OSLO (AP) — President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said, citing his outreach to the Muslim world and attempts to curb nuclear proliferation.

The stunning choice made Obama the third sitting U.S. president to win the Nobel Peace Prize and shocked Nobel observers because Obama took office less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 nomination deadline. Obama's name had been mentioned in speculation before the award but many Nobel watchers believed it was too early to award the president.

"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the committee said. "His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population."

The committee said it attached special importance to Obama's vision of, and work for, a world without nuclear weapons.

"Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play," the committee said.

Theodore Roosevelt won the award in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson won in 1919. Former President Jimmy Carter won the award in 2002, while former Vice President Al Gore shared the 2007 prize with the U.N. panel on climate change.

The Nobel committee received a record 205 nominations for this year's prize.

In his 1895 will, Alfred Nobel stipulated that the peace prize should go "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses."

Unlike the other Nobel Prizes, which are awarded by Swedish institutions, he said the peace prize should be given out by a five-member committee elected by the Norwegian Parliament. Sweden and Norway were united under the same crown at the time of Nobel's death.

The committee has taken a wide interpretation of Nobel's guidelines, expanding the prize beyond peace mediation to include efforts to combat poverty, disease and climate change.

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Associated Press Writer Ian MacDougall contributed to this report.

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@WHAT!USTINK:and AFTER Bush RAPED Amerikkka,and left her in the alley for DEAD,Mr. Obama,came along and PICKED HER UP,WASHED HER FACE, AND PUT FRESH MAKE-UP on her!!!!
NEXT,after what BUSH DID TO HER,the president WILL SEE to her getting a DOUCHE,and some penicillin tablets!!!!
YEAH,BUSH,left her THAT BAD OFF!!!

by   
Rubinisk
October 10, 2009, 10:38 am
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WHAT!USTINK,what is SHAMEFUL,is the pillaging,plundering,and prejudiced HISTORY,of THIS COUNTRY,now this administration has a DYNAMIC MAN to MASK the inequities and SHAMEFUL attitude,that some of these so-called Amerikkkans exhibit---so BE GLAD,that some countries,STILL BELIEVE that the U.S. is WORTH NODDING TO..........

by   
Rubinisk
October 10, 2009, 10:24 am
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Congratulations to the president, it's very much deserved.

by   
Karenm40
October 10, 2009, 9:25 am
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Congratulations to the president, it's very much deserved.

by   
Karenm40
October 10, 2009, 9:25 am
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It was interesting to listen to T. Joyner, S. Harvey and R. Smiley this morning; the hero worship exhibited was shameful. For that ilk, there is NOTHING that should be questioned where Obama is concerned. I expect SNL to have a field day with this one.

Where I a writer for SNL, I would pitch a skit awarding Obama the Heisman, and offer a C-SPAN like "in the studio look" at each show reacting/congratulating Obama.

Believe me when I tell you it was SHAMEFUL - their reaction.

Makes me wonder if they have any idea at all about the criteria...like it matters.

by   
WhatIThink
October 10, 2009, 7:20 am
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Obama deserves this award;he represents it's ideals; manifest in power. An idealist that rejects the realities of the world/human nature - conflict; awarded by an organization that does the same. Who represents their ideals more than Obama? Nobody with his profile and power. Their site http://nobelprize.org/ alfred_nob...testamente.html states their goals/intent clearly ..."the abolition or reduction of standing armies...". WOW! No Army(military)No America! Obama is the vehicle to use to achieve, or get closer to that goal; he will play his part well! Bad for America! Pitiful.

by   
WhatIThink
October 10, 2009, 7:19 am
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UncleTom, let's look further at what HAS been accomplished since the President took office:
1. Renewed dialogue with NATO & other allies
2. created plan to improve quality of med care for US armed forces
3. signed the Chris andDana Reeves paralysis Act
4. signed Help Family Save Homes Act
5. signed the CARD Act
6. Repealed Bush restriction on Embryonic Cell research
and so much more is on the table . And he still has time for his wife and kids.
Quit Hating, UncleTom!

by   
FiftyCyn
October 9, 2009, 5:41 pm
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My one beef is that there is so much going on in black society that it seems we are the most hated of all people worldwide.

