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{{infobox award
{{infobox award
| previous = [[2008 Nobel Peace Prize|2008]]
| previous = [[2008 Nobel Peace Prize|2008]]{{Commons category-inline|Nobel Peace Prize 2009}}
| main = [[Nobel Peace Prize]]
| next = [[2010 Nobel Peace Prize|2010]]
}}
{{Barack Obama sidebar}}
[[File:President Barack Obama with the Nobel Prize medal and diploma.jpg|thumb|220px|right|alt=Barack Obama with the Nobel Prize.|U.S. President Barack Obama receiving the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize]]
The '''2009 Nobel Peace Prize''' was awarded to [[United States]] President [[Barack Obama]] for his <ref name="NPP">{{cite web|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2009|publisher=Nobel Foundation|accessdate=October 9, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091010170600/http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/| archivedate= October 10, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> The [[Norwegian Nobel Committee]] announced the award on October 9, 2009, citing Obama's promotion of [[nuclear nonproliferation]]<ref name="bbc article on nobel win">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8298580.stm|title=Obama wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize |date=October 9, 2009|publisher=BBC News Online|accessdate=October 9, 2009| archiveurl= https://swap.stanford.edu/20100129055740/http%3A//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8298580.stm| archivedate= January 29, 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> and a "new climate" in international relations fostered by Obama, especially in reaching out to the [[Muslim world]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10nobel.html |title=Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize |work=The New York Times |date=October 9, 2009|accessdate=October 9, 2009 | first1=Steven | last1=Erlanger| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110501012645/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10nobel.html| archivedate=May 1, 2011<!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2009/10/10/archives/retrospective/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize.html |title=Obama Wins Nobel for Peace |work=[[The Saturday Evening Post]]|date=October 10, 2009|accessdate=November 5, 2009 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091113002914/http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2009/10/10/archives/retrospective/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize.html| archivedate= November 13, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>

The Nobel Committee's decision drew mixed reactions from US commentators and editorial writers across the political spectrum, as well as from the rest of the world.

Obama accepted the prize in Oslo on December 10, 2009. In a 36-minute speech, he discussed the tensions between war and peace and the idea of a "[[just war]]"<ref>{{Cite news|last=Zeleny|first=Jeff|title=Accepting Peace Prize, Obama Evokes 'Just War'|newspaper=New York Times|date=December 10, 2009|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/world/europe/11prexy.html| accessdate= December 10, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120210122241/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/world/europe/11prexy.html| archivedate=February 10, 2012| deadurl= no}}</ref> saying, "perhaps the most profound issue surrounding my receipt of this prize is the fact that I am the Commander-in-Chief of the military of a nation in the midst of two wars."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-acceptance-nobel-peace-prize |title=Obama acceptance speech transcript |access-date=December 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213165240/http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-acceptance-nobel-peace-prize |archive-date=December 13, 2009 |dead-url=yes |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Obama is the 44th [[President of the United States]] to have won the Nobel Peace Prize (after [[Theodore Roosevelt]], [[Woodrow Wilson#Peace Conference 1919|Woodrow Wilson]] and [[Jimmy Carter#Carter Center and Nobel Prize|Jimmy Carter]], with Carter's honor happening after leaving office).

==Nomination and announcement==
The winner is selected by the [[Nobel Committee]] from nominations submitted by committee members and others. Nominations for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize closed just 11 days after Obama took office. There were 205 nominations for the 2009 award, which included Chinese and Afghan civil rights activists and African politicians. Colombian Senator [[Piedad Córdoba]],<ref name="re"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=avBkvKQKUpOQ|title=Colombia's Cordoba Contending for Nobel Peace Prize|publisher=Bloomberg | date=October 5, 2009}}</ref> Afghanistan's [[Sima Samar]],<ref name="re">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5964X920091007|title=Nobel Peace prize seeks return to activist roots|publisher=Reuter | date=October 7, 2009}}</ref> Chinese dissident [[Hu Jia (activist)|Hu Jia]] and Prime Minister of Zimbabwe [[Morgan Tsvangirai]] had been speculated to be favorites for the award.<ref name="bbc article on nobel win"/>

The [[Norwegian Nobel Committee#Current members|five members]] of the Nobel Committee are appointed by the [[Parliament of Norway|Norwegian Parliament]] to roughly reflect the party makeup of that body. The 2009 Committee comprised two members of the [[Norwegian Labor Party]], one from the left-wing [[Socialist Left Party (Norway)|Socialist Left Party]], one from the [[Conservative Party of Norway]] and one from the right-wing [[Progress Party (Norway)|Progress Party]]. The chairman of the Committee was [[Thorbjørn Jagland]], former Norwegian Labor Party prime minister and [[Secretary General of the Council of Europe]] since September 29, 2009. The panel met six or seven times in 2009, beginning several weeks after the February 1 nomination deadline. The winner was chosen unanimously on October 5.<ref name=wgnyt>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10oslo.html | work=The New York Times | first=Walter | last=Gibbs | title=From 205 Names, Panel Chose the Most Visible | date=October 10, 2009}}</ref> but was initially opposed by the Socialist Left, Conservative and Progress Party members until strongly persuaded by Jagland.<ref>Dagbladet, "[http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/10/15/nyheter/innenriks/barack_obama/nobels_fredspris/torbjorn_jagland/8584705/ - Nobel-flertallet argumenterte mot Obama]"</ref>

Jagland said "We have not given the prize for what may happen in the future. We are awarding Obama for what he has done in the past year. And we are hoping this may contribute a little bit for what he is trying to do," noting that he hoped the award would assist Obama's foreign policy efforts. Jagland said the committee was influenced by [[A New Beginning|a speech Obama gave]] about [[Islam]] in [[Cairo]] in June 2009, the president's efforts to prevent [[nuclear proliferation]] and [[climate change]], and Obama's support for using established international bodies such as the United Nations to pursue foreign policy goals.<ref name=wp1>{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/09/AR2009100900914_pf.html | accessdate = October 9, 2009 | work=The Washington Post | first=Scott | last=Wilson | title=President Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' reported that Jagland shrugged off the question of whether "the committee feared being labeled naïve for accepting a young politician's promises at face value", stating that "no one could deny that 'the international climate' had suddenly improved, and that Mr. Obama was the main reason...'We want to embrace the message that he stands for."<ref name=wgnyt/>
[[File:Jagland and Obama.jpg|thumb|300px|right|alt=Barack Obama with Thorbjørn Jagland|Barack Obama with [[Thorbjørn Jagland]] at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.]]

