Mohamed ElBaradei and the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency have been awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize. Of course, neither ElBaradei or the IAEA have done a single thing to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation, but at least they tried.

Who awards the Nobel Peace Price, and all other Nobel Prizes? From the Nobel Prize website:

The Norwegian Nobel Committee, whose five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget), is entrusted both with the preparatory work related to prize adjudication and with the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Chariman Dr. Ole Danbolt MJØS. Held various positions in The Christian People's Party (Kristelig Folkeparti). This party is center-right in Norwegian politics. But center-right in Norwegian politics would be considerably to the left in the U.S., especially on social-welfare issues. On family-values issues they are more to the right.

Dr. Berge Ragnar FURRE is the former parliamentary leader of the Socialist Left Party. The Socialist Left Party is left by European standards--it was formerly a Communist party. Today though, like most formerly communist parties, the Socialist Left Party is part of the Red-Green coalitions so common in Europe.

Sissel Marie RØNBECK is former director of the Social Democratic Youth (Labour's youth group) and a former cabinet minister in the Labour led government. The Labour Party has long been a main political party in Norway and was founded as a Marxist party, but are now merely socialists and advocates of an extensive welfare state. They now govern Norway as part of a center-left-green alliance.

Inger-Marie YTTERHORN is a former parliament member and currently advises the Progress Party. The Progress Party in Norway is both anti-immigration party and would be considered more libertarian than the Conservative Party on economic issues.

Kaci Kullmann FIVE is a member of the Conservative Party and former member of parliament. The name kind of says it all. But a Norwegian Conservative is a far-cry from an American conservative--for instance they support gay adoption and EU integration.

So, five people get together and decide who should get the prize. All five are former politicians. So, why should any one care what they think? I don't.

More at LGF, OTB, and elsewhere. Hat tip: Macker.

UPDATED, now with accurate information after getting my ass fact-checked.

Posted by: Rusty at 12:01 PM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
Post contains 426 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Ummm.... Am I missing something? Norwegians aren't Swedes.

Posted by: Brian B at October 07, 2005 12:55 PM (rGfpg)

2 For someone who doesn't care, you've spent an excessive amount of time detailing who's on the committee. Admit it, you care. And file this under "BFD."

Posted by: Venom at October 07, 2005 02:15 PM (dbxVM)

3 When the Nobel prices were instituted Sweden and Norway had just had a peaceful breakup of a union, and therefore Alfred Nobel thought the Peace price should be awarded by the Norwegian parliament.

Posted by: Ursus Maritimus at October 07, 2005 02:16 PM (OAFyx)

4 Rusty's just jealous because he didn't get nominated.

Posted by: Vinnie at October 07, 2005 02:19 PM (Kr6/f)

5 Blogson Brian-- D'OH!!

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at October 07, 2005 02:47 PM (JQjhA)

6 Congratulations to the IAEA. They're on an important crusade/jihad against a thing most dangerous in the wrong hands, hope the few million N. kronor help... Unfortunately, their victory cost me 300 €, since I bet on Ahtisaari...

Posted by: Haccapelite at October 07, 2005 02:56 PM (lGolT)

7 I care.

Posted by: Oyster at October 07, 2005 03:24 PM (fl6E1)

8 Shit! Is there nothing else to believe in?

Posted by: greyrooster at October 07, 2005 09:51 PM (M7kiy)

9 Yes, rooster, there is one thing you can believe in: your rifle. You will need it sooner rather than later the way things are going, so keep it ready.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at October 08, 2005 01:07 AM (0yYS2)

10 IM: You know, the hubby and I were just laughing the other day that we're probably the only household in the neighborhood who has 9mm and .45 bullets rolling around in the kitchen junk drawer. We're always ready;-)

Posted by: Oyster at October 08, 2005 10:03 AM (YudAC)

11 Maximus, I just purchased a rifle recently and I witnessed something that I am curious about. Perhaps you or greyrooster, or anyone else out there might be familiar with the law. As I was waiting for my purchase to be approved through BATF, I noticed that a Mexican(that is where he said he was born), who said that he was not a US citizen, attempted to buy a fireman. It was denied, but the denial was based on the fact that the Mexican guy could not prove he lived at his present address for over 90 days. Is this true? Can a foreighner legally buy a firearm? If so, this has conatations in relation to the jihadists. Does anybody know?

Posted by: jesusland joe at October 08, 2005 04:17 PM (0raMr)

12 jj: If they have a permanent residency permit it is possible at least in some states (IANAL).

Posted by: Ursus Maritimus at October 09, 2005 06:48 AM (OAFyx)

13 OK, thanks, Ursus, I was ignorant of these facts. I need to get up to speed.

Posted by: jesusland joe at October 09, 2005 08:48 AM (0raMr)

14 They give awards to all the wrong persons these days i mean why do we even bother with awards anymore its becoming a waste of time

Posted by: sandpiper at October 09, 2005 09:50 PM (FpZEl)

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