Quote of the Day: Thorbjoern Jagland explains Obama's Nobel Peace Prize

The Nobel Committee Chairman is speaking out in response to criticism that Barack Obama doesn't deserve the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize:

"Some people say, and I understand it, isn't it premature? Too early? Well, I'd say then that it could be too late to respond three years from now," Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said. "It is now that we have the opportunity to respond — all of us."

That's a good way of putting it. By recognizing President Obama for reengaging America with the world, the Nobel Committee is putting the prize to work in support of Alfred Nobel's vision of a more tranquil planet.

What so many commentators don't seem to understand is that the prize is not supposed to be a trophy doled out to someone as a lifetime accomplishment award. It is instead meant to be an honor for the person who has done "the most or best work" to build world peace within the past year.

As Jagland said, who has done more than President Obama?

It is true that actions speak louder than words, and the President still has much work to do. But words do matter.

The President has made it abundantly clear that under his administration, America will once again assume a leadership role in improving the human condition.

What the Nobel Committee is saying is that the world needs a bridge builder, someone with grace and humility, someone who has the patience to persevere onwards, someone who is tough enough to keep going when the going gets tough.

Barack Obama is not perfect (who is?); his record as president is incomplete, as he has only served a few months. But now is precisely the moment when he needs encouragement and support the most to see through what he has begun. What could be better encouragement than being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?