The announcement on Friday that US President Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize received a mixed response from Saudis and expatriates in the Kingdom, with many so unenthusiastic that they declined to comment at all. Tarek A. Mishkhas, executive editor, Urdu News, Urdu Magazine, said Obama has done nothing yet. “It is too early for such a prize. He has neither achieved peace in the Middle East nor solved other problems,” he said, and added, “I don't know what the criteria are. The only thing is that he came after (President George) Bush and tried to improve the image of the US in the world and create better relations with other countries and change the kind of relations that Bush was building and pursuing”. Mishkhas said that what Obama is calling for and aims at are great in words but he has to push for what he promises such as a two-state solution for Palestine and lasting peace in the Middle East. “Obama's name was never mentioned in the media as being in the running for the prize. His choice is really surprising, and it may even raise some questions. However, being an optimist, all I can say is that maybe the prize will push him to make good on his promises,” he said. Ezzuddin A. Hafez, manager of English Language training at an educational institution in Jeddah, said Obama has done nothing to show that he deserves such a prestigious prize and to award it on expectations does not make sense. Saying that a prize, any prize, however small or big, has to be deserved, he added, “Obama has so far not done anything to show that he deserves such an award, at least not at this early stage in his presidency. The world, the Muslim World especially, is waiting to see him deliver on his promises, and this in a way puts ‘paid' to the promises not the performances. It is very strange, to say the least. But that is the way of the world these days.” Dr. Abdullah Saeed Al-Shehri, assistant professor of linguistics at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), said he was not surprised. He explained that since Obama became president, his rhetoric has been reassuring and he has made it clear that his predecessor's policies are not going to be the dominant policies and that he is generally interested and keen on fixing the United States' reputation, and improving its image abroad, especially in the Muslim World. “He has so far worked hard to deal with issues such as the Israeli-Arab problems, and what is more important is that the language he uses to address American disputes and differences with Iran over its nuclear activities is very diplomatic and not at all intimidating or provocative,” he added. Khaleda Siddiqui, a housewife, said, “Peace is something that Obama has not achieved, yet. And to award him a Nobel Prize for Peace, is absurd, at least so early in his presidency.” She added that there is talk of sending more troops to Afghanistan, Iraq is still in turmoil, there is a double standard in dealing with North Korea and Iran on the nuclear issue, and America still cannot rein in Israeli atrocities in Palestine. “After promises of change, it seems that the common man, who wants himself, children and family to return home safe from offices, schools, markets and cafes, is taken for a ride,” she added. Tasneem Sabri, another housewife said, the Peace Prize long ago lost its luster because it has become more political than principled. “To me it seems that it is meant to boost America's image, which has slipped to 13th in the UN Human Development Index. Moreover, it does not command the respect and status that it used to, say during the JFK era,” she said. She said that Obama's trail to the White House has been sown with promises of better relations with the Muslim world. “Warnings to Israel are not working. Israeli settlements are continuing. Obama must deliver the promise of a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict. He must show more concrete actions, especially in relation to Palestine, Iraq, and the situation in Afghanistan,” she added.
