That would be the Nobel Prize Committee, in Stockholm, in tapping Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, as the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize this year.
ElBaradei, 63, has headed the U.N. nuclear agency as it grappled with the crisis in Iraq and the ongoing efforts to prevent North Korea and Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The IAEA is not much of a grappler. It failed in Iraq to establish whether Iraq definitively had or didn't have WMD, even getting thrown out of Iraq for five years in the process. It failed to uncover what the Duelfer report noted, that Saddam was ready to restart a weapons program as soon as sanctions were lifted. It failed to stop North Korea, despite the Clinton era agreement, from developing nuclear weapons. It failed to stop Iran from progressing it's weapons program in the unstable middle east. Its record of failure makes this a real head scratcher. Recall this statement from UN weapons inspector Hans Blix, after the start of the Iraq war:
"I am obviously very interested in the question of whether or not there were weapons of mass destruction, and I am beginning to suspect there possibly were none," Mr Blix told the Berlin daily Der Tagesspiegel.
Well, of course Mr. Blix should be interested in that. But at the start of the war he didn't know, and that's his job. The story continues.
"Everyone who has contributed to the IAEA has a part in this important prize," the Nobel Committee's chairman, Geir Lundestad, said in announcing the prize.
The committee recognized "their efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and to ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is used in the safest possible way."
Under the aegis of ElBaradei's IAEA North Korea now has nuclear weaponry. That's for military purposes, is it not? Ah, but the prize is the thing.
Could there be a reason why the Nobel Committee decided to reward ElBaradei and his organization this year?
The Bush administration, having found no alternate candidate or support from any allies, has given up on its attempt to force out Mohamed ElBaradei as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to two U.S. officials.
[...]
"We're willing to lift our objections under certain conditions," one of the officials said. "Namely, get tougher on Iran."
The Bush administration's vigorous but solitary campaign -- including a complete halt of intelligence sharing, recruitment of potential replacements and eavesdropping on ElBaradei in search of ammunition against him -- won not a single ally on the IAEA board.
Perhaps this is the committee sticking another finger in the eye of the Bush Administration, like they have previously.
Asked if the selection of the former president was a criticism of Bush, Gunnar Berge, head of the Nobel committee, said: "With the position Carter has taken on this, it can and must also be seen as criticism of the line the current U.S. administration has taken on Iraq."
The committee made reference in its citation to current world events that may see the United States take military action against Iraq.
"In a situation currently marked by threats of the use of power, Carter has stood by the principles that conflicts must as far as possible be resolved through mediation and international cooperation based on international law, respect for human rights and economic development," the Nobel Committee said.
If my record with patient care were as poor as the IAEA's in their field I'd be spending all my time in court defending myself. Given the record of the IAEA in performing their job I'd say the Nobel Prize Committte is acting like some school districts in eliminating the failing grade. They are accepting mediocrity ... or less.
Linked to The Political Teen's trackback fest. And Wizbang's COTT XXXII.
10/7/05 1600: Don Surber agrees.
10/8/05 0900: So does Jay Tea.
