Updated: Fri Oct. 09 2009 3:34:20 PM

CTV.ca News Staff

U.S. President Barack Obama was "surprised and deeply humbled" when he found out that he had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Friday.

He told reporters at a news conference Friday that his young daughters bounced into his room early this morning to tell him the good news -- but in the same breath reminded him it was their dog's birthday and that they had a three-day weekend coming up.

"It's good to have kids around to keep things in perspective," he said.

Obama was given the prestigious recognition to encourage his goals of international diplomacy rather than unilateralism, reducing the nuclear threat and easing tensions with the Muslim world.

The move shocked pundits who noted that Obama was only in office for about two weeks before the Feb. 1 nomination deadline for the Peace Prize.

"This is as far as I know the first Nobel Peace Prize awarded on spec, basically awarded for promise rather than accomplishment," said American presidential historian Allen Lichtman in an interview with CTV's Canada AM.

"Awarded for changing the tone and direction of American diplomacy rather than a particular grand achievement," he said.

Obama said he felt he didn't deserve to be in the company of the people before him who have previously received the honour.

"I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have won this prize before me," he said. "The men and women who have inspired me and have encouraged the entire world with their pursuits for peace."

He said that he would however accept the prize as an affirmation of the aspirations that people have of American leadership.

"I will accept this award as a call for action," he said but noted that peace can not be accomplished by one nation alone. "(This is) a call for all nations to accept the challenges of the 21st century."

A new style of diplomacy

Norweigian Nobel Committee Chair Thorbjoern Jagland said Obama's ability to capture the public's attention and engage them in a new type of diplomacy makes him deserving of the honour.

He said Obama's calls and initiatives towards international peace and cooperation had shifted the global mood of politics.

"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," Jagland said.

"You have to remember that the world has been in a pretty dangerous phase," he continued. "And anybody who can contribute to getting the world out of this situation deserves a Nobel Peace Prize."

He said Obama had returned multilateral diplomacy and institutions like the UN to the forefront of the world stage. However, the Nobel committee also said that many of Obama's goals had yet to be realized including reducing the world stock of nuclear arms, strengthening the combat against climate change and easing American tensions with Muslim nations.

The U.S. administration was not informed of their decision before it was made public, said Jagland.

"Waking up a president in the middle of the night, this isn't really something you do," he said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Mixed reaction

Obama's election into presidency was seen as a positive turning point for the U.S. on both the international stage and on the domestic front.

In July, a 25-nation poll of 27,000 people found double-digit boosts to the number of people who viewed the U.S. favourably. That number was drastically lower under former president George W. Bush

Jagland said the decision to give Obama the prize was unanimous among the five-member committee panel.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered his congratulations to Obama Friday morning.

"President Obama's efforts and vision to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people are applauded by all Canadians," he said in a prepared statement.

Obama's award shows great things are expected from him in coming years, said Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, who won the prize in 1984.

"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," Tutu said. "It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama's message of hope."

However, others suggested that awarding a new president with such an esteemed award was premature and unjustified.

After all, the U.S. still has troops in combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan and Congress still has not passed a law reducing carbon emissions. There has also been little progress in Obama's efforts to reduce the global nuclear stockpile.

"So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act," said former Polish President Lech Walesa, a 1983 Nobel Peace laureate, upon hearing the news.

"This is probably an encouragement for him to act. Let's see if he perseveres. Let's give him time to act," Walesa said.

Mohamed ElBaradei, a former Peace Prize winner and director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, said Obama has already provided outstanding leadership in the effort to reduce the nuclear threat.

"In less than a year in office, he has transformed the way we look at ourselves and the world we live in and rekindled hope for a world at peace with itself," ElBaradei said. "He has shown an unshakeable commitment to diplomacy, mutual respect and dialogue as the best means of resolving conflicts."

Lichtman said he was shocked by the announcement.

"My first reaction was clearly this is compensation for Chicago not getting the Olympics!" he joked.

Lichtman noted Obama's strides in his efforts to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons with a recent resolution that called for a new limit on warheads.

"In terms of a work in progress there is a lot of work going on," he said.

He said he had no doubt Obama would accept the honour but that the president would be quick to accept it on behalf of all the American people who share his goals of peaceful diplomacy.

Critical timing 

Obama is only the third president to receive the Nobel Prize while in office. President Theodore Roosevelt won the award back in 1906 and President Woodrow Wilson was awarded the prize in 1919.

The Nobel committee received a record 205 nominations for the Peace Prize though the panel wouldn't disclose who nominated the president.

