Nobel is no real cause for a celebration

       Now that he is Nobel laureate Barack Obama, will he find smoother sailing for his plans to rid the world of nuclear weapons, to forge peace in the Middle East and stabilise Afghanistan,to halt climate change?
       Not likely.The Norwegian Nobel Committee members made no bones about it: helping Mr Obama achieve ambitious peacemaking goals was their purpose in awarding the prize on Friday to an asyet mostly unaccomplished US president.
       But while the prestige could give Mr Obama and his efforts a boost, nations steer their courses according to their own interests and little else.
       US lawmakers, too, are not going to be influenced in politically difficult votes on climate change legislation or nuclearreduction treaties by the Nobel Peace Prize, no matter whom it goes to.
       That is not to say it was not an impressive achievement.
       At just 48 years old and not even nine months in office, Mr Obama became only the third sitting US president to win the prize.
       The widespread reaction, however,when the stunning news hit the nation was: for what?
       Mr Obama said so himself."To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honoured by this prize," he said hours after being awakened, and surprised, by spokesman Robert Gibbs.
       Comments from Nobel committee members revealed that they fully intended to encourage, not reward.
       Consider this: the nomination deadline was only 12 days after Mr Obama first entered the Oval Office. It is an enduring myth that the prize is only about accomplishment; it was created as much to supply momentum for peace as to celebrate it.
       Indeed, with a leftist slant, the fivemember committee was applauding Mr Obama as much for what he is not: his predecessor.
       Former president George W Bush was much reviled overseas for "cowboy diplomacy", the Iraq war and his snubbing of European priorities such as global warming.
       So some celebrating probably cannot hurt, as Mr Obama presses forward on efforts to repair America's relations with Muslims, bring Israelis and Palestinians into fruitful negotiations and turn back climate change. The committee especially singled out Mr Obama's aims to create a world free of nuclear weapons and to set out a new, more cooperative diplomatic doctrine.
       "I hope it will help him," Nobel committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said of the award."Obama is the right man at the right time, and that's why we want to enhance his efforts."
       "I will accept this award as a call to action," Mr Obama said."This award must be shared with everyone who strives for justice and dignity."
       Still, Mr Obama's efforts are at far earlier stages than past winners'.
       For instance:
       He and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev have set negotiators working toward an agreement to significantly reduce nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles. But getting to zero nuclear weapons across the globe, which Mr Obama acknowledged "may not be completed in my lifetime", means corralling both friend and foe abroad and lawmakers at home behind a mind-bendingly thorny web of treaties and agreements.
       Mr Obama said he would end the Iraq war. But he launches deadly antiterror strikes in Pakistan, Somalia and elsewhere and is running a second war,in Afghanistan, that he already has escalated once and is considering ramping up again while trying to persuade mostly reluctant Nato allies to contribute more.
       He has pushed for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. But there has been little cooperation so far from them.
       His administration is talking to US foes, like Iran, North Korea and Cuba.But it has little to show from that, either.
       He pledged to take the lead against climate change. But the United States seems likely to head into December's crucial international negotiations in Copenhagen with legislation still stalled in Congress and nations crucial to global agreement, including China and India,showing reluctance to come on board.
       With many seeing the award as premature, there is the chance it could provoke a small backlash that makes Mr Obama's work harder.
       So, no doubt the news of the prize brought trepidation along with joy. As Mr Obama's former foe for the White House, Republican senator John McCain,said:"He now has even more to live up to."
       Perhaps one reason there was no public celebrating at the White House on Friday.