Obama was the fourth U.S. President to be awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]], after [[Theodore Roosevelt]] (1906) and [[Woodrow Wilson]] (1919)—both of whom received the award during their terms—and [[Jimmy Carter]] (2002), who received the award 21 years after leaving office. In addition, then-sitting Vice President [[Charles G. Dawes|Charles Dawes]] was a co-winner with [[Austen Chamberlain]] (1925), and former Vice President [[Al Gore]] was a co-winner with the U.N.'s [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]] (2007)

Obama was the first U.S. president to receive the award during his first year in office (at eight and a half months, after being nominated less than two weeks in office), although several other world leaders were awarded in the year following their election to national office, including [[Óscar Arias]] (1987)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1987/presentation-speech.html|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 1987 – Presentation Speech|first=Egil|last=Aarvik|accessdate=October 12, 2009}}</ref> and [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] (1991).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1991/presentation-speech.html|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 1991 – Presentation Speech|first=Francis|last=Sejersted|accessdate=October 12, 2009}}</ref>

==Reactions==

===Barack Obama===
Obama said he was "surprised" and "deeply humbled" by the award.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5981JK20091009?sp=true|title=Obama is surprise winner of Nobel Peace Prize |accessdate=October 9, 2009 |date=October 9, 2009 |publisher=Reuters | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091012134156/https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5981JK20091009?sp=true| archivedate= October 12, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> In remarks given at the [[White House Rose Garden]] on the day of the announcement, Obama stated, "I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments but rather an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations."<ref name=whr1>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-on-Winning-the-Nobel-Peace-Prize/ "Remarks by the President on Winning the Nobel Peace Prize"] {{Webarchive|url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20100410032820/http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-on-Winning-the-Nobel-Peace-Prize/ |date=April 10, 2010 }}, October 9, 2009, retrieved same day</ref>

"Throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes," Obama said. "And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action&nbsp;— a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century." He said those common challenges included the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons (which he said might not occur in his lifetime), nuclear proliferation, climate change, tolerance "among people of different faiths and races and religions", peace between and security for Israelis and Palestinians, better social conditions for the world's poor, including "the ability to get an education and make a decent living; the security that you won't have to live in fear of disease or violence without hope for the future." The United States, he said, is "a country that's responsible for ending a war and working in another theater to confront a ruthless adversary that directly threatens the American people and our allies."<ref name=whr1/>

The award, he said, "must be shared with everyone who strives for justice and dignity&nbsp;— for the young woman who marches silently in the streets on behalf of her right to be heard even in the face of beatings and bullets; for the leader imprisoned in her own home because she refuses to abandon her commitment to democracy [referring to [[Aung San Suu Kyi]]]; for the soldier who sacrificed through tour after tour of duty on behalf of someone half a world away; and for all those men and women across the world who sacrifice their safety and their freedom and sometime their lives for the cause of peace."<ref name=whr1/> He did not take questions from reporters after giving his statement.

Obama announced early that he would donate the full 10&nbsp;million [[Swedish kronor]] (about US$1.4&nbsp;million) monetary award to charity.<ref name=abc1>{{cite news |last=Kahn |first=Huma |author2=Nies, Yunji de |author3=Travers, Karen |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize/story?id=8788973 |title=Obama on Nobel Prize Win: 'This Is Not How I Expected to Wake up This Morning' |publisher=[[ABC News]] |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=December 10, 2009}}</ref> The largest donations were given to the housing charity [[Fisher House Foundation]] who received $250,000, and the [[Clinton Bush Haiti Fund]] which received $200,000. Eight organizations which support education also received a donation. $125,000 was donated to the [[College Summit]], the [[Posse Foundation]], the [[United Negro College Fund]], the [[Hispanic Scholarship Fund]], the [[Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation]], and the [[American Indian College Fund]]. $100,000 was donated to [[Africare]], and the [[Central Asia Institute]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/us/12nobel.html|title=Obama Lists Who Will Get Prize Money From Nobel|last=Cooper|first=Helene|date=March 11, 2010|work=New York Times |accessdate=March 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/03/11/2010-03-11_bams_noble_gift_of_nobel_cash.html|title=President Obama donates $1.4M in Nobel Peace Prize award money to 10 charities, as promised|date=March 12, 2010|work=Daily News |location=New York |accessdate=March 12, 2010 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100314034021/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/03/11/2010-03-11_bams_noble_gift_of_nobel_cash.html| archivedate= March 14, 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>

===In the United States===
Obama's winning of the peace prize was largely unanticipated and called a "stunning surprise" by ''[[The New York Times]]'', though major oddsmaker [[Centrebet]] had in fact put him at 7–1 odds of winning, with [[Piedad Córdoba]] and [[Sima Samar]] at 6–1 and [[Morgan Tsvangirai]] at 7–1.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL7572564 |title=PREVIEW-Nobel Peace prize seeks return to activist roots |first=Wojciech|last=Moskwa |date=October 7, 2009|accessdate=October 12, 2009 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/10/09/reaction_obama_wins_nobel_peac.html |title=Reactions: Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize |accessdate=October 9, 2009 |date=September 22, 2009 |work=The Washington Post }}</ref>

In a ''USA Today'' / Gallup Poll conducted October 16–19, 61% of American adults polled responded that they thought Obama did not deserve to win the prize, while 34% responded that he did; when asked if they were personally glad that Obama won the award, 46% of respondents said they were and 47% said they were not glad (poll [[margin of error]] +/-3%).<ref name="USApoll">{{cite news|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/10/620000171/1|title=Poll: Most don't think Obama deserved Nobel award|work=USA Today |accessdate=December 31, 2009|date=October 20, 2009|first=David|last=Jackson}}</ref>