Among the candidates were Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, a Colombian senator, a Chinese dissident and an Afghan woman's rights activist.

The move to give Obama the award is seen as the latest stab by the committee against Bush and his administration.

In 2002 former U.S. President Jimmy Carter received the Peace Prize for his efforts to mediate in international conflicts. Five years later, the committee honoured Bush's political adversary Al Gore for his campaign to raise awareness about global warming.

Alfred Nobel outlined in his will in 1895 that the prize should go "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."

Since then, the committee has often used a wide interpretation of Nobel's guidelines and have looked for nominees who have gone beyond peace mediation to include those who have worked against combating poverty, disease and climate change.

The prize puts renewed emphasis on Obama's campaign goals boost international diplomacy and comes at a time when the president has some critical decisions to make.

The president is expected to meet with his top advisors on Friday to discuss Afghanistan and the number of troops currently deployed in the war-stricken region. Obama is considering a request to send 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan as the war enters its ninth year.

Earlier this year, Obama sent in 21,000 additional troops to the region and has continued to use unmanned drones on attacks on militants though the battle strategy has often killed or injured civilians in the area.

Obama also continues to encourage talks between the Israelis and Palestinians after negotiations between the dueling neighbours stalled.

However, just a day after the president hosted the Israeli and Palestinian leader in New York late last month, Israeli officials said they had fended off U.S. pressure to halt settlement expansions in the disputed territories.

Moderate Palestinians complained they felt undermined by Obama's failure to back up his demand for a freeze on settlements.

Comments are now closed for this story

B. Kelley, Ontario
Well, so much for the credibility of the Nobel prizes. With Obama's total lack of experience and understanding of international affairs he has disrupted the balance of power in the Middle East and has set a course that will end in a nuclear war in that region. His "never at war with Islam" statements are naive and simply pander to the radical American left who believe that their own country is evil. His apologist diplomacy is nothing short of stupid. The western world is going to pay a heavy price for his blundering and now they give him a peace prize. Mind boggling!

David In west
Hmmm when he actually does something i would of expected this. I think Obama Is being turned into a "Great" Yet he has not done anything to deserve that . All he has done is talk between countries and fight for the Olympics in Chicago and have a beer summit. But none or very little of what he said he would do during the election campaign has happened.

Reener
What a joke. First Gore for a powerpoint presentation, now Obama for things he has yet to actually achieve. To the NNC, give your collective heads a shake. Stop being dazzled by entertainment and start being impressed by actual accomplishments.

Canadian in the US
I am speechless upon reading this news. I can not see the justification for this. What are the tangible accomplishments beyond speeches and retoric?

Jake in Florida
In view of the company which Obama joins - Jimmy Carter and Al Gore - this is another irrelevant political gesture by a body that no longer has credibility or respect. Obama has offered hope for a bankrupt United States, a defenceless Western Hemisphere, and the prospect of perpetual soaring deficits and inflation for which our children will suffer the consequences for generations.Congratulations on the peace prize!

Lee Szigety
Why on earth should an elected representative receive a prize for doing what is supposed to be their job. Just because the previous Presidents failed in that regard, is no reason to reward the next one with such a gratuitous award for performing their duties as requested by their employers.Now if instead President Obama makes a direct move to shut down the unconstitutional Federal Reserve System(a central bank created by the Money Trust bankers on Jekyll Island, Georgia in 1910) then by all means the man should receive an award...but until that day happens he can simply cash his paycheck like every other worker.

Slavko Miladinovic
Congratulations!

Steve in Ottawa
As inane as Al Gore's prize.

Oussama
Please tell me this is a joke ! usa has invaded two countries killed millions and injured thousands USA who is backing israel that historical mistake ! yet ..you give their president a nobel price ..seriously your western society is a real joke ..

Frank in NS
Barack Obama has not turned out to be the President that I thought he would be. He has proven one thing only, that he is a "silken-tongued" lawyer that accomplishes darn little, nor can he make a sound decision. His action will reflect on his race in furure years. To bad. As far as the Nobel prizes are concerned? Bbbbbraaaaack! They mean little, when you see that a Canadian research team that discovered stem cell possibilities was passed over.

Dave in West
Can i have a Peace Prize?-I have Beer summits once in awhile-I talk about world Peace But actually do nothing-I could really use the money more then ObamaMakes me a great candidate i would say?

Gary
This is nothing more then a poke in the eye for Realisim and a push for one world gov't..and the biggest fallout will be that Obama will feel validated to further wave the white flag and denounce his own country's prior international behaviour.

Mike Potter
How did he manage to win this award? He is the Commander in Chief of the US armed forces that are fighting 2 wars. How on Earth can he be awarded this? Total nonsense.

Prof. Pye Chartt
More evidence of the political dumbing-down of the human race. Apparently, you no longer have to accomplish anything tangible to win the Nobel Peace Prize; you merely have to talk a good game using "hope" and "change" in your inspiring yet empty rhetoric. Obama's a smart, intelligent man, but undeserving. A real laughable head-scratcher for sensible people of all political stripes. Congratulations to the Nobel Committee for cheapening their own "Prize."

Mark in Fort Erie
Ummm, for what? Iran and North Korea are out of control under his watch ,,,, and definitely not poised for peace.

Tim
Hmmm....now that Obama has received a Nobel Prize for achievements that he has "yet" to achieve, does this mean that a scientist can now receive a Nobel Prize based on a grant proposal that outlines what he proposes to do and so what he has "yet" to achieve? I think NOT!

Will
I think the word is "premature". I think the Nobel committee really erred in giving the Peace Prize to someone that honestly does not deserve it yet (though hopefully he will in the future). There are many more individuals and organizations that have toiled unknown for many years with tangible results. I'm sure Obama knows this himself. I will be interesting to see his reaction to the impending brewhaha.

Irritable Canadian
"The soft bigotry of low expectations" to use a phrase coined by Bush 43. Was there NOBODY else more deserving?- The Iranian pro-democracy protestors?- Morgan Tsvangirai in Zimbabwe?- How about Suu Kyi in Myanmar? NOBODY?

This proves what a joke this award is when an empty suit like Barack Obama can win a prize like this. For the record, other notable "winners"- Arafat- Gorbachev- El Baradei (head of the IAEA) who says Israel is a bigger threat to peace than IranIndividuals who didn't get it:- Ghandi- Thatcher- Reagan- George H.W. Bush(So much for the fall of the Wall)What's even more telling is the deadline to submit the nomination was February 1 -- less than 2 weeks after he took office so he had done even LESS than nothing at that point. Except talk. Which he's still doing. Results? Nah. But wow, the boy can TALK!What. A. Joke.

Sarah613
OK...while I do have to admit that it does seem pretty early for this...i mean, we don't know what's going on behind closed doors, how hard Obama's working to try to get things done. What I do see though is the Republicans trying to push him back every time he wants to accomplish something, its like they don't want to give him any room to breathe.

I guess the prize was given to him for the "effort" of trying to establish peace and relations across the globe. Sounds kinda cheesy, but can't we be sort of satisfied with that. We weren't happy when Bush was in power with his "everyone's evil except the U.S." crap, and now it seems like we're not happy that Obama's in power with his "Let's all get along" motto.

CYL
So well deserved, he has definately set the stage for other minorities.

T.I., Ontario
I am totally astonished by this news. How can Nobel committee members award someone a prize that is yet to be deserved? I am sure there were far other candidates who have actually done something for the world and deserve this award more than Obama. Looks like the Nobel committee members are totally taken by media sensationalism that surrounds Obama and fail to actually make their selection based on real criteria.

Mark Giguere
While I agree that it might be a bit premature, the more I think about it, the more I agree he deserves it. He took the 'My way or the highway' attitude of Bush and threw it out. His effect on US foreign policy has calmed the international stage down by several notches and has restores a bit of the US credibility.

Just look at how the US's allies have become more agreeable with him at the helm. Bush was a disaster, both at home and abroad. Obama has at least tried to follow the laws of his own country and respect that idea that the US doen not have the right to do whatever it wants. Sadly though, he has received the prize for what he isn't (a saber-rattling war-criminal) instead of anything that he is since he has yet had enough time to show us what he is.

Scott
I like Obama, however I fail to see what he has done thus far to warranty this award. Another example of how jazz and fluff overpower the realness.

Steve from Toronto
It's like paying for the gas before you pump it. I think he will earn it during his four years in office, but he's done nothing to earn it as of right now. He should have won the 2012 or 2013 prize.

cam
What have they put in the water in Switzerland? This guy has reneged on every promise he made to get the job. His one accomplishment since taking office is to drive real inflation in America to around 20% (if you take the falling dollar and energy into account) because of the printing press pumping out dollars. All they did with this idiotic decision is cheapen the award.

Catwoman 37
Way to go Obama!

Craig from NS
Absolutely disgusting. Nothing short of it. He was only President for a few weeks when his name was submitted. I supported change in the U.S. last year and though I believe things are probably "a little" better, they are not much better than that. What used to drive me nuts is that in the past, a new President spent their first four years trying to get elected for another four. They are basically useless in their first term.

