October 9, 2009
Subject: Nobel Peace Prize for President Obama
To: Good Neighbor Law
From: Mr. John Wobensmith
Retired Senior Executive US Dept. of Defense, and Contributing Educator to Good Neighbor Law.

I just did (7:30 pm) a short live interview on Canadian Radio NewsTalk 1010 with Ryan Doyle.
The subject being the Nobel Peace Prize for President Obama.
In answer to his question about what I thought about President Obama receiving the NPP- I said that from my perspective the Committee was trying to influence the US President by playing to his instincts to talk, negotiate, and not pursue direct action.
By making him the "peacemaker" then It's their hope that he will not take an intensified and aggressive program in Afghanistan, and will not be aggressive with Iran and even its development of nuclear weapons.
Thus there will be no real sanctions and no military actions.
I said that I would not be surprised that Iran at some point makes a public display of its nuclear weapons-just like North Korea and as we recently saw with the Iranian missile tests a show of missile strength again just like the North Koreans.
One of the problems for our President is that time is on the side of the Iranians-negotiations; talks are in fact delay tactics for the Iranian government.
My concern is a show of weakness - or a lack of resolve - or the perception in the region will send the wrong message to the Iranian Government, the Taliban, Al Quada - and also to our friends in the region.
Ryan then asked if I thought the President should have refused to accept the prize, and I said realistically I didn't think that he would turn it down for a variety of reasons.

Best,
John
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile