And the award goes to ...

U.N. nuclear watchdog, ElBaradei win Nobel Prize

The U.N. nuclear watchdog and its head, Mohamed ElBaradei, won the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for their efforts to limit the spread of atomic weapons.

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The two had been among favorites for the award on the 60th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.

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ElBaradei rose to prominence for highlighting the lack of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq before the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

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Nobel Committee chairman Ole Danbolt Mjoes said that the prize was not meant as a veiled criticism of Washington, which has often been at odds with ElBaradei on Iraq.

"This is not a kick in the legs to any country," he told a news conference.

As Jay Tea at Wizbang points out, though, ElBaradei's record is one of failure:

On their watch:

• India announced it officially possessed nuclear weapons.
• Pakistan announced it had nuclear weapons.
• Libya announced that it had a highly-developed nuclear weapons program, and turned it over — lock, stock, and barrel — to the United States.
• North Korea has continued violations of the treaty and is unabashedly seeking nuclear weapons.
• Iran has repeatedly violated the treaty and is unabashedly seeking nuclear weapons.
• Pakistan has helped spread what it has learned about nuclear weapons throughout the Muslim world.

And the US still (allegedly?) uses depleted uranium and Israel scoffs at the idea of abandoning their nukes.

update Sepia Murthy points out that Yasser Arafat won a Nobel Peace Price, but Muhatma Gandhi never did, so guess this — and Henry Kissinger winning it in 1973 — puts this year's ridiculous selection into perspective. At least ElBaradei is a killing-enabler and not directly responsible for the murder of thousands and misery of millions like Arafat and Kissinger.

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