Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Barak Obama makes about as much sense as awarding it to Teddy Roosevelt (who never met a war he didn't like) and to Woodrow Wilson (who played such a decisive role in shoring up white supremacy in the United States).
It is particularly galling for it to be awarded now, as the United States fails to take a strong stand against the coup regime in Honduras and as the United States pressured the Palestinian Authority into abandoning the Goldstone Report. Add to that the continuation of the wars of occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan, the totally irrational focus on Iran, the continuation of petty measures against Cuba, and a whole litany of "business as usual" affronts to peace and justice, and the prize is just a bitter joke.
Since the deadline for Obama's nomination came about 2 weeks after he took office, it is clear that awarding the prize to him is a totally political act and one devoid of any real content. As Naomi Klein said on "Democracy Now," it cheapens the prize and drains it of significance.
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