Obama Averts the 'Nobel Trap': Le Figaro, France

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'OBAMA RECEIVES THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN OSLO'

Child: 'What is peace?'

Father: 'It's war without torture.'

[Tribune De Geneve, Switzerland]

Le Figaro, France

Obama Averts the 'Nobel Trap'

"He graciously accepted the praise of the prestigious jury, but did so without seeming to enjoy his tremendous popularity outside the U.S. so as not to benefit those who criticize him for being naive with his consensual approach to international issues."

By Pierre Rousselin

Translated By Philippe Guittard

December 10, 2009

France - Le Figaro - Original Article (French)

First lady Michelle Obama removes dust from the jacket of her husband, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, President Barack Obama, before a banquet in his honor at the Royal Castle in Oslo, December 11.

DIREKTE TV, Germany: Obama's Speech at Nobel Peace Prize banquet in his honor, Dec. 11, 00:07:25

It's rare for a Nobel Peace Prize winner to receive that distinction by being made an advocate of carrying out "just wars" to defend global concord. Given the controversy surrounding the award, which was granted even before he's obtained results, Barack Obama couldn't content himself with a simple thank you.

There was a double trap laid out for him. At first, graciously, he accepted the praise of the prestigious jury. But he did so without being caught in the game and giving the impression of taking advantage of the Nobel's pacifist aspirations. And he did so without seeming to enjoy his tremendous popularity outside the U.S., so as not to benefit those who criticize him for being naive with his consensual approach to international issues.

Barack Obama took advantage of the tribute offered him by delivering a discourse aimed at the award's eminent founder. The use of force may be "not only necessary but morally justified" because "evil does exist in the world," he said, responding to those who think he has an idealistic vision of the world.

The objective was to mark out the difference between he and his predecessor by delivering a repost to the doctrine of "preventive war" as imprudently applied by George W. Bush in Iraq. For Obama, war must be conducted in accordance with "rules of conduct" that "make us different from those whom we fight" and that permit the West to defend its values. Hence his decision to ban torture and close Guantanamo.

President Barack Obama delivers his Nobel Lecture in Oslo, Dec. 10.

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There was also a warning to Iran in his speech, but nothing bellicose. "Those regimes that break the rules must be held accountable. Sanctions must exact a real price, "he said, while acknowledging that the pressure would only be effective when the world is truly united.

Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize under such controversial circumstances has permitted Barack Obama to clarify his ideas on a subject as grave as war and peace.

Once more, his words were meant to offer a bit of satisfaction to everyone in the world - the partisans of human rights and the defenders of national security. But after the time for rhetoric is done, it will be his actions on which Obama will be judged.