Chavez Says Obama Did "Nothing" to Deserve Nobel - File under "more interesting bedfellows for GOP"

[jefferson_dem]

Chavez Says Obama Did "Nothing" to Deserve Nobel
By REUTERS
Filed at 12:51 p.m. ET

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's socialist leader Hugo Chavez said on Sunday that U.S. President Barack Obama had done nothing beyond wishful thinking to earn the Nobel Peace Prize.

Chavez, who has mixed praise for Obama personally with criticism of his government's "imperialist" policies, said he thought it was a mistake when he read the U.S. leader had won.

"What has Obama done to deserve this prize? The jury put store on his hope for a nuclear arms-free world, forgetting his role in perpetuating his battalions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his decision to install new military bases in Colombia," Chavez wrote in a column.

"For the first time, we are witnessing an award with the nominee having done nothing to deserve it: rewarding someone for a wish that is very far from becoming reality."

<SNIP>

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/10/11/world/international-uk-nobel-peace-obama-chavez.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print

[NoPasaran]

1. NostraDUmus predicts

One of the first ten replies will claim that Chavez was mistranslated, or slam Reuters for their reporting.

[jefferson_dem]

2. Corporatist...blah blah blah...propaganda...blah blah blah...translation...

Boilerplate Chavez apologetics...

[enid602]

3. Hugo

Maybe Hugo feels he should have won it himself; you know, for giving away $89 billion last year to foreign countries. Of course, he only gave away $2 billion this year, and most of the money spent in foreign aid is borrowed, anyway. Of course, if he was a real socialist and patriot, he would have used these funds to alleviate and improve the horrific housing situation for those who live in Caracas´slums.

[Cha]

4. Put Chavez in the category of those

who don't get it..At least Michael Moore gets it and so many people who I respect.

but, you have to have been paying attention..

<snip>

October 9, 2009

By Steven Leser

As a supporter of President Obama, I knew that this day would come, I just didn't think it would come so soon. I believe the President deserves an enormous amount of credit for changing the tone of American diplomacy in his first 8-9 months in office. This tone change is responsible for a dramatic improvement in the way Americans are perceived abroad. In a recent poll reported in Time Magazine (see http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/10/07/barack-obama... / ), America is now the most admired country in the world, up from seventh only a year ago.

For all of that, the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Obama at this time was a bit surprising to me, to say the least. I read through some of the articles and reports to see if I could gain some insight into the thinking of the Nobel committee as to what brought this about. Sure, there are the jokesters and one liners about the President not being George Bush and all of that, but how did this all come about and why.

The eureka moment came to me after reading two separate AP reports. In the first, the AP reporters interviewed a member of the Nobel Committee who articulated the reason for the nomination. Conspicuously mentioned was the Presidents commitment to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_nobel_peace :

The Norwegian Nobel Committee countered that it was trying "to promote what he stands for and the positive processes that have started now." It lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation, and praised his pledges to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms, ease American conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthen the U.S. role in combating climate change.

The peace prize was created partly to encourage ongoing peace efforts but Obama's efforts are at far earlier stages than past winners'. The Nobel committee acknowledged that they may not bear fruit at all.

"He got the prize because he has been able to change the international climate," Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said. "Some people say, and I understand it, isn't it premature? Too early? Well, I'd say then that it could be too late to respond three years from now. It is now that we have the opportunity to respond — all of us.".

grantcart (1000+ posts) Fri Oct-09-09 02:14 PM
Response to Original message

"4. If I might add a little to your analysis."

I don't think it is so much that ElBaradei authored this sentiment but he represents what is a growing and pervasive understanding of what the President is doing outside the US.

When you live outside the US for extended periods of time you become aware that perceptions of what is important in the US and what is important outside the US are so different.

For example, establishing the defensive missle shield in Eastern Europe was seen as a very devisive, stupid and dangerous move and a real threat to peace.

1) It was perceived as devisive because it not only generated a totally needless hostility between Europe and Russia but it also divided Eastern and Western Europe (and that may have been one of the main reasons that Bush pursued it - hoping to increase American hegemony in Europe.

2) It was universally thought of as a modern Maginot Line because high tech defensive measures are (as the terrorists on 9/11 proved) easily defeated if there is a strong will to do so.

3) It was understood as a threat to peace because it took Russia out of world peace equation. As long as the US was ignoring their concerns then Russia was not going to help with Iran or any other issue that didn't impact directly on their immediate self interest. That would also give cover for China to obstruct the Security Council.

So by agreeing not to go ahead with an expensive, ineffective and divisive defensive missle shield in Eastern Europe a lot of things have changed. This was big big news in Europe but didn't raise a wrinkle here.

BTW Mohamed ElBaradei is one of the greatest unsung International Civil Servants."

<more>http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8692775

Michael Moore's take on PO being given the NPP.