There was widespread criticism of the Nobel Committee's decision from commentators and editorial writers across the political spectrum. ''[[The New York Times]]'' published a mildly-supportive editorial which said the prize was "a (barely) implicit condemnation of Mr. Bush's presidency. But countering the ill will Mr. Bush created around the world is one of Mr. Obama's great achievements in less than nine months in office. Mr. Obama's willingness to respect and work with other nations is another." It said that much remains to be done.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/opinion/10sat1.html | accessdate = October 11, 2009 | work=The New York Times | title=The Peace Prize | date=October 10, 2009}}</ref> Among those agreeing that the award was a criticism of the Bush administration were the editorial pages of the ''Los Angeles Times'',<ref name=lat1/> ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'',<ref name=wsj1/> and ''Washington Post'',<ref name=wpe1/> as well as [[Thomas L. Friedman]] of the ''New York Times''.<ref name=tfnyt/> ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today]]'' host [[Matt Lauer]] and [[Jonah Goldberg]] of the ''[[National Review]]'' said that less than a year into the first term, there have been "no major foreign policy achievements to date."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/2009/20091009104100.aspx |title=NBC's Lauer: Not to Be Rude, but Obama Hasn't Done Anything |first=Rich|last=Noyes |date=October 9, 2009|accessdate=October 12, 2009 |publisher=Media Research Center| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091012011520/http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/2009/20091009104100.aspx| archivedate= October 12, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Goldberg added: "surely someone in Iran—or maybe the [[Green Revolution (Iran)|Iranian protestors generally]]—could have benefitted more from receiving the prize"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTI5NzkzNmM0MjYwN2Y2OTM3NTgzMDYyYWJjMjZjNGI= |title=Hilarious ... And Sad |first=Jonah |last=Goldberg |publisher=Nationalreview Online |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 13, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012021945/http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTI5NzkzNmM0MjYwN2Y2OTM3NTgzMDYyYWJjMjZjNGI%3D |archivedate=October 12, 2009 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> while in ''[[CounterPunch]]'', political journalist [[Alexander Cockburn]] said that, in historical context of other former U.S. Presidents winning the Nobel Peace Prize, the award to Obama "represents a radical break in tradition, since he's only had slightly less than nine months to discharge his imperial duties." [[Peter Beinart]] of the [[Daily Beast]] called the decision a "farce",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-09/obamas-nobel-farce/ |title=Obama's Nobel Farce |first=Peter|last=Beinart |publisher=The Daily Beast |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 12, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091011105341/http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-09/obamas-nobel-farce/| archivedate= October 11, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> while [[Noam Chomsky]] said : "In defense of the committee, we might say that the achievement of doing nothing to advance peace places Obama on a considerably higher moral plane than some of the earlier recipients".<ref>[http://chomsky.info/talks/20091030.htm "Hopes And Prospects"], Amnesty International Lecture given in Belfast, Northern Ireland, October 30, 2009</ref>

Many were critical of the Nobel Committee. A ''Wall Street Journal'' editorial, noting Obama's comment that the world's problems "can't be met by any one leader or any one nation", opined, "What this suggests to us—and to the Norwegians—is the end of what has been called '[[American exceptionalism]]'. This is the view that U.S. values have universal application and should be promoted without apology, and defended with military force when necessary. Put in this context, we wonder if most Americans will count this peace-of-the-future prize as a compliment."<ref name=wsj1>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703746604574463142879190358 |title=The Nobel Hope Prize: An award for the end of American exceptionalism |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=October 10, 2009 |accessdate=October 12, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091013032327/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703746604574463142879190358.html| archivedate= October 13, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> ''Washington Post'' columnist [[Michael Gerson]] wrote that the committee members "have forfeited any claim to seriousness. Peace—the kind of peace that keeps people from being killed and oppressed—is an achievement, not a sentiment. [...] Intending to honor Obama, the committee has actually embarrassed him."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2009/10/obamas_nobel_for_good_intentio.html|title=PostPartisan – Obama's Nobel for Good Intentions|work=The Washington Post |date=October 9, 2009|accessdate=December 31, 2009|first=Michael|last=Gerson}}</ref> ''[[Commentary (magazine)|Commentary]]'' magazine's [[Peter Wehner]] wrote that the award, with past awards that seemed aimed at criticizing the Bush administration, showed the Nobel Committee "long ago ceased to be a serious entity; this choice merely confirms that judgment."<ref>[http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/wehner/120982 "Another Slap at Bush—But He Can Take It."]</ref>

According to ''The Washington Post'' news analyst [[Dan Balz]], "[E]ven among his supporters there was a sense of surprise and even shock on Friday [the day of the announcement], a belief that the award was premature, a disservice and a potential liability."<ref>{{cite news | url = http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/10/09/a_weighty_prize.html | work=The Washington Post | title=A Weighty Prize}}</ref> An editorial in ''The Washington Post'' began, "It's an odd Nobel Peace Prize that almost makes you embarrassed for the honoree", and compared the Nobel Committee's statement that Obama had "created a new climate in international politics" to a recent satirical skit on television.<ref name=wpe1>{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/09/AR2009100903860_pf.html | accessdate = October 11, 2009 | work=The Washington Post | title=President Obama wins the Nobel Prize for Peace  but that's not his fault}}</ref> A ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' editorial said the committee "didn't just embarrass Obama, it diminished the credibility of the prize itself".<ref name=lat1>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-nobel10-2009oct10,0,1431554.story |accessdate=October 9, 2009 |work=Los Angeles Times |title=Obama and the Nobel: He loses by winning |date=October 10, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011103326/http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-nobel10-2009oct10%2C0%2C1431554.story |archivedate=October 11, 2009 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> Thomas L. Friedman of ''The New York Times'' wrote, "It dismays me that the most important prize in the world has been devalued in this way".<ref name=tfnyt>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/opinion/11friedman.html | accessdate = October 11, 2009 | work=The New York Times | first=Thomas L. | last=Friedman | title=The Peace (Keepers) Prize | date=October 11, 2009}}</ref> Much of the commentary across the political spectrum involved describing the award as something risible, with the humor focusing on Obama's getting the award without having accomplished much. According to an analysis in ''The New York Times'', "it [...] [is] striking how so many people seemed to greet the Nobel news with shock followed by laughter,"<ref name=mlnyt>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/weekinreview/11leibovich.html | work=The New York Times | first=Mark | last=Leibovich | title=Another Fine Mess: Comics Whack Obama | date=October 11, 2009}}</ref> On the morning of the announcement, several of ''The Washington Post''{{'s}} opinion-page columnists, posting at the newspaper's "Post Partisan" blog, characterized the award as laughable or directly satirized it, including such supportive columnists as [[Ruth Marcus (journalist)|Ruth Marcus]] ("ridiculous—embarrassing, even"),<ref>{{cite news|last=Marcus |first=Ruth |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2009/10/a_nobel_for_a_good_two_weeks.html#more |title=PostPartisan - A Nobel for a Good Two Weeks? |publisher=Voices.washingtonpost.com |date= |accessdate=February 22, 2010}}</ref> [[Richard Cohen (Washington Post columnist)|Richard Cohen]] (who satirized the award),<ref>{{cite news|last=Cohen |first=Richard |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2009/10/palin_vaughn_rabinowitz_win_aw.html#more |title=PostPartisan - Palin, Vaughn, Rabinowitz Win Awards |publisher=Voices.washingtonpost.com |date= |accessdate=February 22, 2010}}</ref> and foreign-affairs columnist [[David Ignatius]] ("goofy" and "weird"),<ref name=di1>{{cite news|last=Ignatius |first=David |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2009/10/obamas_nobel_and_americas_popu.html#more |title=PostPartisan - Obama's Nobel and America's Popularity |publisher=Voices.washingtonpost.com |date= |accessdate=February 22, 2010}}</ref> and [[Michael Kinsley]] (whose satirical response came the next day).<ref>{{cite news | url = http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2009/10/obama_wins_booker_prize.html | accessdate = October 11, 2009 | work=The Washington Post | title=Obama Wins Booker Prize}}</ref> Other prominent commentators who often supported Obama but responded with ridicule included Peter Beinart<ref name=pb1>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-09/obamas-nobel-farce/], Bienart, a columnist at ''The Daily Beast'' website, used to be editor of ''[[The New Republic]]''</ref> and [[Ann Althouse]].<ref>[http://althouse.blogspot.com/2009/10/riddle-why-didnt-barack-obama-win-nobel.html]; in addition to being a blogger, Althouse has guest blogged at Instapundit.com, The Volokh Conspiracy blog and has written for ''The New York Times'' Op-Ed page and the newspapers website; Her comment: "Riddle: Why didn't Barack Obama win the Nobel Prize for Literature? Answer: He wrote 2 books."</ref>