I really wish the educated class of our culture would stand up to the downgrade of our inner cities in a voice that is much louder than what Im seeing.

I mean, Im a frequent visitor of WorldStarHipHop and it make me wonder when I see a video full of 100 our youth fighting and standing around when they should be at some sort of job.

I dont know black people, it seems like the hate for us has left whites and expanded to asians, latinos, and everyone else.

by   
Thank_Jesus_for_Africa
October 9, 2009, 4:50 pm
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Congradulations to President Obama. It appears to me that he has been a peace broker ever since you became President. The level of patience he has exhibited in the face of so much nonsence is admirable. I think I would have given a few of those thorns in his side some choice words by now.

by   
Wgailb
October 9, 2009, 4:19 pm
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This is a sure sign that no one can curse whom God has blessed. It has been evident from day 1 that our President Barack Obama is blessed and divinely favored by God. All the HATERS are of their father the devil trying to cause confusion because the devil knows his time is up so he's trying to take as many souls to hell with him

by   
J1froe
October 9, 2009, 4:18 pm
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t

by   
RaaSaa
October 9, 2009, 3:51 pm
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Congratulations President Obama on a well deserved honor! It is wonderful that your efforts toward World peace are being recognized even in the face of racisim, prejudice and hatred. Peace and blessings to you and your family and the USA.

by   
FiftyCyn
October 9, 2009, 3:49 pm
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MLK won the peace prize too at a time when whites were segregating blacks and before the signing of the civil rights bill. We all know that there is evil in the world. Dont change the meaning of the prize just because you don't like who won it. I'm proud of President Barack Obama. And I'm ashamed of the House Negro who leads the RNC. He is a true affirmative action baby.

by   
Dkg316
October 9, 2009, 3:43 pm
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Everyone, please, let's pray for President Barack Obama. Let's pray for his continued success, let's pray that God continues to guide him, let's pray that God shields him from those who want him hurt, who want him to fail, who wish him ill will.

by   
Dkg316
October 9, 2009, 3:42 pm
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President Obama definetly deserves this great honor. In the first two weeks of President Obama's administration he made steps toward WORLD PEACE. He spoke to the Muslems and made amends for the predjuice that they have had bestowed upon them for the bad deeds of some in that religion. He also opened the doors to Cuba so that those people could restore their family ties. This was something that all of the previous adminstrations ignored. Just to name a few of his accomplishments. He has endured all the racist and prejudice that so many so called Americans have flung in his direction.

by   
Msve
October 9, 2009, 2:43 pm
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one example
These attributes can be traced back to the primaries when he said he would be willing to sit down and have talks with Iran.
understand the award before you condemn it

by   
RaaSaa
October 9, 2009, 2:04 pm
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For All The Haters:
The award has nothing to do with what he has done as president. The award is based on what he promotes. ( postedfor the third time read) The Nobel Peace Prize criteria: According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize should be awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses

by   
RaaSaa
October 9, 2009, 2:03 pm
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Congratulations to Pres. Obama, but there were other people who were nominated who were far more deserving of the award.

by   
Jblues
October 9, 2009, 1:55 pm
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Ok,nice comments but uncle Tom c'mon you know how it works. It doesn't matter how good you try to be in our world no one is ever satisfied. You do your best for people and others will not allow it because for whatever reason they have an agenda. You are only able to do so much because of what is to be gained by another if you mess that up for them. Were you not listening about all the money that goes to sentors for their votes this way or that way. Greed rules and no matter how right one wants to be it is an up hill battle for those of us on the bottom.

by   
Charles hale
October 9, 2009, 1:42 pm
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Quita & Sevenotrump, based on your eloquence and civility you guys are obvious residents of Chicago. You guys are more outraged at Limbaugh than you are blacks that kill other blacks.

