10/09/09

Domestic reaction to President Barack Obama’s winning the Nobel Peace Prize has been a classic case of missing the forest for the trees.  While cynical domestic commentators have obsessed over the daily political ups and downs of a new President, observers should recognize this award for what it is: a clear recognition that President Obama has dramatically changed the direction of American engagement with the world, putting forward an agenda that the world supports and shares.

In his first nine months in office, President Obama has reasserted American leadership on behalf of an agenda that has seized the imagination of people around the world:  controlling nuclear weapons, responding to climate change, and promoting Middle East peace. The President has also restored America’s moral standing by implementing a timetable for the end of American involvement in Iraq, renouncing torture, and working to revamp America’s detention policy.

The Nobel Prize doesn’t just go to people who have completely succeeded in their efforts, nor is it a lifetime achievement award. Instead, it is given explicitly to endorse and encourage those who are working to bring about a better more peaceful world. Yitzchak Rabin, Shimon Peres, and Yasser Arafat received the award not because they had resolved the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but because they had set out to resolve it in such an inspiring way. The committee is recognizing Obama’s efforts to lead a growing global movement – and this is a moment for us to be proud of our country.

World lauds Nobel committee’s decision to award Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama:

• Mohammed Elbaradei, director-general of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency and Nobel recipient. “I cannot think of anyone today more deserving of this honor. 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.” [NY Times, 10/09/09]

• Shimon Peres, Israeli President and Nobel recipient: “Very few leaders if at all were able to change the mood of the entire world in such a short while with such a profound impact, You provided the entire humanity with fresh hope, with intellectual determination, and a feeling that there is a lord in heaven and believers on earth… Under your leadership, peace became a real and original agenda. And from Jerusalem, I am sure all the bells of engagement and understanding will ring again. You gave us a license to dream and act in a noble direction.” [NY Times, 10/09/09]

• Mikhail Gorbachev, former President of the Soviet Union and Nobel recipient. “In these hard times people who are capable of taking responsibility, who have a vision [of problems], commitment and political will should be supported.” [NY Times, 10/09/09]

• Past Nobel recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “It is a very imaginative and somewhat surprising choice. It is wonderful.” [Middle East Online, 10/09/09]

• Masdar Mas'udi, senior leader of Indonesia’s largest Muslim Organization: "I think it's appropriate because he is the only American president who has reached out to us in peace. On the issues of race, religion, skin color, he has an open attitude." [NPR, 10/09/09]

• The Nelson Mandela Foundation: "We trust that this award will strengthen his commitment, as the leader of the most powerful nation in the world, to continue promoting peace and the eradication of poverty." [NPR, 10/09/09]

Obama’s selection follows Nobel tradition of rewarding leaders, including past American presidents, who have worked to create peace and stability. “Obama is the third sitting U.S. president--and the first in 90 years--to win the prestigious peace prize...  Woodrow Wilson was awarded the price in 1919, after helping to found the League of Nations and shaping the Treatise of Versailles; and Theodore Roosevelt was the recipient in 1906 for his work to negotiate an end to the Russo-Japanese war,” writes the Washington Post.  

Historically the prize has often been awarded to people in the midst of their work – often seeking to encourage those efforts, rather than simply rewarding past accomplishments.  An article in Foreign Policy says that, “The Nobel committee seeks to change the world through the prize's very conferral, and, unlike its fellow prizes, the peace prize goes well beyond recognizing past accomplishments. As Francis Sejersted, the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in the 1990s, once proudly admitted, ‘The prize ... is not only for past achievement. ... The committee also takes the possible positive effects of its choices into account [because] ... Nobel wanted the prize to have political effects. Awarding a peace prize is, to put it bluntly, a political act.’”  This was the precisely the point of the Nobel Committee’s decision.  

