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09. 10. 09. - 14:00

Obama Nobel Peace Prize win sparks mixed reactions

By Thomas Hochwarter

The decision to award US president Barack Obama the Nobel Peace Prize today (Fri) has sparked mixed reactions in Austria.

Social Democratic (SPÖ) whip Josef Cap said the Norwegian committee’s decision had stressed the American president’s "great engagement in trying to solve international conflicts".

Cap highlighted Obama’s attempts to start new peace talks in the Middle East and his clear words on Iran’s nuclear programme.

"Barack Obama has led US foreign policies into a new era and he has given hope to the world. This has been rightly honoured," Cap said.

But Herbert Scheibner, deputy head of the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ), said: "Obama could be given an award of hope, because he hasn’t achieved anything as yet."

Scheibner – the opposition party’s spokesman for foreign affairs – claimed the Nobel Prize Committee had devalued the award’s importance with its decision.

Austrian Times

Write your comment to this article here

  • Paul Leddy wrote on 09. 10. 2009 from Washington, DC about "Obama Nobel Peace Prize w..."

    re: Herr Scheibner's comments. That President ObamaÂ’s family raised a son who, despite impediments of prejudice and bigotry meant to discriminate against and confound achievement, was elected to the presidency of the United States; an event that was compared to the tearing down of the Berlin Wall by the German press, is certainly a major achievement for his family, for the United States and for the rest of the world. President Obama took office when the worldÂ’s economic collapse was a stark and real possibility; a near disaster not of his making but one to which he has faced with confidence and honesty and integrity; virtues, the lack of which, one might say, brought us to this condition. Only 90 days into his presidency, compare the character of the man with the leaders of western Europe, Asia, Africa; they would all be compared to him, many so lacking in comparison. We see it, we hear. Â…those comments, those remarks subtle and not so subtle such as Herr ScheibnerÂ’s. Bitter and resentful because a black man was elected president of the United States. Pity, because weÂ’re quite proud of the fact; quite proud of the man, proud of the United States. Of what will Herr Schreibner be remembered in his long political career? What has President Obama accomplished in just 90 days of his young career? The recognition that he is a good man, a gifted man qualified to lead a great country that bears so much responsibility to the rest of the world; the Nobel Prize committee sees that in him and would like all the world to see that also.

    Reply

    • Big Jim Slade wrote on 13. 10. 2009 from Paris, France about "Obama Nobel Peace Prize w..."

      Annointing him to sainthood seems a bit premature. Not wanting to dispel your worldly tome, but the fact is racial minorities are often given preference in the crazy world of American education,commerce, and politics for years now. Your comments read like a holdover from the 1950's. Anyone ever hear how Obama's education was paid for? Occidental, Columbia, and Harvard are all $50k plus per year these days, and it wasn't like Daddy, Mommy, or Grandma footed the bill.

      Reply

  • melancolia wrote on 10. 10. 2009 from Viena about "Obama Nobel Peace Prize w..."

    surely, paul, you don't miss Bush's failings, do you? he was chosen because of his visions, his ability to inspire and instill hope among the people. like Aung San Suu Kyi, Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, Yitzhak Rabin, Arafat, etc. Suu Kyi is still under house arrest while the burmese military junta is still in power, the Dala Lama is still struggling with the powers-that-be in Beijing and the Tibetans are still suffering from the hands of the chinese. problems still persist in the Middle East. so i ask you, have they already achieved their goals? these people inspired hope, with the expectation that their aspirations will inspire others. that's why it makes sense that obama won the Nobel peace prize. but of course, obama will fail if his own people won't support him. (to be honest, the reaction of the right-wingers, like Lush Rimbaugh, is disconcerting, it is like spitting at their own house.)

    Reply

  • ibgean wrote on 10. 10. 2009 from wien about "Obama Nobel Peace Prize w..."

    Importance of the award has gone devalued in my opinion.

    Reply

  • Vienna Expat wrote on 09. 10. 2009 from Vienna about "Obama Nobel Peace Prize w..."

    I totally agree, however good the man's intentions, he's done NOTHING yet. Surely a peace prize should be awarded to someone who has actually helped achieve peace in some form, not just for 'being Barak Obama'. Wouldn't it have been better to wait and see if he does anything worth receiving this prize. Otherwise, it only has the effect of cheapening the whole thing.

    Reply

  • Phil wrote on 09. 10. 2009 from Portland, OR USA about "Obama Nobel Peace Prize w..."

    Scheibner is completely on the mark here! Obama has done NOTHING of substance in the effort for peace; just a lot of talk. That's who the man seems to be. A very arrogant narcissist. I miss President Bush. Man! I miss President Clinton!!

    Reply

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