James Taranto wrote in ''The Wall Street Journal'' an article summarising various opinions on the Internet, concluding how the award was embarrassing for Obama. He said the award was a "staggeringly premature honor--the equivalent of a lifetime-achievement Oscar for a child star--makes yesterday's satire into today's news".<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703746604574463171820234630 | work=The Wall Street Journal | first=James | last=Taranto | title=Most Embarrassing Moment | date=October 9, 2009}}</ref> Fred Greenstein, presidential historian and author and professor of politics emeritus at [[Princeton University]], told FOX News that giving President Obama the Nobel Peace Prize is a "premature canonization" and an "embarrassment to the Nobel process."<ref name=Fox>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/09/nobel-prize-obama-embarrassment-process-expert-says/ |title=Obama's Nobel Is Premature, Historians and Political Scientists Say |first=Joshua Rhett |last=Miller |publisher=Fox News |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 12, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091011230815/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/09/nobel-prize-obama-embarrassment-process-expert-says/| archivedate= October 11, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] magazine'' blogger [[Mickey Kaus]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/kausfiles/archive/2009/10/09/what-obama-should-do-with-his-nobel-peace-prize.aspx |title=Kausfiles : What Obama Should Do With His Nobel Peace Prize |publisher=Slate.com |date= |accessdate=October 10, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091011034128/http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/kausfiles/archive/2009/10/09/what-obama-should-do-with-his-nobel-peace-prize.aspx| archivedate= October 11, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= yes}}</ref> ''New York Times'' columnist [[David Brooks (journalist)|David Brooks]]<ref name="pbs.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec09/brooksmarcus_10-09.html |title=Brooks, Marcus Discuss Potential Peace Prize Backfire, Rangel Controversy |publisher=PBS |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=February 22, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100326175619/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec09/brooksmarcus_10-09.html| archivedate= March 26, 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> and former U.N. ambassador [[John R. Bolton|John Bolton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MzZkNzg0MDVhMWJjNmI2YTc1NTZkZTJlNGM0NzI4NzA= |title=Bolton: Decline It&nbsp;— Robert Costa&nbsp;— The Corner on National Review Online |publisher=Corner.nationalreview.com |date=April 16, 2007 |accessdate=October 10, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012021951/http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MzZkNzg0MDVhMWJjNmI2YTc1NTZkZTJlNGM0NzI4NzA%3D |archivedate=October 12, 2009 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> amongst others, called for Obama to not accept the award; pundit [[Michael Crowley (journalist)|Michael Crowley]] argued that it was a "mixed blessing".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-plank/obamas-nobel-mixed-blessing-best |title=Obama's Nobel: Mixed Blessing At Best &#124; The New Republic |publisher=Tnr.com |date= |accessdate=October 10, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091012075218/http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-plank/obamas-nobel-mixed-blessing-best| archivedate= October 12, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>

Subsequent to the award many Americans now consider that Obama did not deserve it in the light of following events.<ref name="USApoll"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1929415_1929418_1929427,00.html|title=Top 10 Obama Backlash Moments|author=Jak Phillips|publisher=Time|date=October 7, 2011|accessdate=May 4, 2013}}</ref>
Opponents of the award cite the expansion of the [[War on Terror]] and the large increase in the number of drone strikes carried out under Obama, specifically [[Drone attacks in Pakistan|in Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/04/12/ron-paul-bradley-manning-deserves-nobel-peace-prize-more-than-barack-obama|title=Ron Paul: Bradley Manning Promotes Peace More Than Obama|author=Steven Nelson|publisher=US News|date=April 12, 2013|accessdate=May 4, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2155099/So-Nobel-Peace-Prize-How-anti-war-Obama-Lord-High-Executioner.html|title=So much for that Nobel Peace Prize! How anti-war Obama has become Lord High Executioner|author=Toby Harden|publisher=Daily Mail|date=June 5, 2012|accessdate=May 4, 2013}}</ref> There have been a number of calls for Obama to either return the award or to have the Nobel Committee recall it, most recently in 2013.<ref name="HuffPost">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/norman-solomon/the-growing-campaign-to-r_b_3007189.html|title=The Growing Campaign to Revoke Obama's Nobel Peace Prize|author=Norman Solomon|publisher=Huffington Post|date=April 4, 2013|accessdate=May 4, 2013}}</ref> In April 2013 a petition was begun asking the Nobel Committee to rescind the Peace Prize. The petition garnered 10,000 signatures in its first day and nearly 20,000 by the end of its first week.<ref name="HuffPost"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://spectator.org/archives/2013/04/18/revoke-obamas-peace-prize|title=Revoke Obama's Peace Prize|author=Christopher Orlet|publisher=The American Spectator|date=April 18, 2013|accessdate=May 4, 2013}}</ref>

====Political reaction====

Nobel laureate and former U.S. Vice President [[Al Gore]] called the award "extremely well deserved".<ref name=gore>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/10/09/09greenwire-obama-wins-nobel-prize-in-part-for-confronting-55250.html|title=Obama Wins Nobel Prize in Part for Confronting 'Great Climatic Challenges'|date=October 9, 2009|work=The New York Times|accessdate=October 9, 2009 | first=Darren | last=Samuelsohn| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091012104852/http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/10/09/09greenwire-obama-wins-nobel-prize-in-part-for-confronting-55250.html| archivedate= October 12, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Obama received congratulations and kind words from other elected officials, such as from House Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]] and former rival, Senator [[John McCain]], who said, "As Americans, we're proud when our president receives an award of that prestigious category".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/09/mccain-says-nobel-award-based-on-expectations/ |title=McCain says Nobel award based on expectations (video) |date=October 9, 2009 |publisher=CNN Political Ticker |accessdate=October 9, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091012060159/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/09/mccain-says-nobel-award-based-on-expectations/| archivedate= October 12, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> [[Republican National Committee|RNC]] chairman [[Michael Steele]] discussed his disapproval of the award in a fund-raising letter, writing, "the Democrats and their international leftist allies want America made subservient to the agenda of global redistribution and control."<ref name=AP20091010 />