Obama has taken that to a whole new level. He's acting more like a celebrity doing interviews, photo shoots and "dropping by" Olympic bid's than he is acting like a President.I never thought I'd see the day that the U.S. would vote in a black President. Unfortunately, he's been all flash and no substance in my opinion. Unfortunately people are going to jump all over that unless something drastically changes in his leadership abilities in the next three years.

JKay
You're not really surprised are you? Come on, he's the golden boy, the shiny new icon he is 'the one'. LOLZTotal joke, sort of shows the relevance of the 'prize'. He's done absolutely nothing, not a thing and will in all likelihood accomplish nothing. Well he might win some more prizes along the way.

Oh PU-LEASE!!!!
Hold a beer summit, call Kanye West a Jackass, swat a fly on national TV and you, too could be the recipient of what was, at one time anyway, thought to be the most prestigious and respected Peace Prize in the world. Unbelievable....

Anthony
The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded 89 times to 119 Nobel Laureates between 1901 and 2008 – 96 times to individuals and 23 times to organizations.
They really must be running out of eligible candidates. Is there a shortage ? I guess I've just been too busy to notice.

Y. Cranddent
I certainly can say as a Canadian. Happy to hear the good news that President Barack Obama won the "2009 Nobel Peace Prize"

We all want the "Peaceful Planet" every elected leader should ALWAYS REMEMBER to strive not just to keep their country in great shape, economy, health, wealth and its citizens well being but the goes beyond in the making of the "A Great Leader" it comes from within and looking out for others... being self centre or selfish is not the way to go!

You came from the bottom of the poorest country and you showed the "World" that you are just a human as they are and can DO MUCH BETTER than the rest of us. . . I salute you SIR. Just to let know that I came from also the same ethnic background as your half-sister (Living in Brampton, ON)and your step father. I know what it feels like . . . BUT Canada is ALSO a great country to live in....

"KEEP UP THE GOOD JOB" Mr. President.

KOOL MAN
Back in January, at Obama's inauguration, the whole world was in love with the guy. Why? Because Dubya was gone? Because Obama's the first black President? Then in February, Obama comes to Ottawa and the whole of Canada is there front & center to love him, to see him, The Obama Show.

Yes, most of you readers here were victims of the MSM artificial love-in for Obama....And now that the Nobel Peace Prize is part of The Obama Show, a backlash. Goes to show that public opinion and marketing firms have the public-sheeps eating in their hands, no?

Mark in NB
Sarah613 - What you said about the Republicans pushing Obama back and preventing him from accomplishing things is ill informed. Obama's party, the Democrats, are in charge of BOTH the US congress and the US Senate. The Democrats can do WHATEVER they want no matter what the Republicans do. They even have a "super-majority" in the US senate which basically allows the Democrats to tell the Republicans to stuff it whenever they want. It's like the old days of Jean Chretien; the Liberals owned Parliament, the Senate and the supreme court. Look what that did for them. Eventually absolute power corrupts.

Marc J Ouellette
I think it's a bit premature to award Obama with a Nobel just yet. So far all he's done is provide rhetoric and pretty words of appeasement. Until he actually achieves concrete results (other than being an improvement over his disastrous predecessor), the Nobel should go to a more deserving individual. A few readily come to mind: Tony Blair (middle-east dialogs); Walter Cronkite (posthumous - for his commentaries over Vietnam and Iraq); even Joan Rivers (for her oft-repeated pleas for dialogue ''Can We Talk?'') have all done more than Obie, for crying out loud!

Rick in NB, Ste Marie
And what has anybody on this site done to end war or promote peace lately? Bunch of hypocrites .

Mark M
This just goes to show there aren't any good candidates left in the world. It's a sad state of affairs.

Phil in London
Thank goodness so many people in this world work as hard as they do for peace without regard for personal reward. If these people were in it for themselves this direct slap on their collective faces would lead to further war. Obama is a great communicator and appears to be working toward open dialogue with muslims and others but it would appear the very idea of an award is in recognition of some achievement in relation to the award.

Where exactly has peace advanced under Obama's very short and so far relatively untested watch?I must have missed the news story about the Taliban laying down arms and working hand in hand to rebuild Afghanistan. I must have misread Iranian comments toward Isreal because I surely took them in a very non-peace promoting way.This man was obviously the greatest president the US ever had and now we find the world also feels that way even though his actions as commander in chief were limited to two weeks of service last January before nominations closed for this year's award.

