Obama's Peace Prize

It’s a bit unfair to criticize President Obama for winning the Nobel Peace Prize today. After all, he didn’t ask for the award. Even if it was a strange and, above all, premature choice, he should be congratulated. But he isn’t getting much love from the right or the left.
No, the criticism should be reserved for the Norwegians. I think it is instructive to look at who the Nobel Committee passed up this year. Here’s a partial list:
—Dr. Sima Samar. Read the description of her life. She has labored to practice medicine in Afghanistan and among refugees for decades despite death threats. She is outspoken and fearless.
—Denis Mukwege. He is a Congolese gynecologist who has treated thousands of gang-rape victims who have been abused by militias in his country.
—Morgan Tsvangirai. He is the new prime minister of Zimbabwe, part of a shared-governing arrangement with the murderous and tyrannical Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwe’s problems are overwhelming, and Tsvangirai is doing his best to restore order against great odds.
Those are just three. Maybe you can suggest more. The Nobel Committee could have given tremendous credibility and support to any of these people, as well as those they are trying to help, by awarding them the Peace Prize. Instead, it chose to award the political ideology and policies of someone who has barely assumed office.
I supported the choice of Jimmy Carter in 2002, even though I don’t like his politics. Perhaps some day Obama will have accomplishments that qualify him, as well. But I can’t think of a reason why he deserves this honor now.