In 2015, Geir Lundestad, the non-voting Director of the Nobel Institute and secretary for the Nobel Committee at the time of the award, published a memoir, "Secretary of Peace". In it, he wrote "In hindsight, we could say that the argument of giving Obama a helping hand was only partially correct. Many of Obama's supporters believed it was a mistake." Lundestad said that Obama had been surprised by the award, and considered not going to Oslo to accept it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nobel secretary regrets Obama peace prize |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34277960 |work=BBC |date=September 17, 2015 |accessdate=September 17, 2015}}</ref> He also said in his memoir that Obama had since failed to live up to the Nobel Committee's expectations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Former Nobel secretary says Obama's peace prize didn't have desired effect |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/09/16/nobel-official-obama-peace-prize-didnt-have-desired-effect |work=US News and World Report |date=September 16, 2015 |accessdate=September 16, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nobel director regretted Obama peace prize |url=http://www.thelocal.no/20150916/nobel-prize-director-awarding-obama-was-wrong |work=The Local |date=September 16, 2015 | accessdate=September 17, 2015}}</ref>

===In Norway===
A poll conducted by [[Synovate]] for the newspaper ''[[Dagbladet]]'' showed that 43% of the Norwegian population believed giving Obama the prize was right, while 38% believed it was wrong. 19% had no opinion. The poll showed a sharp divide between younger and older people; of those over 60 years of age 58% were for and only 31% against it. Of those between 18 and 29 years of age, only 25% approved of the decision, while 42% disapproved.<ref name="Dagbladet">{{cite news|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/10/10/nyheter/innenriks/utenriks/barack_obama/nobels_fredspris/8514103/|title=Norge er Obama-delt på midten|date=October 10, 2009|work=Dagbladet|language=Norwegian|accessdate=October 10, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091013064931/http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/10/10/nyheter/innenriks/utenriks/barack_obama/nobels_fredspris/8514103/| archivedate= October 13, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>

The award divided opinion among politicians. [[Prime Minister of Norway|Prime Minister]] [[Jens Stoltenberg]] congratulated Obama for a "well-deserved prize".<ref name="NRK">{{cite news|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/nobels_fredspris/1.6811520|title=Her gratulerer Stoltenberg Obama|date=October 9, 2009N|publisher=NRK|language=Norwegian|accessdate=October 9, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091011045158/http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/nobels_fredspris/1.6811520| archivedate= October 11, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> [[Siv Jensen]], leader of the opposition [[Progress Party (Norway)|Progress Party]], said that while Obama had taken several good initiatives the committee should have waited to see their results.<ref name="VGN">{{cite news|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=573277|title=Siv Jensen: - Svekker Nobelprisen|date=October 9, 2009|language=Norwegian|publisher=VG Nett|accessdate=October 9, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091011114803/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=573277| archivedate= October 11, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> [[Erna Solberg]], leader of the [[Conservative Party of Norway|Conservative Party]], also said that the prize came early and increased pressure on Obama to live up to the expectation.<ref name = "VGN"/> [[Torstein Dahle]], the leader of the far leftist party [[Red (Norway)|Red]], called the award a scandal, citing the fact that Obama was the commander-in-chief of a country at war in Iraq and Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://roedt.no/nyheter/2009/10/fredspris-til-obama-er-en-skandale/|title=Fredspris til Obama er en skandale|date=October 9, 2009|language=Norwegian|publisher=[[Rødt]]|accessdate=October 9, 2009}}</ref>

===Other reactions===
The response from U.S. allies was generally positive;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/09/reaction-obamas-nobel-prize-varies/ |title=Reaction to Obama's Nobel prize varies |author=Joseph Weber |newspaper=The Washington Times |date=October 9, 2009}}</ref> reactions around the world were mixed:

Several Nobel Laureates have commented: Bangladeshi economist [[Muhammad Yunus]], (co-winner 2006 prize), said the committee's award was "an endorsement of [Obama] and the direction he is taking."<ref>{{cite news |title=World hails Obama Nobel Peace Prize win |url=http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=34849 |publisher=Middle East Online |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612160423/http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=34849 |archive-date=June 12, 2011 |dead-url=yes |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Archbishop [[Desmond Tutu]] said the award to Obama "anticipates an even greater contribution towards making our world a safer place for all."<ref>{{cite news |title=Worldwide Reactions to Obama's Nobel Peace Prize |url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2009/10/09/100909obamareactions/ |work=The Boston Globe |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091012022749/http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2009/10/09/100909obamareactions/| archivedate= October 12, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> [[Mairead Corrigan]], (co-winner 1976), expressed her disappointment, stating, "[g]iving this award to the leader of the most militarized country in the world, which has taken the human family against its will to war, will be rightly seen by many people around the world as a reward for his country's aggression and domination."<ref>{{cite web |title=Nobel Peace Laureate: Obama Choice "Disappointing" |url=http://www.accuracy.org/newsrelease.php?articleId=2095 |publisher=[[Institute for Public Accuracy]] |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091023052433/http://accuracy.org/newsrelease.php?articleId=2095| archivedate= October 23, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> [[Lech Wałęsa]], (1983) cofounder of the [[Solidarity (Polish trade union)|Solidarity]] trade union, and former president of Poland said the award was premature. "He has not yet made a real input."<ref name=Lech>{{cite news |title=Praise and skepticism greet Obama Nobel award |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ObamaEconomy/idUSTRE59824J20091009?feedType=RSS&feedName=ObamaEconomy&virtualBrandChannel=10441&pageNumber=2 |publisher=Reuters |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009 | first=Amie | last=Ferris-Rotman| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091012044500/https://www.reuters.com/article/ObamaEconomy/idUSTRE59824J20091009?feedType=RSS&feedName=ObamaEconomy&virtualBrandChannel=10441&pageNumber=2| archivedate= October 12, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> The [[14th Dalai Lama]] congratulated Obama.<ref>{{cite news | author=Lalit K. Jha | title =Dalai congratulates Obama on winning Nobel prize | publisher=The Press Trust of India | date =October 10, 2009 | url =http://www.ptinews.com/news/324396_Dalai-congratulates-Obama-on-winning-Nobel-prize | accessdate=October 10, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091013131020/http://www.ptinews.com/news/324396_Dalai-congratulates-Obama-on-winning-Nobel-prize| archivedate= October 13, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>

[[United Nations Secretary-General]] [[Ban Ki-moon]] praised the Nobel Committee's choice. "We are entering an era of renewed multilateralism [...] President Obama embodies the new spirit of dialogue and engagement on the world's biggest problems: climate change, nuclear disarmament and a wide range of peace and security challenges."<ref>{{cite news |title=UN leaders praise awarding of Nobel Peace Prize to US President Obama |url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32477&Cr=obama&Cr1= |publisher=UN News Service |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091030052023/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32477&Cr=obama&Cr1=| archivedate= October 30, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>