It's too bad that his expectations are so high given his past track record of accomplishing nearly nothing. While I wish him well because he is the great defender of the free world by virtue of his presidency too much is being credited to a man who has done very little. (he hasn't even had the chance to do anything yet).A great leader would decline this honour and ask the committee to pass the award on to some one more worthy but I suspect this man is more like Al Gore. Ready to jump at any opportunity while also having done absolutely nothing to promote peace.Nobel must be rolling in his grave.

ADM Saskatchewan
While I do congratulate President Obama, I have to wonder at the suddenness of this decision. He has made a lot of great-sounding speeches stating what he would like to happen, but so far the results have not come. I didn't know they gave peace prizes for talking about what you want to accomplish.

Dave Dumas from Ottawa
I don't think any of you read the article. Obama has been TRYING to get many things accomplished. Obama is ONE person. ONE person can only do so much. It requires cooperation on the part of himself, the rest of his own party, the lobbyists, and the Republicans for him to get anything done. That's just for domestic issues. Health care would already be starting to be implemented if it wasn't for the Republicans. The Middle-East would probably be in a lot better shape if the parties involved were willing to actually sit down and talk, something that Obama is trying to push.This wasn't a reward for his accomplishments, this is a reward for his efforts, on all sorts of fronts that are relevant to the NPP board. Sure, the United States is fighting two (or more) wars abroad, but these were the result of actions taken by Bush, not him. Unfortunately, wars need an exit strategy, you can't just leave. Give Obama time, he's trying to end the wars.Congratulations to President Obama, the leader that Canada could only wish to have.

Lou
He is very well liked around the world, however this is surely not earned as yet.....perhaps he'll use the prize $$ to send the 40,000 more troops that will go to Afghanistan to lose some lives and take many.....perhaps another few thousand for N. Korea, Iran etc.......I guess I just don't understand how war makes peace..........totally senseless and diplomatic around the world or not.....he is at War, not Peace.

R.E.Lee, Cold Lake, AB
At the announcement, it was pointed out by an audience member that Obama has done nothing concrete. He has just made proposals and talked about what he thinks should be done. If I posted a Youtube video promoting the continuing research of Cold Fusion (by other people) and its potential benefits for the environment, would I get the Nobel Prize for Science?

Tom in Winnipeg
They must have given it to him for the "Beer Summit" he hosted a few months ago :)

opinion
I am a fan of Obama, however how did this happen so fast for him? Something smells here. Anyway, congrats to Barack

Rick
Huh! Way to early. This man has yet to accomplish anything even remotely close to bringing peace to a hostile world.

Al from Toronto
I used to think the Nobel Prize was for the cream of the cream......now I know even milk can get them

Mark in TO
@Dave Dumas from OttawaBlaming the Republicans for dropping the public option? Let me explain this to you, the Democrats control a "super majority" which means they can pass whatever bills they want and the Republicans can't do anything about it. You don't get an award for "trying" to do something, you get an award for actually accomplishing what you set out to do. There are many people out there in the world who actually deserved this award, pro-democracy protesters in Iran and China, as well as female human rights workers in Afghanistan.

The View From Niagara
I guess the Nobel Peace Prize means nothing anymore. By deciding to scrap missile defense and being soft on Iran, Obama has done more to promote hate and violence than he has to promote peace.

Naoko
This came to me as total shock. I cannot believe this prize has come down to this low. Obama lacks total experience. People are tricked that he's taking militants away from Iraq. But really, he's putting them back into Afghanistan. US still sells firearms to other countries, also creates nuclear arms. Obama might tell Middle East to not carry nuclear arms. when they have NO RIGHT of telling anybody anything. B/c his country does not show ANY peaceful example to the world. So really, head of this country, who's apparently changed world to peaceful place should get one? We'll see what happens in 4 yrs, then he should have right to get one.

Ryan
This is a joke, right? Oops, not April 1. I'm sorry to see such a prestigious award go to someone so undeserving. I have very little respect for man made institutions lately (UN, Olympic Committee, etc.), but I still had a little respect for the Nobel prize. Unfortunately, that too has now disappeared.

Prof. Pye Chartt
@ Dave Dumas from Ottawa: Awards, honors, and bestowed prizes, in a sane, rational world, are supposed to acknowledge and celebrate ACCOMPLISHMENT, not a shallow "effort" based upon a couple weeks of giving political speeches that yielded NOTHING of substance. As for the misguided and misinformed notion that Obama (despite having an effective Democratic majority behind him) hasn't made any ground towards his goals due to Republicans, be advised that a good chunk of Democrats are messing up his plans, and that those Republicans have a constituency of Americans. (Clearly, you're not really following Obama's struggles in Washington.)

