Comments on: Let's sit down and talk this over.

Let's sit down and talk this over.

Free word order! — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:30:46 -0800

President Martti Ahtisaari wins the Nobel Peace Prize. A former Finnish President, an UN envoy, a social democrat, a school teacher and founder of Crisis Management Initiative has negotiated for peace in many troubled areas for three decades. Last fall and last summer CMI (without Ahtisaari's presence) called former Northern Ireland and South African militants to use their experience for finding Iraqi factions a way out of bloodshed. A plan for Kosovo. Negotiations ending 30-year conflict in Aceh, Indonesia. Negotiating Namibia independence. Got conflict? Mr. Ahtisaari is your man.

By: twoleftfeet

twoleftfeet — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:02:09 -0800

Close, but no Frans Emil Sillanpää.

By: Pendragon

Pendragon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:06:22 -0800

No George W. Bush ? Anti-American bias!!!!!

By: mediareport

mediareport — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:17:38 -0800

From the last link: He recalls how he brokered the first meeting between the South African authorities and leaders of the South West African Peoples' Organization (SWAPO), fighting for Namibian independence. "We were all in New York," he remembers. "I told them that if they came to my apartment I would provide the electricity and take-out Chinese food and they could get on with it. I just went to my study. If you can make yourself useless and unnecessary in a process, that's the best thing you can do." I love it when the Nobel prize points me to someone cool I'd never heard of before, but am a little disappointed the committee didn't call the Chinese bluff. It seems more urgent than honoring Ahtisaari, worthy as he appears at first look.

By: infini

infini — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:34:02 -0800

he sounds really cool, seems like Finns are inn this year

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:12:33 -0800

No George W. Bush ? Anti-American bias!!!!! It's a peace prize. The anti-American bias is built in.

By: matteo

matteo — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:13:06 -0800

he's like a community organizer

By: keijo

keijo — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:21:49 -0800

He was a lousy president but great in what he does for peace. Congratulations. Although not everyone agrees.

By: myopicman

myopicman — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:26:14 -0800

Ahtisaari had been shortlisted for the Peace Prize seemingly for years, although the nomination process is notoriously goofy since any name could be submitted for consideration. I'm surprised no anecdotes about using the sauna as part of the negotiation process have surfaced yet, since that's been a typical meeting spot to establish equality. New Yorkers can see a signed portrait of Ahtisaari in the main room of the Russian & Turkish baths on East 10th.

By: infini

infini — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:28:25 -0800

It's a peace prize. The anti-American bias is built in. posted by srboisvert 14 minutes ago A favourite just isn't good enough for a high quality snark. Can we get some pointage around here to denote real quality? ;p

By: keijo

keijo — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:36:19 -0800

That's the Finnish way - steam them hot enough and they'll agree to anything. Hmm... wait. Or was it the American way? Very confused here.

By: Authorized User

Authorized User — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:05:53 -0800

Yeah he never seemed comfortable in his job as president. He didn't take well to being a public persona and clearly his desires, talents and ambitions were in the international arena doing the very things he got the peace prize for. He wasn't all that bad as president but it clearly wasn't his thing. He did not seek re-election after his first term.

By: infini

infini — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:16:42 -0800

seems the coverage is helping balance the overwhelming association with Nokia till now

By: keijo

keijo — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:00:05 -0800

At least his price is getting up, can't say the same of Nokia.

By: infini

infini — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:58:20 -0800

LOL@keijo

By: adricv

adricv — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:38:31 -0800

How this guy got the Peace Prize instead of the Chinese dissident is beyond me. I mean, they went from awarding it to the likes of Mandela and Walesa to giving it up to Al Gore and Ahtisaari. Does the Nobel Peace Prize mean anything anymore?

By: homunculus

homunculus — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:58:46 -0800

Europe vexes China with rights award to dissident