Asia-Pacific

Historian disappointed with Obama's remarks on war

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-11 13:47

OSLO: US President Barack Obama's remarks on Thursday about the role of war in preserving peace disappointed some Norwegians, especially when they came from the mouth of a Nobel Peace laureate at the prize awarding ceremony.

Norwegian historian Hans Olav Lahlum told the Aftenposten newspaper that he was very disappointed by Obama's lengthy defense of the wars the United States have been engaged for years in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He was quoted as saying that he believed members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, who handed the 2009 peace prize to Obama, were also disappointed.

Related readings:  Nobel-winning Obama defends war in call for peace  Obama defends US wars as he accepts peace prize  Obama receives the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway  Obama arrives in Norway to accept Nobel prize

Obama said in his speech that war was sometimes necessary though it in itself was never glorious.

Wars "do have a role to play in preserving peace," said Obama.

He praised US troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan for their sacrifice.

"How dare you?" a pacifist demonstrator said in reaction to Obama's war remarks.

About 10,000 people protested on Thursday night, marching from the Central Station to the Grand Hotel where Obama was staying. But they were kept out of Obama's sight by thousands of his supporters.

As one of the traditions which associate with Nobel Peace Prize awarding, Obama waved from his hotel room balcony fixed with bullet-proof glass and watched a torchlight procession.