In Europe, French President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] said the award would reinforce Obama's determination to work for justice and peace. He added that the award "finally confirms the return of America in the hearts of all the peoples of the world".<ref>{{cite news |title=Nobel de la paix: Sarkozy adresse ses "plus chaleureuses félicitations" à Obama |url=http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/depeches/international/20091009.FAP7372/international/ |publisher=Le Nouvel Observateur |language=French |agency=Associated Press |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009}}</ref> Russian [[prime minister]] [[Dmitry Medvedev]] said the award will encourage warmer U.S.–Russian relations, and he hoped it would "serve as an additional incentive" for both governments to foster a better "climate in world politics".<ref name=AP20091010>{{cite news|author=The Associated Press|date=October 10, 2009|title=GOP mocks Obama's peace prize, Russians praise it|publisher=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|url=http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/oct/10/us-obama-peace-prize-gop-101009/|accessdate=October 10, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091012160738/http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/oct/10/us-obama-peace-prize-gop-101009/| archivedate= October 12, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> British Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] sent a private message of congratulations to President Obama.<ref>{{cite web |title=PM congratulates Nobel winner Obama |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5i7yjnjqmg2Tf0ov27ua-pWW5oVwA|publisher=The Press Association|date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009}}</ref> Hope that the prize would assist Obama's efforts toward nuclear disarmament was also a part of congratulatory statements from Ireland's [[Taoiseach]] [[Brian Cowen]] and German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]]. [[Holy See|Vatican]] spokesman Fr. [[Federico Lombardi]] said the Vatican "appreciated" the nomination.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vatican appreciates Obama winning Nobel Peace Prize
|url=http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17351 |publisher=Catholic News Agency |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091014113003/http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17351| archivedate= October 14, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= yes}}{{cite news |title=World leaders hail Obama's peace prize |url=http://www.euronews.net/2009/10/09/world-leaders-hail-obama-s-peace-prize/ |agency=Euronews |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091013152733/http://www.euronews.net/2009/10/09/world-leaders-hail-obama-s-peace-prize/| archivedate= October 13, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}{{cite news |title=Cowen praises Obama's 'diplomatic engagement'
|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1009/breaking37.htm |work=The Irish Times |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009}}</ref> Kosovar President [[Fatmir Sejdiu]] congratulated Obama by saying, "This award is testimony to your success as a leader of a free country aimed at creating a safer and more peaceful world."<ref>[http://www.newkosovareport.com/200910102012/Politics/Kosovo-President-congratulates-Obama.html "Kosovo President congratulates Obama"] ''newkosovareport.com'' 10-10-09. Retrieved 14-10-09</ref>

In Australia, former Foreign Minister [[Alexander Downer]] said that the selection was "a political decision of gross stupidity", laying the blame on the selection committee for a "hideous display of cynical politics".<ref name="downer">{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26196226-5006301,00.html |title=Obama should give back Nobel Prize |last=Downer |first=Alexander |date=October 12, 2009 |work=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |accessdate=October 12, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013105902/http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0%2C22606%2C26196226-5006301%2C00.html |archivedate=October 13, 2009 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> Stuart Rees, director of the [[Sydney Peace Prize|Sydney Peace Foundation]] in Australia, questioned the award. "Perhaps the Nobel organisation wants to give him a magic wand. I think the guy is full of promise, but I don't think the promise has been realised yet particularly in regards the Middle East."<ref>{{cite news|title=Shock as Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26190445-2703,00.html |work=The Australian |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012095406/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0%2C25197%2C26190445-2703%2C00.html |archivedate=October 12, 2009 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref>

In Asia and the Middle East: Afghanistan, President [[Hamid Karzai]] said that Obama was the "appropriate" person to win the Nobel Peace Prize. "His hard work and his new vision on global relations, his will and efforts for creating friendly and good relations at global level and global peace make him the appropriate recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize," said Siamak Hirai, a spokesman for Karzai.<ref>[http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/World/Story/A1Story20091009-172808.html "Obama the right man to win Nobel Peace Prize: Karzai"], AFP (via AsiaOne), October 9, 2009.</ref> [[Taliban]] spokesman [[Zabiullah Mujahid]] said the decision was ridiculous, saying, "The Nobel prize for peace? Obama should have won the 'Nobel Prize for escalating violence and killing civilians."<ref name = "bbc article on nobel win" /><ref name="afp-taliban">{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jK0P-gC2lzZTYcqeKlXBO0XVJ3mA|title=Taliban condemns Obama's Nobel Peace Prize|last=Massoud|first=Waheedullah|date=October 10, 2009|work=AFP|accessdate=October 10, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091013093225/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jK0P-gC2lzZTYcqeKlXBO0XVJ3mA| archivedate= October 13, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="reuters-india">{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idINL953984520091009|title=Praise and scepticism greet Obama Nobel award|date=October 10, 2009|work=Reuters India|accessdate=October 10, 2009}}</ref><ref name="latimes-taliban">{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/10/international-reaction-to-obamas-nobel-thumbs-down-from-the-taliban-thumbs-up-from-israel.html|title=Nobel Peace Prize reaction: Taliban thumbs down, Israeli thumbs up, Asian disappointment|last=Abcarian|first=Robin|date=October 9, 2009|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=October 10, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091013141708/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/10/international-reaction-to-obamas-nobel-thumbs-down-from-the-taliban-thumbs-up-from-israel.html| archivedate= October 13, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="msnbc-taliban">{{cite news|url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/10/09/2093997.aspx|title=Leaders respond to Obama Nobel win |last=Weinberg|first=Ali|date=October 9, 2009|publisher=MSNBC|accessdate=October 10, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091012020353/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/10/09/2093997.aspx| archivedate= October 12, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
Indonesia's, Masdar Mas'udi, deputy head of the Islamic organisation [[Nahdlatul Ulama]], praised Obama's policy towards his country as confirmation of his worthiness as a Nobel laureate. "I think it's appropriate because he is the only American president who has reached out to us in peace," he said. "On the issues of race, religion, skin colour, he has an open attitude."<ref>{{cite news |title=Praise, Shock Greet Obama's Nobel Win|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/708078--praise-shock-greet-obama-s-nobel-win |work=Toronto Star |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091012073839/http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/708078--praise-shock-greet-obama-s-nobel-win| archivedate= October 12, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
Japanese Prime Minister [[Yukio Hatoyama]],<ref name=WT>{{cite news |title=Mixed world reaction to Obama's Nobel |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/10/mixed-world-reaction-to-obamas-win//print/|work=Washington Times |date=October 10, 2009 |accessdate=October 15, 2009}}</ref>
Indian President [[Pratibha Patil]] and Israeli President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate [[Shimon Peres]] sent congratulatory messages to Obama,<ref>{{cite news|title=President congratulates Obama |url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/323447_President-congratulates-Obama |publisher=Press Trust of India |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009 }}{{cite news|title=Peres to Obama: Under your leadership, peace became an original agenda |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254861908377&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=October 9, 2009 |accessdate=October 9, 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716001804/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254861908377&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull |archivedate=July 16, 2011 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-obama-nobel-israel10-2009oct10,0,6389213.story | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Richard | last=Boudreaux | title=Israeli, Palestinian leaders mostly praise peace prize for Obama | date=October 10, 2009}}</ref> but Iranian Foreign Minister [[Manouchehr Mottaki]] told reporters that "the decision was taken hastily and the award was [too] early."<ref name=WT/>

