It's a surprise because President Barack Obama has only been president for ten months and still has a long way to go in his position as leader of the free world. He is also still the leader of a country fighting two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Not to mention the U.S. going after terrorists with deadly attacks in Pakistan and Somalia. But the committee awarding the prize say they are trying to promote what Obama stands for.
"He got the prize because he's been able to change the international climate," said Thorbjorm Jagland the chairman of the Nobel prize committee.
Jagland made the announcement this morning in Oslo, Norway. He said he didn't personally call the president beforehand because he didn't want to wake him up in the middle of the night.
"I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committe," Obama said.
Republicans Already AttackingThe Republicans were quick to minimize Obama's efforts saying he won the prize because of his star power not because of his accomplishments.
"The real question Americans are asking is, what has President Obama actually accomplished," said Michael Steele the Republican Party Chairman.
People outside the U.S. seem to disagree with Steele's assessment.
The Pew Global Attitudes project surveyed 25-thousand people in 27 countries around the world over the summer. They found the U.S. enjoyed double digit increases when it came to how people saw the U.S. That rating had gone down all over the world when George W. Bush was president.
The president of Finland who won the award last year says this just adds to the pressure Obama will be under.
"The world expects that he will achieve something," said Martti Ahtisaari.
Obama a Sure Thing for Peace PrizeThe peace prize is decided by five people who are elected by the Norwegian Parliament. Jagland says the decision to choose Obama was unanimous.
The committee members say they endorse Obama's appeal that, "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."
"Because of Obama's intiative, the United States is playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting," said Jagland. "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."
The peace prize goes to someone who makes a difference in fighting poverty, climate change, and promoting peace. Obama is only the third sitting U.S. president to win the award. Vice President Al Gore won the prize in 2007 for his work on climate change.
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