Alberta Redneck
As a child on my mother's knee I was told that If I can's say something nice I should say nothing at all. Therefore, re this decision by the Nobel, folks, "

Maureen
I feel sorry for the real Nobel prize winners - you know the ones - those that actually accomplished something through their work, ideas and brilliance. Obama is all hat, no cattle.

rob
This is almost as pathetic as giving the award to Al Gore for enriching himself to the tune of $300 million by successfully marketing climate change propaganda.Shows you that the standards for the prize have fallen off to abysmally low levels.Obama hasn't DONE anything yet except give speaches, campaign, and continue sending other people's sons and daughters off to die in Afghanistan.

Norman
1. the normal, nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world. 2. (often initial capital letter) an agreement or treaty between warring or antagonistic nations, groups, etc., to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting or antagonism: the Peace of Ryswick. 3. a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, esp. in personal relations: Try to live in peace with your neighbors. 4. the normal freedom from civil commotion and violence of a community; public order and security: He was arrested for being drunk and disturbing the peace. 5. cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension. 6. freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity; serenity. 7. a state of tranquillity or serenity: May he rest in peace. 8. a state or condition conducive to, proceeding from, or characterized by tranquillity: the peace of a mountain resort. 9. silence; stillness: The cawing of a crow broke the afternoon's peace. 10. (initial capital letter, italics) a comedy (421 b.c.) by Aristophanes. Where does what he has done around world fit into any of these definitions.........???????? I'm confused !!!!!!!!!!!!

Milner
Forgive me for using the most annoying English word known but it is fitting...WHATEVER

Dean in YYZ
Does this realy surprise you people? The body who processes and deems one worthy of this award.Has slowly been drifting to the far left for decades,and not only that but basically making a complete mockery out of this once very prestigious award.

As others have said here,he has accomplished nothing on the world wide stage.Yes he is the first half black american to become president. That's great,but what does that have to do with winning the nobel peace prize?

charlie
I just started a new job - perhaps my employer can give me a performance bonus up front. It seems that "accomplishments" are now less important than "expectations" - lets see how far that will fly in the real world. After Al Gore won for his climate change rants (took a private jet to the ceremony, I hear) I guess that anything is fair game. So much for the integrity of the process - so much for the credibilty of the Nobel committee - this is just plain stupid.Obama may ultimately warrant the prize - but let's see him earn it before he picks up the prize.

Colin from Ottawa
This has ruined what credibility the Nobel Peace Prize had left in it.Obama, who was just two weeks into office when he was nominated, and who is now only nine months into his four-year term, has beaten out:-The man who reuinted Germany after the Cold War, and helped create the European Union-One of the leading voices for human rights and democracy in China-A charity that helps children in impoverished Eastern Europe.Obama has done nothing. He does not deserve this award. All he's done is make a couple speeches, and declare a policy change in America. He's increased the amount of troops in a foreign war, and just gave Iraq the key to their own cities, one of the cockiest moves of an occupation force I've ever seen.Maybe, at the end of his first term, he'd deserve this. But if you look at the recent winners of this award, they've been men and women who've worked for DECADES for their causes. Organizations like Doctors Without Borders, the IAEA, and the UN have won it. They deserve it for the work they've done, not what they say. This is a joke and a farce.

M. Gouin
Willard Boyle got his 40 years after the making and they award one to Obama after a few months of doing nothing other than all talk no action?!!!

Lz in Edmonton
Way to GO Obama. Now where is my bucket, I feel sick!

Canadian in Netherlands
This is a reaction from the large global contrast between Bush and Obama. The Afghanistan war was started by NATO and Bush went alone in Iraq. Maybe some Canadians in Canada do not see this aspect but Obama has a strong positive influence in Europe. It is very different from this "You are with us or against us" policy. Instead of criticising Obama, Canadian should criticise their government for not being open and advocating their international policies. Harper walks in the shadow of Obama. You hear nothing about Harper in Europe and nobody knows this guy except that he is on the toillet when they are taking group pictures.

speechless
On top of all the other war-mongering logged in the comments section, the USA bombed the moon today too! The Moon! Cause a couple high tides and look what's in store for you from the USA!

RVH
Putting the cart before the horse aren't they. Very premature. Hundreds if not thousands of people are lobbying for peace. Not sure of the justification here. The world is still in turmoil, and Obama has not really made any head ways to garnish such award

Mark Maxwell In Calgary
I'm about to create a replacement for 'Oil ' by using 'Cotton Candy.' I haven't done it yet, but can I get my Nobel Peace prize now as well? Nuf said.

syko
6 billion people on the planet and the Nobel committee could not find someone who has actually spent a life time fighting for peace.

