What has Barack Obama done for peace?
This morning, President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” the Nobel Committee said.
Why?
Did Obama bring peace to Iraq?
No. He has retained 124,000 U.S. troops there, with tens of thousands deployed perhaps indefinitely.
Did he bring peace to Afghanistan?
No. He has escalated the Afghan war, and is part responsible for the scores of civilian deaths that have occurred there. He has done this despite that most Americans believe that the war is "not worth fighting."
Thorbjoern Jagland, chairman of the Nobel committee said in an interview that “Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics.” Has Obama done anything singular to stop the worldwide crisis of climate change?
No. He has spent little or no political capital on the climate crisis, and still refuses to commit the U.S. to strong actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And there are widespread reports that he is trying to weaken the Copenhagen global climate treaty.
Jagland said that “The Nobel Committee has in particular looked at Obama’s vision and work toward a world without atomic weapons.” But on this issue, Obama is merely implementing the ideas of the more conservative foreign policy minds of our nation, including Henry Kissinger.
Did he beat the swords of the giant U.S. defense budget into plowshares of peace?
No. In fact, he will soon sign into law the largest defense bill in our nation's history.
Has he brought home the troops scattered across the world stationed to maintain our empire?
No. We still have an estimated 1,000 military bases in foreign lands worldwide.
Has he stopped our nation's scandalous weapons trade?
No. The U.S. has expanded its weapons trade. We now supply 2/3rds of the world's foreign armaments.
Did Obama sign the cluster munitions treaty to ban cluster bombs, because 98% of cluster bomb casualties are children?
No. The U.S. has not signed the cluster munitions treaty.
Has Obama brought home the army of mercenaries we have stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan?
No. He has expanded the ranks of these mercenaries to 250,000.
There are millions of people across our world who spend their blood and sweat every day for peace -- real peace. Every one of them deserves the Nobel Peace Prize far more than Barack Obama.
3 stars
lol, this article is swiss cheese, but I don't have the time to point out the holes. I can't tell if you actually believe what you're saying or not.
Check out the links. If you see a problem with our fact checking, please let us know.
Nice article. I was a lil' bit shocked myself to hear ol' Obama got the Peace Prize. And to the other commenter: Your post was Gouda. Mmmm... brine. I could be the king of Switzerland if only I had the time. But I don't, so I'm not. Yep... that is the only reason, I swears.
I suppose anyone having a difficult job like Obama is by definition disqualified for any award praising the way he handles it. You’re saying here is that basically the guy who sits home on his couch all day not harming anyone has to be nominated for the Nobel prize. The shoes he had to fill after eight years sort of by default gave room to accuse him of war crimes. I would say that the way he handles the job when it comes to promoting peace far exceeds expectations of someone else in that position. Probably award worthy. If it should be the Nobel peace prize is a whole different issue. I could name prominent figures who would certainly deserve it a bit more. But to state Obama does not deserve it at all really doesn’t do his performance justice. Please pardon my English where necessary.
Yes I see how your very disapointed. That the man didn't end two wars in a ten month period. I mean god? what a lousy president. Why doesn't he just pull out all the troops and then the two countries can go back to chaos, pillage, rape and no form of government. Problem solved! How could he not solve two simple problems when he's had ten whole months. Next time do a little research please and use some common sense. This type of junk is why the internet gets a bad rap. And if you wondering I stumbled across this lousy site
Maybe these people who give out the Noble Awards don't know what they are doing. Maybe they are influenced by the Military Industrial Complex. Maybe Obama is really trying to undermine the peace process and create more chaos and breeding grounds for terrorism. Maybe. But maybe Greenchange lacks faith and trust in the only president in fifty years to threaten the overly conservative, militaristic, hate mongers that have been in control of every part of this countries persona. How do you change the premise of Fascism that have festered for thousands of years in only ten months.
This is a ridiculously bad article...let's mainly point out the fact that Obama has basically no choice in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has to station troops in Iraq to keep peace or Iraq could fall into civil war or worsen in terrorist attacks on the civilians. And lets not forget that Al Qaeda in Afghan killed 4000 Americans. By fighting them, we are preventing terrorist attacks on the US and other nations. Worthy endeavor I'd say.
I watched the news the other day and saw Obama telling the UN that Iran had a secret nuclear facility, and was in breach of the IAEA treaty, making this claim without any evidence - because there isn't any. Anyone lying to the UN, clearly trying to build momentum for a case to invade Iran, is not deserving of a 'peace' prize.
What doesnt make sense is that the nomination/voting deadline was 2 weeks after his inauguration. So it technically wasnt what he did in the last couple of months that got him the award. What did he do in those 2 weeks of his presidency that made the voters even consider him.
Are you kidding me? You take a quote about the climate of international politics and try to relate it to weather climate and pollution? Two totally different subjects, one noun. Please go away and stop publishing stuff on the internet.
