Shoulder to shoulder, Blair and Bush nominated for peace prize

Guardian/UK ^ | 2/05/02 | Stuart Millar

[kattracks]

One has ordered his forces into battle more times than any other postwar British leader. The other threatens military action against "evil" nations and keeps a scorecard of dead al-Qaida leaders, marking each fatality with an X.

Now, Tony Blair and George Bush have received international recognition for their unswerving willingness to use force: a nomination for the 2002 Nobel peace prize.

The prime minister and US president have been jointly nominated for the accolade by a rightwing Norwegian politician who believes their military campaign against terrorism meets Alfred Nobel's criteria that the winner "shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses".

Harald Tom Nesvik, who represents the Party of Progress in the Norwegian parliament, said yesterday: "The background for my nomination is their decisive action against terrorism, something I believe in the future will be the greatest threat to peace. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to use force to secure peace."

Mr Nesvik has nomination rights as a member of a national legislature.

The committee keeps the names of nominees secret for 50 years, but those making nominations often make their choice public. The full list of nominees will not be completed until later this month.

There are signs that Mr Blair and Mr Bush are up against tough competition to secure the $940,000 (£670,000) prize money and see their names added to an elite list which includes Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela.

Other unconfirmed September 11-related nominations are believed to include Rudolph Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, and Guy Tozzoli, an engineer who helped design the World Trade Centre.

The winner will be announced in October.

Mr Blair's nomination appears to have brought little cheer to Downing Street. Last night a No 10 spokeswoman said: "I think it would be a matter for the committee to consider any nomination. I don't think it would be a matter we would comment on."

[kattracks]

The Liberal Guardian sounds as angry as clinton and his wife must be.

[Demidog]

Hillarious. Bush and Blair getting the peace prize? Somebody's idea of a sick joke.

[GeronL]

Who would have thought this would come from Norway? Norway!?

[xm177e2]

If they can give one to Abu Amar, they can give one to anyone.

[nopardons]

This would just KILL both of the Clintons ! I hope team Bush & Blair gey it ; though I consider the Nobel Peace Prize to be a joke.

[nopardons]

This would just KILL both of the Clintons ! I hope team Bush & Blair get it ; though I consider the Nobel Peace Prize to be a joke.

[Demidog]

I hope team Bush & Blair gey it ; though I consider the Nobel Peace Prize to be a joke.

You must not think too highly of either Bush or Blair if you hope they get the prize.

[kattracks]

I agree, on both points.

[truth_seeker]

Who would have thought this would come from Norway? Norway!?

The origin of the Nobel Prize is Sweden! Sweden!

[GeronL]

well, back when Sweden was Sweden.

[nopardons]

I'm not much of a Blair fan at all ; never liked the man, his " leadership " , nor his politics. I think that the so called " PEACE " prize is an oxymoron and worthless. What I DO know, is that both Clintons and their sycophants will deficate green, and scream blue murder, should this come to pass , and I LOVE that ! Don't forget that old Sick actually tried to BUY someone to get him the nomination / " prize ".

[nopardons]

Thanks , kat. : - )

[piasa]

The nomination came from Norway...

[Demidog]

Yeah I remember that. But to even suggest that Bush has had any relationship to peace is a laughable thought.

[VaBthang4]

"The Liberal Guardian sounds as angry as clinton and his wife must be."

Hahaha...heck yeah they are pissed off!

LOL!

[nopardons]

And Arafat had ? Name me, in any order, the last 10 Nbel Peace Prize winners and whar THEY had to do with any " peace " at all.

Your bias is so pronounced that you can't even take the slightest delight in the Clintons' pain ? You are one sick puppy.

[Demidog]

I, like you think the prize is a joke. And Bush is just another in a long line of people nominated who didn't deserve it.

[Judith Anne]

What you said. ;-D

[nopardons]

Demi, you are utterly hapless and hopless ; not to mention humorless. : - P

[nopardons]

Thank you ! : - )