member.
Valle said the criticism shouldn't overshadow important issues raised by Obama's Nobel.
"Of course I expected disagreement and debate on ... giving him the prize," she said. "But what I want now is that we seriously raise a discussion regarding nuclear disarmament."
___
Ritter reported from Stockholm.
OSLO – One judge noted with surprise that President Barack Obama "didn't look particularly happy" at being named the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Another marveled at how critics could be so patronizing.
In a rare public defense of a process normally shrouded in secrecy, four of the Nobel jury's five judges spoke out Tuesday about a selection they said was both merited and unanimous.
To those who say a Nobel is too much too soon in Obama's young presidency, "We simply disagree ... He got the prize for what he has done," committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland told The Associated Press by telephone from Strasbourg, France, where he was attending meetings of the Council of Europe.
Jagland singled out Obama's efforts to heal the divide between the West and the Muslim world and scale down a Bush-era proposal for an anti-missile shield in Europe.
"All these things have contributed to — I wouldn't say a safer world — but a world with less tension," he said.
For nine-year Nobel committee veteran Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, Obama's demeanor spoke volumes when he first acknowledged the award during a news conference Friday on the lawn of the White House Rose Garden.
"I looked at his face when he was on TV and confirmed that he would receive the prize and would come to Norway, and he didn't look particularly happy," she told the AP by telephone.
"Obama has a lot of problems internally in the United States and they seem to be increasing. Unemployment, health care reform: They are a problem for him," she said.
She acknowledged there was a risk the prize might backfire on Obama by raising expectations even higher and giving ammunition to his critics. "It might hamper him," Ytterhorn said, because it could distract from domestic issues.
Still, she added: "Whenever we award the peace prize, there is normally a big debate about it" so the Obama controversy was not unexpected.
It was unusual, however, for the Nobel jury to speak out so candidly about their selection.
Even the most seasoned Nobel watchers were surprised by Obama's Nobel — they hadn't expected the U.S. president, who took office barely two weeks before the Feb. 1 nomination deadline, to be seriously considered until at least next year.
Jagland said that was never an issue for the Nobel committee, which followed the guidelines set forth by Alfred Nobel, the Swedish industrialist and inventor of dynamite who established the prize in his 1895 will.
"Alfred Nobel wrote that the prize should go to the person who has contributed most to the development of peace in the previous year," Jagland said.
"Who has done more for that than Barack Obama?"
Aagot Valle, a left-wing Norwegian politician who joined the Nobel panel this year, also dismissed suggestions that Obama was undeserving of the honor.
"Don't you think that comments like that patronize Obama? Where do these people come from?" Valle said from the coastal city of Bergen. "Well, of course, all arguments have to be considered seriously. I'm not afraid of a debate on the Peace Prize decision. That's fine."
World leaders have reacted positively to Obama's Nobel in most cases, the committee said, with much of the criticism coming from the media and Obama's political rivals.
"I take note of it. My response is only the judgment of the committee, which was unanimous," Jagland said.
In announcing the award Friday, the committee, whose members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament, applauded the change in global mood brought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation. They also praised his pledges to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms, ease U.S. conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthen the U.S. role in combating climate change.
The White House declined comment on the Nobel judge's latest statements.
However, Obama expressed surprise and humility at Friday's news conference, saying the prize should be considered not a "recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations."
Nobel Peace Prize selections have often been surrounded by fierce debate. Controversial awards include the 1994 prize shared by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli leaders Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin for Mideast peace efforts, as well as the joint prize to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and North Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho for a 1973 cease-fire agreement. The Vietnam War continued for two more years.
So the Nobel jury "expected that there would be a discussion" about Obama's award, said Kaci Kullman Five, a former Conservative Party parliamentarian and longtime Nobel committee member.
Valle said the criticism shouldn't overshadow important issues raised by Obama's Nobel.
"Of course I expected disagreement and debate on ... giving him the prize," she said. "But what I want now is that we seriously raise a discussion regarding nuclear disarmament."
___
Ritter reported from Stockholm.
RabidAlien
1st Lieutenant
Henk
Master Sergeant
This is BS, there are so many other people that deserves this more than he ever should. Has the world gone mad, in my opinion he has not actually done anything great, most of his polices sounds like the communists and not like Capitalism. People treat his as if he is a holy man, WTF, he is a man and a man that should run a country, he was is nothing more that that. The same went down in SA, Nelson Mandela got the same prize and what good that do for the people of this country? Nothing, there are no peace between the whites and blacks in SA, it is now worse than ever, people are poorer than ever and the whole government system crashed with corruption and incompetent people in high positions. You can not even phone the cops here to help you here, just rather do it your self and the whole sociaty has gone with it all.
I want to ask you guys a question. Do you guys think the world is better off after the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and do you guys think that Obama can get this whole crisis to come to an end?
I want to ask you guys a question. Do you guys think the world is better off after the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and do you guys think that Obama can get this whole crisis to come to an end?
beaupower32
Tech Sergeant
No the world is not better off. Nothing has really changed in the 8 years of this war. We are still sending troops over there, even though Obama said we would start pulling them out. Our Ops tempo here at Charleston AFB is so busy with moving cargo out that way, we really have no time to rest here. I dont think Obama will be able to end this. We are in too deep and it probably wont happen on his watch. It will take a new president to probably do it. Hopefully it will be another 3 years, instead of 7.
Henk
Master Sergeant
I agree with you 100% mate, I think the US needs a female president, but not like Clinton rather one that will take no sh*t and do what she promise and what should be done in the best interest of her own country and of that of the countries in the world. Woman see and think differently than men do and thus I think it will be better. What do you guys think?
Alright guys, everyone be real careful. We got rid of the political threads remember. We did that for a reason, you guys could not handle it.
No warnings will be given out, enough have already been given.
Henk
Master Sergeant
I agree Chris, no need for nonsense.
B-17engineer
Colonel
Flyboy2
Senior Airman
This is just ridiculous, what has the world come to...
I just feel the need to share a picture
I just feel the need to share a picture
Henk
Master Sergeant
No never, never will I miss old George W.
Messy1
Master Sergeant
Don't be so sure Henk! Wait another few years!
Henk
Master Sergeant
That would be a shame.
Messy1
Master Sergeant
I agree with you Henk. W. will never be confused with those in our history who are considered the great presidents, I think he is far from the worst to be fair.