As one member of the five person panel that chooses the winner told the Wall Street Journal, “this was primarily an award on his work on and commitment to nuclear disarmament – and his dialogue. Of course there will be criticism, because he hasn’t achieved his goals yet. It will take time, but this is a support.” Thorbjørn Jagland, the Nobel Committee chairman places it in a historical context: “If you look at the history of the Nobel Peace prize, we have, on many occasions, tried to enhance what many personalities are trying to do. For instance, when Willy Brandt got the prize back in the 1970s, he launched Ostpolitik in Europe, which was so important to what happened in Europe many years later. For instance, giving the prize to Mikhail Gorbachev, who changed the world completely. And now to President Obama, who is contributing to improve the international climate,” reports the Wall Street Journal.  [Washington Post, 10/9/09. Foreign Policy, 7/9/09. WS Journal, 10/7/09. WS Journal, 10/09/09]

Conservatives fail to see the advances that President Obama has made in promoting American security while addressing global challenges. Conservatives, blinded by partisan politics, have had a running meme that the president has not achieved anything in office.  For example, John Miller writes in the National Review that, “Obama isn't the first American president to win the Nobel Peace Prize, but he's the first to win it without having accomplished anything… Obama's award is simply the projection of wishful thinking.” And Republican consultant Curt Anderson said in the Washington Post that “It will completely reinforce the notion that he is all flash and no substance, all style, and more popular in Europe than in America.” Even before the prize was awarded, this theme was leaking into the mainstream media.  Chip Reid of CBS news said last month that, “After eight months in office, he’s still the darling of the international community… But with scant progress on a long his of issues, the question now is what does he have to show for it?” [John Miller, National Review, 10/09/09. Curt Anderson, Washington Post, 10/09/09. Chip Reid, CBS News via NewsBusters, 09/23/09]

Two leaders of the conservative establishment, Michael Steele and Rush Limbaugh, lambasted the President for renewing America’s global leadership.

•  “The Nobel gang just suicide bombed themselves. Gore, Carter, Obama, soon Bill Clinton. See a pattern here? They are all leftist sell-outs. George Bush liberates 50 million Muslims in Iraq, Reagan liberates hundreds of millions of Europeans and saves parts of Latin America. Any awards?” Limbaugh says “Obama gives speeches trashing his own country and for that gets a prize, which is now worth as much as whatever prizes they are putting in Cracker Jacks these days.” (10/09/09)

• “The real question Americans are asking is, ‘What has President Obama actually accomplished?’ It is unfortunate that the president’s star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights. One thing is certain – President Obama won’t be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action.” – RNC Chairman Michael Steele

Meanwhile, the Administration has in reality made significant progress on multiple important global issues that have strengthened American security.

• Achieved significant progress on nonproliferation. The Washington Post reports, “The committee praised Obama for his ‘extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples’ during his nine months in office and singled out for special recognition Obama's call for a world free of nuclear weapons, which he first made in an April speech in Prague.” Agot Valle, a member of the five-person Nobel committee, told the Wall Street Journal that the “committee last met on Oct. 5, and that the decision to choose Obama was unanimous, especially after Sept. 24, when Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to chair a U.N. Security Council summit-level meeting. At that meeting, the Security Council passed a resolution calling for a strengthened Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty ahead of negotiations on the issue with Iran in Geneva.”  [Washington Post, 10/9/09.  WS Journal, 10/7/09]

• Reached out to the Muslim world in an unprecedented show of trust and respect. Just under nine months into his administration, President Obama’s administration has dramatically altered the tenor of America’s relationship with the Muslim world.  From his first interview as President with Al-Arabiya to his address in Cairo, the President has clearly articulated America’s desire for better relations between the U.S. and the world’s Muslims. [President Obama, 6/04/09]

• Strengthened the international response to Iran. President Obama increased pressure on Iran heading into talks on its nuclear program by gaining Russian verbal support for sanctions if diplomacy fails.  The New York Times reported that Russian President Dmitri Medvedev “signaled for the first time that Russia would be amenable to longstanding American requests to toughen sanctions against Iran significantly” if talks scheduled for next month head nowhere. “‘I told His Excellency Mr. President that we believe we need to help Iran to take a right decision,’ Mr. Medvedev said, adding that ‘sanctions rarely lead to productive results, but in some cases, sanctions are inevitable.’” [NY Times, 9/24/09]

