A Nobel Peace Prize? For what?!?

Today, President Obama was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

I don't mean to take away from the President's plans, initiatives, or policies.

BUT... Never has a Nobel Peace Prize been awarded for doing so little...

There is no doubt that the President ran a masterful campaign, focusing on hope and change. These ideas have global implications, and resound with the best parts of humanity. However, to date, it is still just talk. The President has accomplished VERY LITTLE in his 9 months in office, much like most new Presidents during their first year in office.

On the peace front, specifically, let's look at all the promises that are still unfulfilled; we're still in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay is still open. Outside of campaign promises, Iran has flaunted the fact that they a.) are building a nuclear refinery, and b.) have been doing it for years in secret, the President is considering increasing troops deployed to Afghanistan, and Navy SEALs were deployed to hunt and kill pirates off the coast of Somalia. Truly, this President has demonstrated a commitment to diplomacy.

I'm not saying that the President won't be deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize; certainly the previous Bush administration has set the stage for a dramatic change of international policy which could lead to a Nobel Peace Prize, and certainly President Obama has spectacular visions and goals for peace and diplomacy during his administration, but let's face it, most of his campaign "visions" will end up being like most campaign promises - unfulfilled. Let's not forget we are still IN an economic hole, and healthcare is clearly right at the top of the President's agenda.

The President did, however, appear to recognize that while his "to do" list was long, his "done" list was nearly absent; accepting the award as a "call to action," and not a "mission accomplished." I applaud him for being fair with himself, and the World.

So congratulations to the President, but shame on the Norwegian Nobel Committee. If former President Clinton, who put tremendous effort into the Middle East Peace process, focusing on Israel and Palestinians (and to a large extent, Egypt), in conjunction with peacekeeping efforts in the Balkans and Somalia, don't earn him a Nobel Peace Prize, I don't see how a President that hasn't DONE ANYTHING yet can be awarded one.