The irony of peace... President Barack Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize

I watched as the world paid homage to President Barack Obama... the award of the Nobel Peace Prize is an awesome and admirable honor. The paradox that he would receive the award just as he sends 30,000 troops into Afghanistan is strange fruit indeed. How does President Obama rate the prestige of the Nobel Prize so early into his Administration. So early into his entry onto the world stage?? What message of peace is being delivered by battallions and battalions of Marines and Army troops.

Yes, the President came through the electorate with attractive considerations of how to end the war... but has not had the opportunity to test and try his pre-election perspectives. After all, remember when he was first elected, he was whisked off to a series of top secret meetings with the military? I believe that it was here that President Obama got the realities of the situation. I believe that he has, after getting all the information and hisotry of the matter, he has decided to increase combat troop levels in Afghanistan so that he may have the best chance of getting Osama Bin Laden. (and why aren't we hering Bin Laden's name in the news these days?)

And even as he moves to protect democracy and freedom, the President still receives criticism from the conservative right. If he had stood by and done nothing, the right would complain that the President was spineless. And now that he takes an assertive strategy, the right wants to second guess his moves. Nothing is ever good enough.

In the meanwhile, the Nobel Prize Commiutte has bestowed it's prestigious honor on our President. not, perhaps for his peacemaking legacy - it has not blossomed for such a prize - but perhaps for his place in history as America's first African American President. The paradigm of Dr. King's dream coming true in this lifetime is worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize so says the Comittee...The committee said it honored Obama for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."  I agree that the ascendancy of Barack Obama to the nation's presidency is certainly a worthy footnote in history, but it is too soon, way too soon to honor the man for peace and diplomacy.

Even President Obama noted the paradigm as he accepted his award. "I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people," Obama told his audience in Oslo's City Hall. "For make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world."

Irony of Peace. We must destroy evil to promote peace...... Congratulations President Obama.... I guess.