The Saudi papers publish the popular reaction to the awarding of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to US President Barack Obama. Reviews are mixed, but the balance swings to the negative: ‘Too soon.’ ‘Intended to boost America’s image.’ ‘Obama has so far not done anything to show that he deserves such an award, at least not at this early stage in his presidency.’

It’s too early for Obama to get peace prize, say Saudis
Habib Shaikh

JEDDAH – The announcement on Friday that US President Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize received a mixed response from Saudis and expatriates in the Kingdom, with many so unenthusiastic that they declined to comment at all.

Tarek A. Mishkhas, executive editor, Urdu News, Urdu Magazine, said Obama has done nothing yet. “It is too early for such a prize. He has neither achieved peace in the
Middle East nor solved other problems,” he said, and added, “I don’t know what the criteria are. The only thing is that he came after (President George) Bush and tried to improve the image of the US in the world and create better relations with other countries and change the kind of relations that Bush was building and pursuing”.

Mishkhas said that what Obama is calling for and aims at are great in words but he has to push for what he promises such as a two-state solution for Palestine and lasting peace in the Middle East.
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Arab News finds much the same reaction from its interviews. One commenter notes that the Nobel Peace Prize has been devalued since Israeli PM Menachem Begin received it (along with Anwar Sadat) in 1978. At least there were the Camp David Accords to support that award. In 1994, both Yasser Arafat and Yitzakh Rabin won. They didn’t accomplish much in the way of peace, but I guess aspirations do count.

Cheers and jeers at Obama’s Nobel feat

JEDDAH/DAMMAM: There were mixed reactions from Saudis and expatriates across Saudi Arabia to the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to US President Barack Obama, announced by the Norwegian committee on Friday. The committee said he is being given the prize “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”

“We are honored that our new president has been chosen for an award that captures the desire of the world for peace,” American Ambassador to Saudi Arabia James B. Smith told Arab News. “This desire and vision was first shared by President Obama with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in June and then publicly expressed in his seminal address to the world in Cairo entitled ‘A New Beginning.’”
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Arab News‘s editorial doesn’t mince many words, either, and believes that this award belittles earlier awards…

Editorial: Nobel for Obama

That US President Barack Obama yesterday was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize has taken everyone by surprise. The initial reaction was: Peace prize for what? The absurdity indeed is made clear in the citation produced by the judges of the $1.4 million prize. “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.” That is absolutely true. Not since John F. Kennedy entered the White House has any US president come to office on such a tidal wave of international hope.

Nevertheless, the Nobel prizes, including the peace prize are awarded for outstanding achievement, not glittering hope. Obama has been in office for just nine months of his four-year term. America is not at peace. Its troops are still fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan. Indeed very shortly Obama may announce a ratcheting up of the US military effort in Afghanistan.
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