Singapore Summit

[NotoriousREV]

It would help if you vaguely understood why Obama was given the prize (which you clearly don't), and then compare and contrast that with Trump. Hint: Muslim travel ban and recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel are the opposite of why Obama was chosen.

[GG.]

Come on Dave - everyone thought it was a joke.

Obama was embarrassed by it and the sheer number of derisive comments from all across the political spectrum are adequately reflected in the slant of the wikipedia entry on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Nobel_Peace_Prize

He was given the prize on the basis of nothing more than being an idealist and making speeches. He was nominated after 11 days in office - it simply cannot have been reflective of any real achievement in foreign policy outside of a general feeling of making people feel optimistic. That's a derisory reason to award an honour of that magnitude.

The above wiki entry notes Jagland said the committee was influenced by a speech Obama gave about Islam in Cairo in June 2009, the president's efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and climate change, and Obama's support for using established international bodies such as the United Nations to pursue foreign policy goals.

"efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and climate change" - incredible he was able to do that as a senator with no responsibility for foreign policy, huh?

[Gavin]

Did Bono not get nominated though? Nobel prizes are surely right up there with the Tufty Club and Eurovision in relevance?

[GG.]

Well yes, Yasser Arafat got it jointly for engaging in talks to procure peace in the Middle East so I suppose there is a long and distinguished history of it being given to people who achieve nothing and/or on balance who did more in opposition to peace than to further it.

Arafat was a murdering bastard so actually scrap trump, the equivalent here would be giving it to Kim Jong Un for humouring us with talks before then going on to kill more innocent civilians than he did previously.

[NotoriousREV]

Come on Dave - everyone thought it was a joke.

Obama was embarrassed by it and the sheer number of derisive comments from all across the political spectrum are adequately reflected in the slant of the wikipedia entry on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Nobel_Peace_Prize

He was given the prize on the basis of nothing more than being an idealist and making speeches. He was nominated after 11 days in office - it simply cannot have been reflective of any real achievement in foreign policy outside of a general feeling of making people feel optimistic. That's a derisory reason to award an honour of that magnitude.

The above wiki entry notes Jagland said the committee was influenced by a speech Obama gave about Islam in Cairo in June 2009, the president's efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and climate change, and Obama's support for using established international bodies such as the United Nations to pursue foreign policy goals.

"efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and climate change" - incredible he was able to do that as a senator with no responsibility for foreign policy, huh?

I never said it wasn’t, but the fact is you’re arguing Trump should get one for “actually doing something” when he hasn’t beyond PR and you’re decrying Obama’s getting one for not doing anything when he did (albeit not enough in my view).

I agree with Jobbo: when you take into account the decision process, the Nobel Peace Prize seems to be pretty worthless anyway.

I’m a bit disappointed you’ve come out as a Trumpet

[GG.]

I know you’re just winding me up but I probably should clarify that I’m not a Trumpist anyway. He’s an ignoramus, an oaf that appeals to inbreds and the distillation of many bad elements within the American psyche.

I’m also definitely not arguing he should get one! For gods sake just put this years in the bin if they can’t find someone truly deserving of it.

All of the above doesn’t mean I don’t think Obama’s hand wringing on foreign policy was less effective than Trumps approach (though a nail biting gamble) on North Korea though.

Really if anyone should get blamed for North Korea, however, that award can only go to China.

[NotoriousREV]

Trump just happened to be president when NKs nuclear programme failed and they needed to attract foreign investment.

[GG.]

See my later edit re China. The PRC have bankrolled them for decades, trading with them despite sanctions.

What may be closer to the truth is what was discussed earlier about KJU wanting to line his pockets and feels like he’s cemented his position adequately within the regime to now be able to though it may well also have been Xi pulling the strings behind the scenes. Forcing KJU to the table because Trump threatened to destabilise the situation further.

If he wants to line his pockets he’ll need to cooperate further. If it was just to get the PRC off his back and keep propping him up then you’d expect this ‘accord’ to come to nothing.