Those links you provide as evidence are all links to articles on THIS WEBSITE. If you're going to make claims like this, provide OUTSIDE information, not you're own! I agree with #1 - it's swiss cheese, so many holes. Provide other sources, not just your own site's articles. That destroys your credibility.
this is crazy! Obama didn't earn the nobel peace prize, he has not done shit.why does everybody kiss this niggers ass he is useless. His approval rate is dropping faster than a 20$ hooker.maybe if Obama would focus and actually pass something new the people would still like him, but because he doesn't read bills sent to him or even try to remember his speeches every is starting to see Once a nigger always a nigger
John your a fucking idiot
Ummm...what has Obama DONE? Not to mention, he's only been in office for 9 months!! This is just absurd.
Smitty, go away. If race is a problem for you, move to a country where everyone looks like you. You don't even know how to present a cohesive argument. How does the fact that he's black fit into a debate about whether he deserves the peace prize or not? He doesn't deserve it because he hasn't earned it yet - but what do you deserve?
@ #12: The articles on the site were reposted verbatim from sources such as the Associated Press, New York Times, and Washington Post. If you find any factual inaccuracies, please list them here.
there will be peace in the valley someday just not today
Gary, I'm loath to add a serious comment on this thread as it has descended so quickly into name-calling and worse. But I need a way to to respond to your piece. When this article arrived in my inbox this morning I have to admit that my first temptation was to unsubscribe from the greenchange list. But I'm going to stick it out for a little longer, because I support a viable Green Party in the United States. I support a strong Green Party but not with the goal of supplanting the Democratic Party as the party of the left. If we are to move away from a two-party system we will have to learn to work in coalition. We will have to learn not to tear down our closest allies. No, Barack Obama is no Rev. Billy or Matt Gonzalez, but we are far better off today because of his contribution to our society. So let's be serious about building a better society collaboratively, rather than losing control of our emotions and tearing each other down.
US presence in Iraq & Afghanistan escalates violence b/c people don't like being occupied, W was right about that. They unite against America and we stir up local support in these countries for extremists since we give them all a common enemy. If we want to help protect those civilians from extremists in their own country we need a plan other than war and military conflict, we need help & we need to not be in charge. Our reputation is one of a bully and a warmonger & a pillager of countries & that rep. is well-earned (Confessions of an Economic Hitman etc.). A UN peacekeeping force would help them more than our military presence. We have destroyed thousands of Iraqi lives with the depleted Uranium we've dumped there which will continue to sicken the people until who knows when b/c how do you get rid of it? It has an incredibly long half-life. So no, no one expects Obama to have solved everything already. But the criticisms of him not honoring his campaign speeches and promises are well deserved. Even with that aside he hasn't had enough time to show any kind of track record with regard to peace (the deadline was a week or 2 after he took office!) whereas there are many others who have dedicated years to the cause of peace, for example those fighting for peace in Darfur.
P.S. Well said MN. I agree with your stance although I am fine with this article.
Believe it "Duck" Then quack your way through those holes you say you don't have time to point out!
Note that the Committee which chooses the winner is made up of politicians, not peace advocates. So it's not surprising it has a predilection for awarding politicians not those who actually work for peace. Obama does have a lot of achievements in the field. They are enough to qualify him for a War Prize. But this is supposed to be a Peace Prize. George Orwell long ago predicted a world when people would call war peace. His novel was 1984, so we are 25 years into the era he predicted. And sure enough, they are calling war peace.
The man was awarded on his "good intentions". Wow! He was nominated 12 days after his inaguration..on what grounds? He hadn't done anything yet, and hasn't proven himself worthy even as of the announcement that he's won. What a ridiculous thing. We all have "good intentions"...where is my award? Oh well, what do you expect from a committee that nominated Adolf Hitler in 1939?
To truly deserve the Nobel Peace Prize, President Obama should do the following: * Enter into serious negotiations with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev about reducing our two countries combined arsenals of more than 20,000 nuclear weapons. * Reverse the U.S. decision to install missile defense systems in Poland and the Czech Republic, thus reducing military costs and enhancing cooperation with Russia. * Reach out to Muslim countries and peoples with a speech in a Muslim population center. * In concert with five other countries, begin direct negotiations with Iran over its nuclear enrichment program. * Re-initiate negotiations with North Korea to shut down its nuclear weapons program. * Open relations with Myanmar, a potential transfer point for dangerous nuclear materials. * While presiding as president of the United Nations Security Council, call for stopping fissile material production worldwide. * Halt the worst global financial meltdown since the 1930s, preventing further economic hardship and possible outbreaks of new wars. * Work with the U.S. Congress to introduce new legislation to address disruptive, conflict-producing climate change. Oh, you say he's done all of these? Then the real question is: What must other world leaders and citizens do to deserve Barack Obama's leadership?
Quote from AP article: "Around 98 percent of these are civilians, Handicap International says. A quarter of these are children, who often tragically mistake the bomblets for a toy." So, the factoid listed here, "98% of casualties are children," is incorrect--98% are civilians. Of course still a horrible statistic.
Yes I have an issue with your "facts". because 98% of cluster bomb casualties are children?
If Barack Obama is reworded with Nobel Peace Prize it is clear who rules the world. I believe it the humiliation of people. He didn't deserve it for sure. Maybe he did something in diplomatic relations but it wasn't worth of such a prize.