What did our new President do in the 11 days following his Inauguration on January 20th to warrant nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize? Obviously, not much. And many would argue that he hasn’t accomplished a great deal over the following nine months, at least not much that’s turned the economy around, created jobs (unemployment has gone up), or made us any safer (we’re now going to prosecute those who were tasked with keeping our nation safe). So why did he really get it? Principally, because he’s not George Bush.
The Norwegians who determine who is worthy of a Nobel are part of a pacifist European mind-set who oppose a robust American foreign policy, and would prefer a weakened, neutered United States. They despised George Bush, and in fact during his presidency, presented the Nobel Prize to both Al Gore and Jimmy Carter, both strident Bush critics.
Some say that the Nobel was a consolation prize for the Olympics rebuff Obama got from the Norwegians’ neighbors in Copenhagen, Denmark. Others say the pacifist Nobel committee was trying to send a message to Obama not to ramp up America’s effort to win in Afghanistan, or take any military action against Iran (or encourage Israel to do so). Afterall, the only acceptable way to deal with bad actors like Iran, Iraq, and North Korea (axis of evil) is through dialogue (which won’t work).
One commentator noted that it was ironic that the announcement that President Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize came on the same day that the United States bombed the moon (for scientific purposes of course, not as a hostile military act). And another comedian asked what will we see next, Marge Simpson on the cover of Playboy? (I’m told, believe it or not, that the blue-haired cartoon character appears there this month).
So congratulations, Mr. President. Now let’s get on to more important business like protecting America’s interests around the world, turning this awful economy around and putting Americans back to work again.