HALPERIN'S TAKE: Five Ways Winning the Nobel Helps/Hurts Obama
Helps:
1. Validation of his world view.
2. Momentum in current peace talks around the world.
3. Adds to his aura as a historic figure.
4. Allows him to recover from his Olympic failure.
5. Gives him cover to expand the war in Afghanistan.
Hurts:
1. Raises expectations.
2. Emboldens and angers his domestic critics.
3. Will make him the target of late-night comedy jokes.
4. Further divides a polarized America.
5. Will alienate some other (jealous) world leaders, making it harder to work with them.
HALPERIN'S TAKE: Why awarding Obama the Peace Prize is shocking news.
