[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Personally, I think it's way too early to evaluate Obama's impact on the U.S., let alone world peace. In that sense, I think this is a bit goofy. However, it's also totally beyond his control. I think it's very funny that somehow an unsolicited award that was deliberated on in another country is evidence of Obama's own arrogance in the mind of some posters.

The committee is saying that they are looking to future, not past accomplishments, as is pretty standard for the Nobel Peace Prize (totally different criteria than other Nobel prizes):

"We trust that this award will strengthen his commitment, as the leader of the most powerful nation in the world, to continue promoting peace and the eradication of poverty," the Mandela Foundation, named for the former South African president who spent decades in prison, said in a statement.

I still don't agree with it, but it does explain how they made their choice. We might quibble with their methods, but ultimately none of us has any more control over the process than Obama himself.

For the information of those who don't know, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by a five-member panel appointed by the Norwegian parliament. Nothing to do with the other Nobel Prizes, which are deliberated on and awarded in Sweden through a much different process.

If anyone actually cares, here are Obama's comments about it (emphasis mine):

Let me be clear, I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations."

I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honored by this prize," he said. "I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the challenges of the 21st century."

Can you believe the arrogance? I mean seriously: how dare he say that he doesn't yet deserve the award and that it is a call to action for the future rather than a reward for his past actions!!