The Norwegian Nobel Academy has issued an official acknowledgment regarding the concerns raised in this petition. This result confirms that public scrutiny remains an essential tool for institutional accountability. We appreciate the steadfast resolve of those who supported this initiative.
June 9, 2013
Final supporters
The Academy's decision was greeted with much incredulity at the time, as Mr. Obama had achieved precisely nothing for the cause of world peace since his election a few months earlier. Members of the Academy described the award as "an early vote of confidence intended to build global support for the policies of his young administration", although it was already clear in October 2009 - when the award was announced - that these policies included expanding the imperial war in Afghanistan and continuing the USA's all but unconditional support for Israel in its crimes against the Palestinian people. Since then, this vote of confidence has repeatedly been exposed as a blunder. Even in his acceptance speech (10 December 2009), Mr. Obama began with a falsehood - that the USA "did not seek" the Afghan war -, and continued with the cynical and sanctimonious contention that the USA's wars are justified by "the imperfections of man and the limits of reason", rather than by imperial rapacity. This - perhaps the worst Peace Prize acceptance speech ever penned - should already have led the Academy to question the appropriateness of its decision. However, Obama's actions in the intervening period have demonstrated that he is as thoroughgoing a warmonger as any of his predecessors in the White House. He has increased the USA's "defence" budget (i.e. the budget for armaments and warfare) to a level undreamed-of by his predecessors. He has increased the number of violations of Pakistani sovereignty by means of lethal unmanned drones that have killed many civilians and brought Pakistan close to civil war. He failed to condemn Israel's "Operation Cast Lead" massacre of undefended civilians in Gaza (December 2008-January 2009) or to endorse the Goldstone Report on possible war-crimes committed during that assault. In December 2009 he authorised air-strikes on Yemen that killed up to 120 civilians. He has announced the opening of 7 new US military bases in Colombia, thus increasing tensions in that volatile region of South America. Most recently (April 2010) he has authorised the extra-judicial killing of an American citizen, the Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.
To sum up: Barack Obama has repeatedly and flagrantly betrayed the confidence placed in him by the Norwegian Nobel Academy. If the Nobel Peace Prize is not to be definitively invalidated, then it should be withdrawn from President Obama and henceforth reserved for those who have genuinely served the cause of peace.
Updates
April 13, 2011
The arguments presented in this petition continue to resonate with those who have scrutinized the historical record of the Nobel Committee. I am currently compiling a detailed memorandum to submit to the Academy regarding these concerns. Your continued engagement with this critique remains significant.
May 22, 2010
The increase in public interest regarding this petition confirms that many individuals remain deeply concerned by the original decision of the committee. It is encouraging to observe that our call for accountability continues to gain traction among those who value integrity in prestige awards.
April 11, 2010
The petition has reached one hundred signatures today. This response confirms that many individuals continue to scrutinize the original decision made by the Norwegian Nobel Academy.
Reached 100 supporters
April 11, 2010
7 Comments
Nobels used to mean something. This is a disgrace to the whole foundation.
Honestly what was the committee even thinking back then? It was a political stunt and now everyone sees it.
Never should have got it in the first place. Just a massive mistake
The man expanded drone strikes across the middle east while holding that medal. Hypocrisy at its finest.
HE IS A WAR CRIMINAL. REVOKE IT NOW.
Now, how do we get this terrorist prosecuted for his crimes?
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The Norwegian Nobel Academy has issued an official acknowledgment regarding the concerns raised in this petition. This result confirms that public scrutiny remains an essential tool for institutional accountability. We appreciate the steadfast resolve of those who supported this initiative.
June 9, 2013
Final supporters
The Academy's decision was greeted with much incredulity at the time, as Mr. Obama had achieved precisely nothing for the cause of world peace since his election a few months earlier. Members of the Academy described the award as "an early vote of confidence intended to build global support for the policies of his young administration", although it was already clear in October 2009 - when the award was announced - that these policies included expanding the imperial war in Afghanistan and continuing the USA's all but unconditional support for Israel in its crimes against the Palestinian people. Since then, this vote of confidence has repeatedly been exposed as a blunder. Even in his acceptance speech (10 December 2009), Mr. Obama began with a falsehood - that the USA "did not seek" the Afghan war -, and continued with the cynical and sanctimonious contention that the USA's wars are justified by "the imperfections of man and the limits of reason", rather than by imperial rapacity. This - perhaps the worst Peace Prize acceptance speech ever penned - should already have led the Academy to question the appropriateness of its decision. However, Obama's actions in the intervening period have demonstrated that he is as thoroughgoing a warmonger as any of his predecessors in the White House. He has increased the USA's "defence" budget (i.e. the budget for armaments and warfare) to a level undreamed-of by his predecessors. He has increased the number of violations of Pakistani sovereignty by means of lethal unmanned drones that have killed many civilians and brought Pakistan close to civil war. He failed to condemn Israel's "Operation Cast Lead" massacre of undefended civilians in Gaza (December 2008-January 2009) or to endorse the Goldstone Report on possible war-crimes committed during that assault. In December 2009 he authorised air-strikes on Yemen that killed up to 120 civilians. He has announced the opening of 7 new US military bases in Colombia, thus increasing tensions in that volatile region of South America. Most recently (April 2010) he has authorised the extra-judicial killing of an American citizen, the Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.
To sum up: Barack Obama has repeatedly and flagrantly betrayed the confidence placed in him by the Norwegian Nobel Academy. If the Nobel Peace Prize is not to be definitively invalidated, then it should be withdrawn from President Obama and henceforth reserved for those who have genuinely served the cause of peace.
Updates
April 13, 2011
The arguments presented in this petition continue to resonate with those who have scrutinized the historical record of the Nobel Committee. I am currently compiling a detailed memorandum to submit to the Academy regarding these concerns. Your continued engagement with this critique remains significant.
May 22, 2010
The increase in public interest regarding this petition confirms that many individuals remain deeply concerned by the original decision of the committee. It is encouraging to observe that our call for accountability continues to gain traction among those who value integrity in prestige awards.
April 11, 2010
The petition has reached one hundred signatures today. This response confirms that many individuals continue to scrutinize the original decision made by the Norwegian Nobel Academy.
Reached 100 supporters
April 11, 2010
7 Comments
Total joke of an award. Should be taken back immediately.
Nobels used to mean something. This is a disgrace to the whole foundation.
Honestly what was the committee even thinking back then? It was a political stunt and now everyone sees it.
Never should have got it in the first place. Just a massive mistake
The man expanded drone strikes across the middle east while holding that medal. Hypocrisy at its finest.
HE IS A WAR CRIMINAL. REVOKE IT NOW.
Now, how do we get this terrorist prosecuted for his crimes?
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Total joke of an award. Should be taken back immediately.