The European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize earlier today for
its historic role in uniting the continent. Committee chair Thorbjoern
Jagland praised the EU for transforming Europe "from a continent of wars
to a continent of peace." The selection surprised many as it comes at a
time when much of Europe is facing an economic crisis that threatens
the EU’s future. Just this past week, thousands of Greeks protested in
Athens against a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has
pushed Greece, Spain and Ireland to enact deep austerity measures. For
more, we go to London to speak with Tariq Ali, political commentator,
historian, activist and editor of the New Left Review. "My initial
response was to burst out laughing, because this Nobel Peace Prize
committee, basically run by clapped-out former politicians in Norway,
never fails to amuse and disappoint," Ali says. "To give the prize to
the European Community at a time, effectively, when economically it is
promoting unemployment, creating real class divides in virtually every
country in Europe, where it has led to enormous violence on the streets
of Greece, because of the policies being pushed by the EU ... it’s a
complete and utter joke."Video
Source: Democracy Now!
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