Wendy
Obama is doing a great job. It's sad that Canada has super do nothing government, that is only interested in staying in power. Harpy does nothing for the world & nothing for Canada. Good thing we had the liberals to force Harpy to do what was needed..

Syl S
So, now the Nobel Peace Prize means nothing anymore. So be it.

Anne M
The Peace prize has lost credibility with a lot of people, and justifiabily so. This man doesn't have a humble bone in his body, he is so arrogant. Why the peace prize when he has done nothing but fly all over the world sightseeing, and givng hollow speeches that mean nothing.

Noble
I like to listen to Obama speak. He's good at it and should be as he is an ivory league academic and has spent more years in post secondary education than a guy did going to grade 12. He can woo your pants off with his motivational rhetoric and sell you something you don't want. But that said, he still has not put his money where his mouth is and has yet to accomplish anything as prez. He should not accept it but we know he won't. Who would? He certainly isn't deserving of this award at this time. Cheapens the award for those who do deserve it.

GTA
Geez, and I truly believed they wouldn't be able to find anyone less deserving than Al Gore.

Norma Jenkins
Canadians I am an American formally living in New Brunswick, and miss it terribly, and agree with those who said Obama did not deserve the Nobel. Not even close! Are those guys being paid by him; I just don't get it. He has done nothing but talk. He has been Pres for ten months and before that he was nothing, so I say something is rotten in denmark.

AWinnipeg
What an unfortunate and idiotic decision. Like all awards, it should be given for accomplishment, not for presumptions. If all awards were given on possibilities, then every single person out there would have one or two awards by now. This action only causes the NPP to lose any credibility it may have, lumping it along with other meaningless symbolic bodies such as the UN and the Olympics - bodies that once held meaning but have now become bureaucratic tools.

PB_Toronto
By the looks of some of the thumbs down on some of the comments it appears the mass is just as gullible as the Nobel commitee. Like many others, I think Obama my be a good leader, or he may not be, time will tell.

However to award someone this prestigious prize based on starry eyes and charisma in hopes one day he may actually obtain his ideals is misguided. For those who gave a thumbs down to what would appear a blantant rushed decision maybe the Toronto Maple leafs should get the Stanley Cup this week on the basis they may actually win it one day. I suppose he is the greatest president of all time now too.

Kadjere
President Obama has correctly recognized the unusual award in his acknowledgment news conference this morning. His aids were also taken unaware according to some sources. While I do respect the panel giving out these awards and their merits, I at the same time question the strength of the validity of the evidence used in according such offers.I know historically (mea culpa, I'm not a historian) similar awards were given to two (I believe) sitting US presidents. The significant difference is that they had served some substantial amount of time in office and had also achieved significant goals: establishing the League of Nations by one as am example.Sometimes the importance of processes can represent meaningful results. In president Obama's case, I think recognition of that process has come a little too soon. In my view the jury is still out and we are still holding our breaths. In the meantime KUDOS to the president of the USA!

simon in Montreal
Obama has inspired the Americans and the World with his WORDS and RHETORIC. Where is the SUBSTANCE? What has he achieved so far?

happy
Cam:What does Switerland have to do with any of this? lol I see nothing but a stream of angry conservatives commenting here. It can't possibly be because he's a black democrat who would prefer to make peace instead of war, can it? I say congratulations, Mr. Obama. The world could use more peace and less strife.

darren
TWO THUMBS UP...Way to go President Obama. NO NUKES on the planet.

Lu Lin
All I can say is that the Nobel Peace Prize Committee lacks of vision. Giving such a prestigious award to a president who has not done much in peace progress of mankind definitely is a not the will of Nobel.

pdm39
I am nice to my neighbours - someone PLEASE nominate me! When you look at the other possible contenders who have spent lifetimes working towards peace, this is clearly a politcal statement against the Bush administration. Only months into his first term we have seen no real accomplishments other than hope and that is not worthy of a prize - let alone the Nobel Peace prize.It really makes me question the validity of the jury, the process and the entire Nobel Prize system. If I were an honouree in any discipline I would feel my accomplishments had been tainted by this undeserving honour.

Kris Widla
Nobel Peace prize is a great accomplishment for Obama. Whether he deserves it or not, is irrelevant.Just take a look at how many people are talking about this year winner!Do any of you remember who won it last year? Do any of you care? :)Great job by the 5 member committee that just all the world talking about their pick, the prize, and them.

