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Obama defends war at Nobel award | Obama defends war at Nobel award |
(40 minutes later) | |
President Barack Obama has said the US must uphold moral standards when waging wars that are necessary and justified, as he accepted his Nobel Peace Prize. | President Barack Obama has said the US must uphold moral standards when waging wars that are necessary and justified, as he accepted his Nobel Peace Prize. |
In his speech in Oslo, he defended the US role in Afghanistan, arguing the use of force could bring lasting peace. | In his speech in Oslo, he defended the US role in Afghanistan, arguing the use of force could bring lasting peace. |
He also said his accomplishments were slight compared with other laureates. | |
Mr Obama was given the prize in October for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples". | Mr Obama was given the prize in October for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples". |
Thursday's ceremony in the Norwegian capital came days after Mr Obama announced he was sending 30,000 extra US soldiers to the war in Afghanistan. | Thursday's ceremony in the Norwegian capital came days after Mr Obama announced he was sending 30,000 extra US soldiers to the war in Afghanistan. |
ANALYSIS Paul Reynolds, BBC world affairs correspondent | ANALYSIS Paul Reynolds, BBC world affairs correspondent |
He is careful to say that America respects the cultures and traditions of others - again, trying to project the US as a defender not an aggressor. | He is careful to say that America respects the cultures and traditions of others - again, trying to project the US as a defender not an aggressor. |
But he also wants to stand up for "universal values". It is a difficult balancing act. | But he also wants to stand up for "universal values". It is a difficult balancing act. |
His statement that "America has never fought a war against a democracy" might raise the issue as to whether it has fought on the side of non-democracies. Point-by-point analysis of speech | His statement that "America has never fought a war against a democracy" might raise the issue as to whether it has fought on the side of non-democracies. Point-by-point analysis of speech |
There was a mixed reaction when he was named as the winner of this year's prize, becoming the fourth US president to be given the honour. | There was a mixed reaction when he was named as the winner of this year's prize, becoming the fourth US president to be given the honour. |
Mr Obama's elevation to the rank of fellow laureates such as Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King, before he has even spent a year in office, has sparked fierce debate. | Mr Obama's elevation to the rank of fellow laureates such as Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King, before he has even spent a year in office, has sparked fierce debate. |
Critics also said it was inappropriate for the honour to go to the commander-in-chief of a country involved in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. | Critics also said it was inappropriate for the honour to go to the commander-in-chief of a country involved in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
Acknowledging the controversy, Mr Obama said he accepted the award with humility, adding: "Compared to some of the giants of history who have received this prize... my accomplishments are slight." | Acknowledging the controversy, Mr Obama said he accepted the award with humility, adding: "Compared to some of the giants of history who have received this prize... my accomplishments are slight." |
He could not argue with those who said many previous laureates were "far more deserving" of the honour than him, he said. | He could not argue with those who said many previous laureates were "far more deserving" of the honour than him, he said. |
Defending his Afghan troop deployment, Mr Obama said there were times when "the use of force [was] not only necessary but morally justified," as long as force was proportionate and civilian casualties minimised. | |
"Instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace", he said. | "Instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace", he said. |
"A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies," he added. "Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms." | "A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies," he added. "Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms." |
US media reaction In pictures: Obama's Nobel Prize Send us your comments | US media reaction In pictures: Obama's Nobel Prize Send us your comments |
He said the US "must remain a standard bearer in the conduct of war" to differentiate it from "a vicious adversary that abides by no rules". | He said the US "must remain a standard bearer in the conduct of war" to differentiate it from "a vicious adversary that abides by no rules". |
Mr Obama also emphasised alternatives to violence, stressing the importance of diplomacy and sanctions to confront nations like Iran and North Korea over their nuclear programmes. | Mr Obama also emphasised alternatives to violence, stressing the importance of diplomacy and sanctions to confront nations like Iran and North Korea over their nuclear programmes. |
While Russia and America were working to reduce their nuclear stockpiles, he said the international community must ensure Tehran and Pyongyang did not "game the system". | While Russia and America were working to reduce their nuclear stockpiles, he said the international community must ensure Tehran and Pyongyang did not "game the system". |
"Let us reach for the world that ought to be," Mr Obama said. "We can understand that there will be war, and still strive for peace." | "Let us reach for the world that ought to be," Mr Obama said. "We can understand that there will be war, and still strive for peace." |
He paid tribute to anti-government demonstrators in Iran, Burma and Zimbabwe, and said the US would always stand on the side of those who sought freedom. | He paid tribute to anti-government demonstrators in Iran, Burma and Zimbabwe, and said the US would always stand on the side of those who sought freedom. |
Protests | Protests |
Some anti-war demonstrators gathered outside city hall, where the ceremony was held. | Some anti-war demonstrators gathered outside city hall, where the ceremony was held. |
"We are protesting against him because... we don't think he is a man of peace," one protester, Anna Carraro, told AFP news agency. | "We are protesting against him because... we don't think he is a man of peace," one protester, Anna Carraro, told AFP news agency. |
Amid high security, the US president earlier signed the Nobel Prize book of previous laureates after arriving in Oslo with his wife, Michelle. | Amid high security, the US president earlier signed the Nobel Prize book of previous laureates after arriving in Oslo with his wife, Michelle. |
Indonesia unveils statue of Obama Obama tight schedule irks Norway | Indonesia unveils statue of Obama Obama tight schedule irks Norway |
There has been some disappointment in Norway at Mr Obama's decision to stay only one day, even though Nobel ceremonies are usually held over three, and decline a traditional lunch with the king. | There has been some disappointment in Norway at Mr Obama's decision to stay only one day, even though Nobel ceremonies are usually held over three, and decline a traditional lunch with the king. |
At a news conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, Mr Obama said he and his wife wished they could stay longer. | At a news conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, Mr Obama said he and his wife wished they could stay longer. |
In the evening, Mr Obama is due to wave to a torchlight procession from his hotel balcony and attend a banquet. | In the evening, Mr Obama is due to wave to a torchlight procession from his hotel balcony and attend a banquet. |
The Nobel Prizes for chemistry, literature, medicine, physics and economics are also being presented, in the Swedish capital Stockholm. | The Nobel Prizes for chemistry, literature, medicine, physics and economics are also being presented, in the Swedish capital Stockholm. |
Each laureate, including Mr Obama, receives a diploma, a medal and 10m Krona ($1.4m; £865,000). | Each laureate, including Mr Obama, receives a diploma, a medal and 10m Krona ($1.4m; £865,000). |
Coinciding with the Nobel ceremony, a statue of Mr Obama as a young boy was unveiled in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, at a park, near where the president lived between 1967 and 1971. | Coinciding with the Nobel ceremony, a statue of Mr Obama as a young boy was unveiled in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, at a park, near where the president lived between 1967 and 1971. |