About that Nobel Peace Prize

There isn't much to add to towering pile of commentary on this other than to further take issue with the president's defenders that this is a signal that the "world" is happy.

Even if we define diplomacy down to generating feelings of international good will, the president still hasn't won "hearts and minds" where it counts, the Middle East:

However, in other predominantly Muslim countries, views toward Obama were more lukewarm. The new president is more popular than Bush among Middle Eastern Muslims, but on balance he receives more negative reviews than positive ones in places such as Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian territories. And in Pakistan -- a nation at the center of foreign policy debates in the United States -- only 13% believe Obama will do the right thing in international affairs.

To the extent that President Obama's international goodwill was supposed to bring forth beneficial results, the Middle East seems about as important place as any. Of course, it's too early to tell if the Obama administration can alter the terrain here but that's the point, isn't it?

(AP Photos)