Raj
It means nothing to get this. There are so many that are more deserving.He has yet to accomplish anything from where I stand.

keith
In related news I just won the Grey Cup because I once played football in high school.He has the potential to achieve a lot but he simply hasn't done anything with tangible results yet. The Nobel Peace Prize seems to be little more than a glorified popularity contest.

Tom More
Nothing against Obama, but this is a ridiculous decision. Obama has talked a good number, but has done absolutely nothing to deserve such an award. I think even he might agree that the award is at best premature. A bit worrying that a Nobel committee could be so off the mark. Makes one wonder now if the Nobel peace prize has degenerated into a popularity contest.

Bob S. Florida, U.S.A.
Some of the comments in here are over simplistic made by a few armchair diplomats! Obama has done a lot since being in office only 10 months! He's changed the total momentum of the world and brought hope to many. But of course like children some people need instant gratification and because of this see nothing! Mikhail Gorbachev won his prize for the same thing. Changing the direction of Russia.I suppose some just can't see the forest through the trees.

Samual
The world love Obama because of his liberal thinking. The world hated Bush & Harper walks in Obama's shadow, unnoticed by the world. Harper has given the world a false impression of Canadians. Most of us don't constantly attack each other and we don't spend all our time in the bath room. Obama deserved this for his intentions, he has given the world hope.

Addison
More often the Peace prize is given to people BEFORE they accomplish what they set out to do. It's happened dozens of times in the past so this is not a real shock. I think some people here are misguided as to what the Peace prize stands for.

Isn't it obvious?
Looks like the beer summit at the White House was a greater accomplishment than we thought it was.

Kevin
I think the people who hand out the Nobel prizes in medicine and other fields should take the peace prize committee behind the shed.

I like Obama, and think he will accomplish great things, especially given the widespread hatred of him in America.

But this award is premature. The Nobel prizes in other disciplines are for work that has long since been accomplished and recognized by dozens of other worthy organizations.

Becoming the first black man to be elected president of the United States is an incredible accomplishment. But alone, it's not worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Prof. Pye Chartt
@ Bob S. Florida, U.S.A.: Allow me to focus you a bit, as your apparent membership in the Obama Fan Club has smothered your common sense... The man (who, frankly, I quite admire) received a Nobel Peace Prize for, essentially, giving some lovely pandering speeches over a TWO WEEK period following the commencement of his tenure as President.

Furthermore, the notion that he has "done a lot" in the past 10 months is more than a stretch. Even liberal-loving Saturday Night Live (SNL) ripped him this past week for failing to deliver on his widely-broadcast political goals and campaign promises. It must be scorching in Florida today.

Cafer in Edmonton
The Nobel peace prize should be called Nobel politics prize. It is too early to evaluate Obama's policy on world peace. By contrast, the Nobel prize in Physics was awarded to three winners, one of whom first published his work over 40 years ago, now has Alzheimer disease and will not be able to give a Nobel lecture.

Marcel from Northern Ontario
It is a political postulation and an insult to many more deserving. This president has done nothing but look good and talk a motivational storm of I want to do ideas. This award must of have been presented ,to this president, because he has been able to drive the USA deeper into debt. The Nobel Prize is given to those individuals who have excelled in their field of work.Sadden to see the truth about Nobel Prize committee.

Peter 1951
It was pay back for not given Chicago the Olympics.

Rocky
Before rushing to judgement, just remember that this is part of the ongoing rebranding of the Nobel Prizes or, as they are now known, InstaNobs.

Dr Barr-Graff
So now awards are given out for potential and proposals, not accomplishment? Perfect, I propose that I potentially solve the energy crisis and global warming by installing fusion reactors in everyone's home, that turn hateful thoughts into clean energy. Not only does it result in cheap, clean energy, it also promotes peace and harmony by ridding the world of hatred. As a side effect, for every 100 Baracks of hatred consumed, a fluffy kitty appears in a village in the developing world.

Do I nominate myself, or does someone do it for me? Perhaps my fellow academic Prof. Chartt would do the honours?

Dawna
Barack Obama came into his presidency in the midst of one of the worst financial crisis of the century, on the heels of arguably the worst presidency in history. He brings to the world a message of peace and hope, a message we’ve not heard in a long time. Yes, there are issues that must be dealt with, but these are problems years in the making, created by the poor decisions of another administration. Stop expecting the world to change overnight, and give the man a chance to effect change he’s promised. Barack is right; peace cannot be accomplished by one nation alone, but the fact that the leader of the world’s largest superpower is placing his efforts in the right place should give us hope. And honestly, in today’s world, hope alone is worth a Nobel Peace Prize.Congratulations Barack.