THE DECISION to award the Nobel Peace Prize to United States President Barack Obama has attracted disbelief, outrage, insult and support in equal measure.
Hours after the announcement, many of his conservative foe took predictable aim, using the award as an opportunity to lambast Obama's nine months in office.
The award was an embarrassment, unfortunate, lightweight and based on Obama's star power rather than substance, they said. Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele suggested it was an insult to those who ''made real achievements working towards peace and human rights''.
A particularly paranoid response suggested the win aimed to weaken the US in the global forum. Much of the US acrimony has been sparked by internal politics, particularly the economy and the health system and Obama's failure to fix both. Or in the fact that his nomination was made only two weeks into his presidency.
But it is this latter element which perhaps goes a way to explaining the decision.
America's reputation around the globe was arguably at an all-time low when Obama swept into power. Never had a presidential race captured so much attention. Voter turn-out was the biggest the US had experienced in 100 years. Around the world, millions watched, and, when Obama won, celebrated. In the US, tickets to his inauguration speech sold for as much $21,000, and again, it was a speech watched and lauded around the world.
Super star? Perhaps. But he was also the first black American president, a man born outside continental US, a young, almost unknown politician before his candidacy. His against-the-odds story captured the imagination of all. And he became, overnight, a symbol of hope and unification. And a symbol can often prove more powerful than any action.
The panel who decided the award praised Obama's ''extraordinary efforts'' to strengthen diplomacy and cooperation between peoples in a ''new international climate''. Certainly his overtures in the Middle East, towards Cuba and Asia, and his action on nuclear disarmament are seen as headed in the promised direction.
The award, in this sense, can be considered as providing more global gravitas to the president giving him another leg up on the international stage. The Nobel judges could be seen as quite canny by presenting such an encouragement award. But the move also brings with it enormous pressure for Obama to solve all of the world's problems.
Whether this prize will be a mixed blessing remains to be seen.