So I guess Obama, whether he agrees or not, has a multiplier effect for what the Nobel folks want to say.
I think you put the finger on the reason for the committee's decision there. In the statement and the press conference they kept stating that it was Obama's use of diplomacy and his work with the UN that had been vital in their decision. They also cited his visit to Cairo early in his presidency as exemplary, and I think the wish to highlight that kind of foreign policy was an important factor in the selection.
And it probably doesn't hurt that he serves to balance out, at least right now, some of the more questionable awardees in the past
Hee! I think everyone can agree that the committee has a rather interesting and many-faceted past.
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Date: 2009-10-09 04:13 pm (UTC)I think you put the finger on the reason for the committee's decision there. In the statement and the press conference they kept stating that it was Obama's use of diplomacy and his work with the UN that had been vital in their decision. They also cited his visit to Cairo early in his presidency as exemplary, and I think the wish to highlight that kind of foreign policy was an important factor in the selection.
And it probably doesn't hurt that he serves to balance out, at least right now, some of the more questionable awardees in the past
Hee! I think everyone can agree that the committee has a rather interesting and many-faceted past.