The other Awards Obama will will this year...

[kandrathe]

It was an easy one for him. Everybody would have won it after taking over from Bush (probably even McCain), it is a case of looking good by comparison.
And of course he was nominated when he was in office just 3 months.....but the decision has been made later.
But the fact that despite having this big economic crisis the world seems a much nicer place, with people just treating each other normally again is a big thing....the fact that any other president would also have won it after the GW Bush disaster is not an argument not to award the prize.

Just a nit; He was nominated 2 weeks after taking office.

But, I agree with you that this is an anti-Bush statement to the US. I think it should have gone to Morgan Tsvangirai, or Piedad Cordoba, but then again I'm a rational human being (most days).

It is obvious that this award given by political hacks has become nonsensical, and giving it to Obama for charm, even tops giving it to Al Gore for flying around the world in his private jet telling people how much he cares about the environment. What I wonder is when Nobel’s will, which says the peace award should go “to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” will be honored. The US is increasing forces in Afghanistan, hasn't pulled out of Iraq, and in fact has done nothing in the past year to make the world a safer place. I'd say the world is less safe than a year ago, less bellicose, yes, and also less safe.