by   
Uncletom
October 9, 2009, 1:41 pm
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hey uncle tom, quit being a jerk and stop hating that you have this opportunity but you don't. president obama is smart and you wished that your brains was like his. i'm glad that he won the award coz right-wing critics are too damn stuipd folks who never get their facts straight. rednecks are too prejudice when it comes to obama,they want to use every code word to cover up their prejudices. he won and move on!

by   
Quita32
October 9, 2009, 1:38 pm
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OK…let’s look at klan hopes since Obama took office,
Limbaugh and Beck find more to whine about each day;
a Black man is leader of the Free world;
that Black man receives the greatest award bestowed on GREAT peace makers,
(incidentally, one for which neither Hoover, Nixon, Reagan or either of the BUSHit boys were ever in the running for);
not having a good year are you, faggot racists.

by   
Sevennotrump
October 9, 2009, 1:35 pm
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Let me just make a few comments to get this out of my system and move on. First of all, congradulations President Obama is in order. Now-all you uncle tom haters out there-especially-Micheal Steele-who is a bald headed**** steppin feched negro**** kissin little d#ck toten yte boy luvin dumb**** ole**** fart-who should never ever, ever, ever be allowed to set foot upon black soil ie. Black Caucus, State of the Black Union, conventions, meetings, gatherings of people of color, etc. because I think that he's somehow Clarence Thomas long lost brother or long lost bowel movement.

by   
Azzar
October 9, 2009, 12:59 pm
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Great. It comes a time when you just have to look past the ignorance and stupidity and go on, do what you have to and what needs to be done. Stay focused. If you allow your focus to be side tracked by all of the hoop la and negativity then we will never get anything accomplished. Congrats Mr. President, we are proud of you. God can open doors that no man can. Don't look for Obama to be God, he is still just another man. Put your trust and faith in the man above.

by   
G-eyes
October 9, 2009, 12:48 pm
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HE DIDNT apply for this award dumb aZZ . it was givin to him so if u wanna have a hissy fit get mad at the committee. Just hateful people just cant stand the site of obama accomplishing anyhting. then u got one governer from wiscosin saying" Obama got it b/c of Affirmative action just racist lil bi*&&Tches. republicans sickens me.. I dont see how any black republicans cane sit back and not see that as racism but i forgot theres always UNCLE TOM Around..

by   
Milkkman
October 9, 2009, 12:38 pm
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Ok...lets look at the world SINCE Obama took office.
-N. Korea has test fired 3 long range missles
-Iran has the framework for nuclear warfares
-Failed Iserali/Palestinian talks
-Kidnapped US journalist in China
-Increase warfare in Afghanistan
-NO Withdrawl from Iraq.
...And he gets a peace prize..give me a break!

by   
Uncletom
October 9, 2009, 12:12 pm
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Nobel Peace Prize criteria:
According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize should be awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.

by   
RaaSaa
October 9, 2009, 12:12 pm
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Sheesh!!!-----Thanx for that comment,Green,posted so eloquently--and I CONCUR!!!!!

by   
Rubinisk
October 9, 2009, 11:58 am
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It has everything to do with how President Obama has impressed leaders on the world stage with his willingness to respect and work with other countries. Like I said before, it not all about the US, and our silly arrogance, bombs, and attempts to bully other countries around. In the long run this will keep the peace rather than cause more wars.

by   
Greenp628
October 9, 2009, 11:22 am
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Please consider the following:
Everything is not all the US. The Nobel Peace Prize is independent of the US & is awarded to people that make a global contributiion. Prior to Pres. Obama, the US's international rep was in the gutter. We rush in with our bombs and hypocripsy. Finally, an intelligent Pres. is able to work with world leaders without arrogance & bullying, this only increased terrorism & hatred. President Obama has the good sense not to antagonize and threaten, and recognizes the role of the UN.

by   
Greenp628
October 9, 2009, 11:18 am
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