Nobel Committee, Strategic As Ever, Taps Obama for Peace Prize

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama.

Some initial commentary has called the award unprecedented and wondered why the committee would give President Obama the award when he "hasn't done anything yet."

But anyone who thinks this award is unprecedented hasn't been paying attention.

The Nobel Committee gave South African Bishop Desmond Tutu the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his leadership of efforts to abolish apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid wasn't fully abolished in South Africa until 1994. The committee could have waited until after apartheid was abolished to say, "Well done!" But the point of the award was to help bring down apartheid by strengthening Bishop Tutu's efforts. In particular, everyone knew that it was going to be much harder for the apartheid regime to crack down on Tutu after the Nobel Committee wrapped him in its protective cloak of world praise.

That's what the Nobel Committee is trying to do for Obama now. It's giving an award to encourage the change in world relations that Obama has promised, and to try to help shield Obama against his domestic adversaries. The committee is well aware that history is contingent and that Obama might fail. It knows very well that the same country that elected Obama also gave the world George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan.

The initial steps that Obama has taken are already under fierce attack. The Obama administration has now recognized that the Afghan Taliban are not a threat to the United States and that the United States can live with the Afghan Taliban playing a role in the government of Afghanistan. But right-wing forces in the military, Congress, think thanks and the media are denouncing these moves towards sanity as surrender. They want a full-out Vietnam against the Taliban.

The Obama Administration has begun its promised diplomatic engagement with Iran. Of course, as every honest person knew, real engagement meant de-emphasizing the unachievable demand that Iran end its enrichment of uranium and instead focusing on achievable demands like opening Iranian enrichment facilities more fully to UN inspections and greater international oversight over the enriched uranium that Iran has already produced. Here also, the "endless war" right-wing is trying to undermine Obama.

In giving this award, the Nobel Committee is telling these right-wing forces to back off. And it's sending a message of encouragement to those Americans who put Obama in office:

"Showing signs of significant improvement. Keep up the good work."

Follow Robert Naiman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/naiman

Comments

[alima]

Thanks for a sane and accurate analysis Mr. Naiman.

There are a number of others who have received the award in recognition and encouragement of efforts that had not yet -- and in some cases still have not -- borne fruit:
1935 Carl von Ossietzky -- for opposing Hitler , not defeated for another ten years;
1991 Aung San Suu Kyi -- for opposing the Burma tyrants who still have her under house arrest;
1994 Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin -- for efforts towards Middle East peace which has still not been achieved;
2002 Jimmy Carter -- for efforts towards Middle East peace which has still not been achieved;
2003 Shirin Abadi -- for opposing the hardliners who are still in control in Iran

The naysayers need to learn their history -- and READ!

[mylittlepwny]

So this is an award that is used to further and organisati­ons/panels political vison as to what should happen?

[trendsetteryeah]

Succinct, good analysis. Thanks for your sanity.

[MikeOptv2]

Fantastic article, you've hit the nail on the head with this. I will continue to read further things written by you, because you have pretty much exactly the same line of thinking that I do.

[Cam Climie]

As Robert Fisk would say, it's a Flak Jacket.
Awards like these prove that the rest of the world thinks that what he is doing is right.

[wpiv926]

A well written and spot on analysis.

[RogueCheddar]

Being one who was shocked and thought it premature, everyone should in fairness look at Nobel's intentions; "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses­." This says nothing about human rights, local organisations bringing schools to girls in third world nations, etc. or any of the numerous other reasons for which people/org­anisations have actually won the award. In fact it could be argued that the the committee has given it to many who didn't operate in the realm of what Nobel intended. The US President has, in such a short time, worked for fraternity between nations, stated as a goal a nuclear free world (regardless of that being unattainable in reality) and is using his diplomatic corps to lessen tensions in the hot spots of the world (peace congresses). While shocking it might actually be the truest vote according to Nobel's will in many a year.

[amberrod]

well stated; debate team once upon a time, rogue cheddar?

[RogueCheddar]

A long time ago in a high school not very far away. Recognising actual debate techniques in this day and age takes an educated mind (or some one born before the 1990's :) ). Kudos to you. Your serve.

[chlai88]

Fully agree. The Nobel committee is obviously not in the business of celebrations, heaping praise and giving hearty slaps in the back for jobs well done. It's greater mission is to push using its own limited influence, for peace and change to happen. It is an encouragement and a friendly nudge at Obama not to slacken in his commitments.

[hapiday]

Great analysis Robert Naiman! I sometimes feel badly for the President because he is always the fall guy for the good and the bad.

[adamnb]

We're back!

[socialtalker]

THANK YOU!
best and most clear analysis of the nobel's strategic thinking.

[S1m0n]

This was an illuminating comparison; thank you very much.

Tutu's greatest achievement was the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was a totally new thing under the sun and a briliant piece of spiritual engineering.

[neve]

Yes, but that was AFTER he had already won. Him being a nobel laureate gave him the gravitas to push reconciliation.

[DaveC19]

I dissagree. I think the award should have been given to Sara Palin. If it weren't for her inane ramblings during the campaign we and the world might have been stuck with president "bomb-bomb" McCain. She saved us all.

[nilotic]

Good point!

[madatnewsmedia]

DaveC19, good comment! I'm still laughing

[The Professor]

The award is political, nothing else. It just looks good on a resume.

[poomplet]

He was in office for 12 days when this year's nobel nominations closed up.

TWELVE DAYS!!!!

Good god, forget Tutu (who'd been protesting apartheid, albeit not-too-loudly, for over a decade before his Nobel)...M­andela and Walesa must be mortified at this puffery.

In fact, Lech has already expressed his disdain: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125509603349176083.html

I LIKE Obama...I voted for him, support most of what he's done/doing. But this award, which of course, he didn't ask for, indeed insults those who have suffered & earned them in the past with actual deeds & acomplishments.

Moreso...i­t preempts any ACTUAL feelings of merit and accomplishments for Obama down the road when/if he EARNS this award. Most likely, he won't even get it, as the committee would be savaged even more for it's partisan maneuverings.

This has given the Right a legitimate 'cudgel' with which to attack the "cult of Obama"...T­HAT might be the worst thing of all.

[socialtalker]

i think the nobel committee and obama himself have acknowledged that this is a an award to shape future events. an american president early in his/her career(as opposed to being a lame duck) has the ability to shape events in a way few individuals on the planet can. "pre-empting" would be worth it if it changes the future.

[RobertNaiman - Huffpost Blogger]

Here's what Tutu said:

Archbishop Desmond Tutu
"What wonderful recognition of someone who has already made such an impact on our planet with regards to the Muslim world, nuclear disarmament, climate change and, to some extent, the Middle East. He has reached out to the Arab world, including Iran, and North Korea.

In a way, it's an award — coming near the beginning of the first term of office of a relatively young President — that anticipates an even greater contribution towards making our world a safer place for all. It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama's message of hope."

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1929393,00.html

[madatnewsmedia]

You're entitled to your opinion and it is worth noting, but I disagree! I think the committee looked at numerous issues and I think it was given to him as he said :as a call to action". Like it or not!

[ladyv]

It's irrelevant. The left can't live our lives trying to think ahead to find ways to evade the right, because where they lack cudgels, they invent them. We just have to do what we do without regard to the right.