<snip>

P.S. Your opposition has spent the morning attacking you for bringing such good will to this country. Why do they hate America so much? I get the feeling that if you found the cure for cancer this afternoon they'd be denouncing you for destroying free enterprise because cancer centers would have to close. There are those who say you've done nothing yet to deserve this award. As far as I'm concerned, the very fact that you've offered to walk into the minefield of hate and try to undo the irreparable damage the last president did is not only appreciated by me and millions of others, it is also an act of true bravery.That's why you got the prize. The whole world is depending on the U.S. -- and you -- to literally save this planet. Let's not let them down.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/9/791561/-Congratulations-President-Obama-on-the-Nobel-Peace-PrizeNow-Please-Earn-it!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8693353

'To think the US President is an undeserving Nobel winner misses the point' (UK Independent)

<more>
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8694329

"Rachel Maddow: Obama Derangement Syndrome"

<more>
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8694351

U.N. approves resolution to rid world of nukes
Security Council unanimously OKs initiative on nonproliferation, nuke terror"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33001551/ns/world_news-unit

"Douglas Brinkley: Obama has already confirmed his place of greatness
Well-Deserved Prize"

<more>
ttp://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8694906

Michael Moore's Second Thoughts on President Obama winning the NPP..

"My prediction for the future? You become the first two-time winner of the Nobel Peace Prize! Yeah!"

<much more>
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8695710

[Democrats_win]

5. Nonetheless, I plan to celebrate. Have a cerveza Chavez! nt

[Cha]

6. Chavez and all the other deniers need to read this..

Cross posted..

"Ten reasons Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize"

1. Before he became president - , Obama forcefully argued, at great political risk, that the U.S. should talk to its enemies (famously, in a debate with John McCain). He convinced a majority of Americans, and that is now U.S. foreign policy.
2. January 22 - On his second day in office, Obama announced plans to close Guantanamo in a year. He has made great diplomatic efforts to find residences for innocent detainees, even as fear mongers accused him of wanting to release terrorists in America.
3. February 27 - Obama details his plans to pull out of Iraq. He made his speech in front of uniformed marines and explained that combat troops would be out by 2010.
4. March 13 - Obama Justice department drops 'enemy combatants' label on detainees, marking a return to the Geneva Conventions.
5. April 5 - Outlines details of nuclear weapons reductions plan in a speech to the public in Prague. The plan calls for intense international diplomacy and a respect for the right of fledgling countries to enrich uranium for energy purposes, proposing an international nuclear fuel-bank for those aims. All this was in the face of North Korean long-range missile testing.
6. April 13 - Repeals restrictions on Cuban Americans, allowing them to visit home as long as they want and to send money. Also allows telecommunications companies to pursue agreements in Cuba, hoping to promote communcation. This is the boldest move towards peace with Cuba any president has made in over 40 years.
7. June 4 - Obama makes landmark speech in Cairo, in which he quotes three different holy texts and speaks Arabic. Again, at tremendous political risk at home, Obama makes empassioned tribute to the achiements of the Muslim world and admits U.S. role in overthrow of Iranian government, attempting to create environment of honesty, respect, and cooperation.
8. June 27 - The U.S. begins removal of combat troops from major cities in Iraq.
9. July 6 - Obama heads to Russia to speak with Russian president about nuclear arms reduction. He makes a speech at a Russian University, notably saying, "There is the 20th century view that United States and Russia are destined to be antagonists. And that a strong Russia or a strong America can only assert themselves in opposition to one another. And there is a 19th century view, that we are destined to vie for spheres of influence and that great powers must forge competing blocs to balance on another. These assumptions are wrong. In 2009, a great power does not show strength by dominating or demonishing other countries. The days when empires could treat sovereign states as pieces on a chessboard are over."
10. Sept 24 - In a first for a U.S. president, Obama presides over a U.N. Security Council summit, where members unanimously agreed to a sweeping strategy to stop the spread of and ultimately eliminate nuclear weapons.

Full article here:

http://trulyskewed.blogspot.com/2009/10/ten-reasons-obama-deserves-nobel-peace.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8696654

[rebel with a cause]

7. Give Chavez a break.

How would you feel if you had been the defender of the world against bush and his regime and then suddenly you become a villain because next to Obama you are seen in a whole new light. I'll admit that I didn't think he was so bad until Obama got in and then I thought.. shouldn't he be happy? Obama is what he was saying bush should have been. I guess some people can never be happy.
:sarcasm:

[RedCloud]

8. Left in form responses, reactionary in essence.

Do you routinely side with those who plundered more than one billion dollars from the Venezuelan economy? They have many media magnet friends. Adecos and Copeyanos, I found some more gullible enough to believe you folks, so you can keep "right" on saying whatever.

And what's next from you guys? Chávez farted in the direction of the USA?

[jefferson_dem]

10. Not really.

But I DO routinely side against petty tyrants and despots

...especially those who talk shit about our Democratic president.

Please feel free to saddle up with the Taliban-Limpballs-Hannity-Drudge-Steele-Chavez posse if you like.

[boppers]

11. Chavez doesn't fart.

He passes winds of change that help the poor by fighting against the tyrannical imperialists.

[TheBigotBasher]

9. I guess he thinks nothing was stopping Russia and the US re-escalating the cold war

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/06/obama-medvedev-nuclear-weapons-disarmament

[Cha]

12. Maybe he doesn't care?