In Latin America, former [[Cuba]]n President [[Fidel Castro]] called the award "positive" and said the prize should be seen as a criticism to the "genocidal policy" carried out by past U.S. presidents.<ref>[http://www.ain.cu/idioma/ingles/2009/1010reflexionFidel.htm The Bells are Tolling for the Dollar] [[Fidel Castro]], [[ACN Cuban News Agency]], October 9, 2009</ref> Venezuelan Foreign Minister [[Nicolás Maduro]] said the award was a surprise and perhaps premature. "As President [[Hugo Chávez]] said at the United Nations, (the Obama administration) is a government that has raised expectations and hopes in many people in the world, amid great contradictions."<ref>{{cite news | author=| title =Venezuela urges Obama to remove US bases from Colombia as token of peace | publisher=El Universal | date =October 9, 2009 | url =http://english.eluniversal.com/2009/10/09/en_pol_esp_venezuela-urges-obam_09A2872731.shtml | accessdate=October 10, 2009}}</ref>

In Africa, the news of the Obama Nobel Peace Prize was positively received. Kenyan President [[Mwai Kibaki]] issued a statement saying that the prize was a "recognition of the contribution [Obama is] making for the well being of humanity."<ref>[http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-09-voa28.cfm " Kenyans Express Joy, Urgency, at President Obama's Nobel Peace Award"] ''Voice of America'' 09-10-09. Retrieved October 15, 2009</ref> In South Africa, President [[Jacob Zuma]] used ''[[Ubuntu (philosophy)|Ubuntu]]''—the [[Zulu language|Zulu]] term for "the importance of community"—in his congratulatory message, saying that the U.S. president's "leadership reflects the true spirit of Ubuntu because your approach celebrates our common humanity."<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gKInWrfVAD8c-prNKvUr3hmLBuowD9B8KPRO0 " GOP mocks Obama's peace prize, Russians praise it"] ''Associated Press'' 11-10-09. Retrieved October 15, 2009</ref> Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who was touted as a possible Nobel laureate, said Obama deserved the honor.<ref>[http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/article144784.ece " Tsvangirai congratulates 'deserving' Obama"] ''The Times Online'' 09-10-09. Retrieved October 15, 2009</ref>

In 2011 [[Bolivia]]n President [[Evo Morales]] and [[Russian Liberal Democratic Party]] leader [[Vladimir Zhirinovsky]] condemned the award calling it hypocritical in light of US policy during the [[2011 Libyan Civil War|Libyan Civil War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/23/obama-nobel-peace-prize-revoked_n_839310.html|title=Obama Nobel Peace Prize Appeal Sought By Bolivian President And Russian Lawmaker|author=Norman Solomon|publisher=Huffington Post|date=March 23, 2011|accessdate=May 4, 2013}}</ref>

After the death of [[Anwar al-Awlaki]] and his son [[Abdulrahman al-Awlaki]] by CIA [[predator drones]] in Yemen, Nasser al-Awlaki, the father and grandfather of Anwar and Abdulrahman respectively, released an audio message condemning the killings:

{{quote|I urge the American people to bring the killers to justice. I urge them to expose the hypocrisy of the 2009 Nobel Prize laureate. To some, he may be that. To me and my family, he is nothing more than a child killer.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2097899,00.html An American Teenager in Yemen: Paying for the Sins of His Father?]</ref>}}

==Nobel lecture==
[[File:Obama Nobel Peace Prize 2009 Harry Wad1.jpg|thumb|alt=Barack Obama speaking|Barack Obama presenting his Nobel lecture]]

President Obama accepted the Nobel Peace prize in person at the [[Oslo City Hall]] in Norway on December 10, 2009. In a 36-minute speech, reportedly written by Obama and then edited by [[Jon Favreau (speechwriter)|Jon Favreau]] and [[Ben Rhodes (speechwriter)|Ben Rhodes]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Elizabeth |last=Williamson |author2=Weisman, Jonathan |title=Obama Defends 'Just War' at Oslo |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126043857319785183 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=December 11, 2009 |accessdate=December 11, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091214201457/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126043857319785183.html| archivedate= December 14, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> he discussed the tensions between war and peace and the idea of a "[[just war]]".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zeleny |first=Jeff |title=Accepting Peace Prize, Obama Evokes 'Just War' |newspaper=New York Times |date=December 10, 2009 |accessdate=December 10, 2009 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/world/europe/11prexy.html| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120210122241/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/world/europe/11prexy.html| archivedate=February 10, 2012<!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> The address contained elements of the ideas of [[Reinhold Niebuhr]], someone Obama once described as one of his favorite philosophers.<ref>{{cite news|first=Fred |last=Kaplan |title=Obama's War and Peace |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2238081/ |publisher=Slate.com |date=December 10, 2009 |accessdate=December 10, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215025356/http://www.slate.com/id/2238081/ |archivedate=December 15, 2009 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref>