• “Reset” U.S.-Russia relations. By offering Russia a “reset button” the Administration has bolstered relations with a key partner for addressing nuclear proliferation, the war in Afghanistan, the crisis with Iran, climate change and any international crisis. CFR notes that the administration’s efforts to “‘press the reset button’ in relations with Russia was well-received in Moscow.” And as Secretary Clinton said on Russia’s cooperation regarding Iran, “we also believe that in working closely with Russia, sharing information, that they have been quite helpful this past week.” [CFR, 2/18/09. Secretary Hillary Clinton, CBS News, 9/27/09]

• Restructured the G20 to be more representative and effective. The New York Times reports, “President Obama will announce Friday that the once elite club of rich industrial nations known as the Group of 7 will be permanently replaced as a global forum for economic policy by the much broader Group of 20 that includes China, Brazil, India and other fast-growing developing countries, administration officials said Thursday.” [NY Times, 9/25/09]

• Reengaged the UN and challenged its members to match their rhetoric with action. In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, President Obama said, “Now, like all of you, my responsibility is to act in the interest of my nation and my people, and I will never apologize for defending those interests.  But it is my deeply held belief that in the year 2009 -- more than at any point in human history -- the interests of nations and peoples are shared... We have sought -- in word and deed -- a new era of engagement with the world.  And now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.” [Barack Obama, 9/23/09]

What We’re Reading

North Korea already has the world’s largest special forces contingent, but they appear to be dramatically increasing the numbers of soldiers being taught asymmetric warfare. Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea agree to offer the North more economic aid and a security agreement in exchange for abandoning its nuclear program.

As he pursues a new strategy, President Obama has concluded that Afghanistan requires a more comprehensive strategy to diminish their risk to Afghan and American security. General McChrystal’s trip to Washington has been delayed as President Obama’s strategy discussion continues.

A massive bomb went off in a marketplace in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing 49 people and injuring more than 100 others.

The Burmese military junta is allowing western diplomats to meet with imprisoned democratic activist Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, offering a small sign of détente with the West.

The withdrawal from Iraq is a massive operation in itself, where 1/6 of American troops there are solely dedicated to logistical transportation of the massive amount of equipment and manpower.

Honduras’ interim leader, who achieved power by ousting the previous president, has curried favor with GOP lawmakers after spending $600,000 on lobbyists in Washington.

Egyptian pro-reform activists urge the United States to continue their commitment to bring democratic reforms to the Arab world, as Egyptian security forces begin a fresh crack down on Islamic and democratic opposition groups and figures.

Iranian revolutionary guards have tightened their grip on the state following the electoral protests, buying a majority share of stock in a major Iranian media company.

More rain and flooding continue to batter the Philippines as thousands seek higher ground in the towns north of the capital, Manilla. More than 160 people have been killed in mudslides so far.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is facing a growing crisis in confidence as moderates and conservatives oppose his overtures of peace towards Israel in order to revive a formal peace dialogue.

British Tory Party leader David Cameron makes a major policy speech as he burnishes his credentials to be the next British Prime Minister.

South Koreans have become outraged over a series of high-profile sex crimes against children.

Maoist insurgents attack Indian paramilitary police officers, in their most brazen attack against the Indian state in years.

Commentary of the Day

The New York Times praises Italy’s highest court for overturning the law protecting Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from prosecution, calling it a major victory for democracy and accountability.

Prince Turki al-Faisal explains why regional engagement, and holding Afghan President Hamid Karzai accountable for reconstruction goals, is the way forward in Afghanistan.

Joshua Reichert explains why the Obama administration should consider overfishing a problem worth addressing in his international environmental agenda.

The Los Angeles Times urges a swift resolution to the Honduran political crisis, saying if opposing political figures continue to drag their feet they will only prolong economic problems that will hurt the average Honduran.