Obama Nobel Peace Prize - REVOKED!

[The following is a transcript of remarks by King Harald V of Norway, delivered during his visit to Chicago on Saturday, December 10, 2011, at the invitation of Chicago World Can't Wait. The day marked both the global celebration of International Human Rights Day, as well as the second anniversary of the day on which the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize was presented to Barack Obama in Oslo, Norway. Read the full account of the International Human Rights Day 2011 protest in Chicago.]

In awarding the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama, we cited his words:

Obama Nobel Prize - REVOKED!

"Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."

Our award to Barack Obama was filled with hope:

"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. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population."

And in speaking of values and attitudes, we pointed especially to:

• Using "Dialogue and negotiations [as the] preferred instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts."
• "strengthening international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."
• "Democracy and human rights [are to be strengthened.]"

December 10, 2010, in Chicago in front of Obama Re-election HQ:
"King Harald" regretfully revokes Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize
(Photo courtesy FJJ)

Now with the deepest regret I must note the recipient's actions:

• failure to close Guantanamo
• expansion of indefinite detention at Bagram and other detention centers throughout Afghanistan
• assassinations, including assassinations of U.S. citizens, among other violations of due process
• virtually unlimited use of drone technology and drone warfare to remove the last vestiges of democratic involvement in the implementation of foreign affairs and conduct of war
• widening of the war of terror into Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia
• arrogation of war power to himself in the NATO attack on Libya
• threats of war against Iran

SADLY, we must conclude that under Obama:

• Dialogue and negotiations have been abandoned in favor of pre-emptive attack
• Diplomacy and cooperation have been discarded, as the United States resorts again and again to its weaponry
• Democracy and human rights are nowhere in sight as the United States fills a bigger and bigger pipeline with detainees and prisoners

Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize - stamped "REVOKED"
(Photo courtesy FJJ)

NOW THEREFORE, by the power vested in me, and on account of the actions on the part of the recipient today described, as well as others, I hereby declare the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize award to Barack H. Obama officially revoked.

Let this unprecedented action, taken only with the most profound regret, stand as an example to ALL who abandon the values and attitudes of PEACEMAKING under the allure of POWER and VIOLENCE.

Thank you.

"REVOKED"

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