Stripping the Nobel Peace Prize of any substantial meaning, the Nobel committee has awarded it to Barack Obama, less than one year in his first term, leaving many wondering why.

Former Polish President Lech Wałęsa, a 1983 Nobel Peace laureate, commented: “So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act.”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, who won the prize in 1984, also felt that the award acknowledge not what Obama had done, but said Obama’s award shows great things are expected from him in coming years.

Speculation seems to be that the award was more of a political slap at former President George W. Bush.

The cut-off for nominations was 12 days into the Obama administration.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said, “The exciting and important thing about this prize is that it’s given to someone … who has the power to contribute to peace.”

Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna said, “Obama’s tangible and intangible contributions to world peace during his first year as President could not be underestimated or denied. In less than a year in office, he has transformed the way we look at ourselves and the world we live in and rekindled hope for a world at peace with itself.”

The Norwegian Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said, “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.”

Ignored by the distinguished people lapping at Obama’s feet, is that we have Troops in Afghanistan losing their lives as Obama wrings his hands wondering what to do, nearly a month and half after reinforcements were requested by General McChrystal, the General hand-picked by Obama to lead the fight in Afghanistan.

Also ignored by these leftists is just how many of former President George W. Bush’s policies and programs fighting terror remain in place.

For all the hatred of Bush going into Iraq, they ignore that Obama has not withdrawn the Troops from Iraq either, as he promised or that he has not closed Guantánamo yet.

In all they prove that this so-called award is nothing more than a political joke and symbol of leftist popularity that no longer has any definitive meaning, if it ever did.

If Obama were a man of conscience, he would respectfully decline receiving such an award based upon such a false premise, instead of pretending to be humbled by it.

From Russia Today, “Big mistake by Nobel Committee.”