Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

There has been a lot of surprise, excitement, shock and criticism since the Nobel committee announced the Peace Prize for this year.  The chief criticism seems to be that the President has not accomplished enough to win.  Since nominations were required on February 11, and he had been in office for just 11 days when he was nominated, I imagine that accomplishment may not have been the message the committee was sending.  I tend to agree with the President’s own assessment, that the award is sometimes given in recognition of accomplishment, and sometimes to offer momentum to a movement.  When Theodore Roosevelt won, it was for almost literally forcing the Japanese and Russians to sign a peace agreement and end their war (using his prestige as President, not military threat).  That was an accomplishment - a result, or outcome.  I imagine that the President hopes very much that the award will give some added 'wind to his sails' as he attempts to turn the promise of change into a program that creates the desired results - or, accomplishment. 

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