Norwegian Nobel Committee

Barack Obama, Nobel Peace Prize winner

The stunning decision by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee to give its annual award to President Barack Obama shows just how starved the world is for constructive, positive U.S. leadership. Obama has redirected the immense power of this country from unilateral, bullying, jingoistic militarism to multilateral engagement.

Lots of people around the world - from Hugo Chavez to the oh-so-sophisticated anti-American elites that populate the chic drawing rooms in Hampstead and Islington and editorial conference rooms in London, Paris and (occasionally) Washington - sneer at the very idea of American leadership. However, many leaders and people around the world fervently do want to have an America that is a partner, a helper, and yes, a leader.