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Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

Committee cites president's commitment to disarmament, international institutions

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 9, 2009 4:04 AM CDT

(Newser) – President Barack Obama is the surprise winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." The Norwegian Nobel committee said it attached particular importance to Obama's commitment to nuclear disarmament and his emphasis on the role of the United Nations. Three other US presidents have won the prize: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Jimmy Carter.

While Obama was mentioned in pre-announcement speculation, observers thought it was too early for the new president to win and predicted that a political dissident, perhaps in China, would be named. Asked whether it was too soon to award Obama the $1.4 million prize, the former Norwegian prime minister who chairs the committee said, "We are not awarding the prize for what may happen in the future but for what he has done in the previous year. We would hope this will enhance what he is trying to do."

President Barack Obama delivers his opening remarks the United Nations Security Council last month.
President Barack Obama delivers his opening remarks the United Nations Security Council last month.   (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a fundraiser for the Democratic Governors Association, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 in Washington.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a fundraiser for the Democratic Governors Association, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 in Washington.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
President Barack Obama delivers a statement regarding Iran, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009,  in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House in Washington.
President Barack Obama delivers a statement regarding Iran, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/ Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a fundraiser for the Democratic Governors Association, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 in Washington.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a fundraiser for the Democratic Governors Association, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 in Washington.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Phoenix Awards dinner, in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Phoenix Awards dinner, in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
President Barack Obama delivers remarks in the East Room of the White House in Washington this week.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks in the East Room of the White House in Washington this week.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama walks down the Colonnade from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington this week.
President Barack Obama walks down the Colonnade from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington this week.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 131 comments
yummines
Oct 12, 2009 5:31 AM CDT
Tim, comments are flagged when they are offensive and break the terms of service, not because they conflict with opinions. that is what the thumbs up/down is for, not the flagging. if there is something un-offensive of yours that has been flagged that is not right, but i highly doubt your comments would be flagged at all if it didn't try to make a racist or anti-liberal reference...
odowd80
Oct 12, 2009 3:58 AM CDT
So nobody will answer the simple question: Who deserved it more? Right-wing douchebags.
Cprizzle
Oct 12, 2009 2:59 AM CDT
Yeah man. I got your sarcasm, and I agree.

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