Forget arming the Assad regime, Russia’s war in Georgia, or its military campaign in Chechnya. To the International Academy of Spiritual Unity and Cooperation of Peoples of the World, Vladimir Putin deserves the Nobel Peace prize for preventing US military action in Syria after the Assad regime launched a chemical attack in August.
While announcing the nomination during a press conference in Moscow, group officials said Mr. Putin deserved the Peace Prize much more than President Obama, who won the recognition in 2009.
“Barack Obama is the man who has initiated and approved the United States’ aggressive actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now he is preparing for an invasion into Syria. He bears this title nevertheless,” said Iosif Kobzon, a member of the State Duma, UPI reported.
Conversely, he said, Mr. Putin tries a more peaceful approach.
“Our president, who tries to stop the bloodshed and who tries to help the conflict situation with political dialogue is, in my view, more worthy of this high title,” he said, adding that Mr. Putin steadfastly has opposed military intervention in Syria for the entire 2½ years the conflict has waged there.
Stranger things have happened in the prize’s storied history—like Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini ending up in the pool of nominees. And, of course, Barack Obama winning during his first term—not for what he had already done, but as an early vote of confidence in his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” If only they knew what was to come.
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