The speech was generally well received by American pundits on both ends of the political spectrum.<ref>{{cite news |first=Linda |last=Feldmann |title=Left and right, pundits applaud Obama Nobel Peace Prize speech |url=http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/12/10/left-and-right-pundits-applaud-obama-nobel-peace-prize-speech/ |publisher=The Christian Science Monitor |date=December 10, 2009 |accessdate=December 10, 2009}}</ref> Several noted similarities between Obama's message and the rhetoric of President George W. Bush.<ref>{{cite web |first=Howard |last=Fineman |title=In Oslo, Obama Sounds Like Bush |url=http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2009/12/10/in-oslo-obama-sounds-like-bush.aspx |work=Newsweek |date=December 10, 2009 |accessdate=December 10, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091213113829/http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2009/12/10/in-oslo-obama-sounds-like-bush.aspx| archivedate= December 13, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Walter Russell |last=Mead |title=Walter Russell mead's response to 'Assess Obama's Nobel Prize acceptance speech' |url=http://www.politico.com/arena/perm/Walter_Russell_Mead_E3A65FEC-7009-4CA7-BEDE-09EFE487AF2D.html |publisher=The Politico |date=December 10, 2009 |accessdate=December 10, 2009}}</ref> This was also mentioned by former Bush speechwriter [[Michael Gerson]], who called it a "very American speech" and wrote that "Obama was recognizing that the great commitments and themes of American foreign policy are durably bipartisan".<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Gerson |title=Obama shows maturity in Nobel speech |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2009/12/obamas_shows_maturity_in_nobel.html |work=The Washington Post |date=December 10, 2009 |accessdate=December 10, 2009}}</ref> A number of prominent Republican politicians publicly praised the speech, including [[Newt Gingrich]] and [[Sarah Palin]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Eamon |last=Javers |title=Conservative praise for Nobel speech |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30448.html |publisher=The Politico |date=December 10, 2009 |accessdate=December 10, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091213165228/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30448.html| archivedate= December 13, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Conservative ''New York Times'' columnist [[Ross Douthat]] called it an oftentimes impressive speech that was "An extended defense of using realist means in the service of liberal internationalist ends".<ref>{{cite news |first=Ross |last=Douthat |title=Obama's Nobel Speech |url=http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/obamas-nobel-speech/ |work=The New York Times |date=December 10, 2009 |accessdate=December 10, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091213014201/http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/obamas-nobel-speech/| archivedate= December 13, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Columnist [[Andrew Sullivan]] distinguished between the Obama and Bush messages, stating that "Obama is ''far more conservative'' than his predecessor" in his views on human imperfection, reality, and war; he also linked the speech back to the tragic nature of Obama's line "the audacity of hope".<ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Sullivan |title=The Tragedy Of Hope |url=http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/12/the-tragedy-of-hope.html |work=The Daily Dish |publisher=The Atlantic |date=December 11, 2009 |accessdate=December 12, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091214015737/http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/12/the-tragedy-of-hope.html| archivedate= December 14, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>

{{rquote|right|To say that force is sometimes necessary is not a call to cynicism&nbsp;– it is a recognition of history; the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.|Barack Obama<ref>{{cite web |title=Remarks by the President at the Acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize |url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-acceptance-nobel-peace-prize |publisher=Whitehouse.gov |date=December 10, 2009 |accessdate=December 12, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213165240/http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-acceptance-nobel-peace-prize |archivedate=December 13, 2009 |deadurl=yes |df=mdy-all }}</ref>}}

Former Jimmy Carter speechwriter [[Hendrik Hertzberg]] said that the speech "will live on for a long time as a text for peacemakers in power".<ref>{{cite web |title=Ask the Author Live: Hendrick Hertzberg and Steve Coll |url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/ask/2009/12/ask-the-author-live-hendrik-hertzberg-and-steve-coll.html |work=The New Yorker |date=December 10, 2009 |accessdate=December 10, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091208172730/http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/ask/2009/12/ask-the-author-live-hendrik-hertzberg-and-steve-coll.html| archivedate= December 8, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= yes}}</ref> A few commentators were more critical, with former US Ambassador to the UN [[John R. Bolton|John Bolton]] calling it "pedestrian, turgid, and uninspired"<ref>{{cite web|title=Bolton: Obama's 'Pedestrian, Turgid, and Uninspired' Address |url=http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTg5NDc1MzllMDYxOGUwZjYzZjNjYzFhYjdlM2NlNmM= |work=The Corner |publisher=National Review |date=December 10, 2009 |accessdate=December 12, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217144816/http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTg5NDc1MzllMDYxOGUwZjYzZjNjYzFhYjdlM2NlNmM%3D |archivedate=December 17, 2009 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> and US Congressman [[Dennis Kucinich]] "Once we are committed to war's instrumentality in pursuit of peace, we begin the [[Orwellian]] journey to the semantic netherworld where war is peace..."<ref>{{cite news|first=S. A. |last=Miller |title=Anti-war forces bristle at Obama's Nobel speech |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/11/anti-war-forces-bristle-obamas-nobel-speech/ |work=The Washington Times |date=December 11, 2009 |accessdate=December 12, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214035619/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/11/anti-war-forces-bristle-obamas-nobel-speech/ |archivedate=December 14, 2009 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref>

''[[The New York Times]]'' praised the eloquence of the speech, noting that "President Obama gave the speech he needed to give, but we suspect not precisely the one the Nobel committee wanted to hear."<ref>{{cite news |title=President Obama in Oslo |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/opinion/11fri1.html |work=The New York Times |date=December 10, 2009 |accessdate=December 10, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120122165309/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/opinion/11fri1.html| archivedate=January 22, 2012<!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> ''The Wall Street Journal'' echoed this sentiment and congratulated Obama for defending the occasional necessity of war and for stating that evil exists in the world, though used the same editorial to criticize him for current disarmament talks with Russia and a lack of progress with Iran and North Korea.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Disarmament President |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704240504574585763465695916 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=December 11, 2009 |accessdate=December 11, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091214211611/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704240504574585763465695916.html| archivedate= December 14, 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' lauded the speech as "a blockbuster even by Obama's lofty standards", and even though the ideas were not new, "Obama's special gift is to make them seem achievable by appealing to our higher nature." It was also received well by columnists in ''The Washington Post''.<ref>{{cite news |first=Eugene |last=Robinson |title=War and Peace |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/10/AR2009121003164.html |work=The Washington Post |date=December 11, 2009 |accessdate=December 11, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Kathleen |last=Parker |title=An American triumph at Oslo |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/10/AR2009121003638.html |work=The Washington Post |date=December 11, 2009 |accessdate=December 11, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Huffman |title=The presidency in microcosm |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/10/AR2009121003649.html |work=The Washington Post |date=December 11, 2009 |accessdate=December 11, 2009}}</ref>

Abroad, British historian [[Simon Schama]] said of the speech that "in its seriousness, bravery and clarity, [it] was on a par with FDR and Churchill" and "summoned the spirit of [[Cicero]]".<ref>{{cite web |first=Simon |last=Schama |title=A Nobel speech that summoned the spirit of Cicero |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/054fdb2a-e850-11de-8a02-00144feab49a.html |work=The Financial Times |date=December 14, 2009 |accessdate=December 14, 2009}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Nobel Peace Prize laureates]]
* [[List of black Nobel Laureates]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{wikisource|Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Nobel Peace Prize 2009}}
* [http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/index.html Official Nobel Page]
* [http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/index.html Official Nobel Page]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AORo-YEXxNQ Barack Obama's 36-minute Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AORo-YEXxNQ Barack Obama's 36-minute Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech]

Revision as of 17:09, 10 December 2018

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