I awoke as did the rest of you to the news that the Nobel Prize committee had awarded President Obama this year's Peace Prize. While I understand the committee's stated reasons, and to a large extent agree with them, I would hope that the President would graciously decline the award. Why? To explain, here's the statement I'd write for his press conference later today.
"Good morning. As you know, the Nobel Foundation announced earlier today in Sweden that it had awarded me the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. I am grateful and humbled by even being nominated for such a prestigious and meaningful award, and all the more so by being named the winner. Nevertheless, I have just sent a letter to the Committee declining the award, and requesting that another winner be named.
Let me be clear: I am not refusing this award because I doubt the sincerity or good intentions of the Nobel Foundation. That body has for the past 108 years sought to recognize the world's most outstanding achievements in many areas, and among the previous and deserving winners of the Peace Prize have been sitting Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, and former President Jimmy Carter. Nor do I wish to cast aspersions on this Administration's efforts on behalf of world peace. I continue to believe that our focus on global nuclear disarmament, rejecting torture, pursuing diplomatic solutions whenever feasible and building strong international coalitions to fight terrorism are not only the moral but the best approaches to reducing global violation and hatred and allowing all of humanity to achieve its highest potential. In this, I commend the work of both our State Department, led by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and our Department of Defense, under the guidance of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, for their tireless efforts to pursue peace and freedom for all people.
That said, our work has barely begun, and while we have every hope and expectation of success in our efforts toward peacemaking, we cannot be certain what the future will bring. Rather than accepting a Nobel Peace Prize today, not even ten months into our Administration, based on our goals, I would prefer that this year's prize go to someone who has already completed a major effort toward world peace. For myself, I will use the memory of the tremendous honor the Nobel Foundation sought to bestow on me today to rededicate myself to strive even harder, both here in the United States and with other world leaders, for peace and security throughout the world. If I should be successful in this effort during and following my presidency, and the Nobel Foundation should someday in the future wish to recognize that success as it did with former President Carter, I would accept it with the same humility and gratitude with which I decline the award today. Thank you, and God bless the United States of America and the entire world with peace."
{ProfJonathan}