While all the smug, auto-congratulatory backslapping is getting your show's attention, the Swiss take a cautious view of the situation.

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/15/14449962-swiss-army-prepares-for-euro-zone-unrest?lite

" . . . With anti-austerity protests across Europe resulting in civil unrest on the streets of Athens and Madrid, Switzerland -- the European country famed for its neutrality -- is taking unusual precautions.

"It launched the military exercise “Stabilo Due” in September to respond to the current instability in Europe and to test the speed at which its army can be dispatched. The country is not a member of the union or among the 17 countries that share the euro. . . . "

I am confused by your conflation of peace and agreement. The fact that the diversity of European states with so many different needs and values, who disagree about so many things, would now find it inconceivable to threaten with violence is the thing to celebrate. These countries are now having their disagreements in committee meetings and between diplomats, not on battlefields across a barbed-wire strewn no-mans-land. I celebrate that.

To be frank the rationale is silly. There has been peace inEurope since 1945 because a) there weren't alo of men left to fight,and ) the US military effecively occcupied and militarily co-opted most of Europe. this allowed the Germans and others to spend zip on the military and concentrate on rebuilding their econom,ies - a far better way to dominate. then again the advent of nuclear arms prety much made war impractical.

I can't help feeling wryly amused by you're guest quoting Kissinger about who's in charge of Europe, when the US Government has been at such an impasse thanks to Congress, and the President apparently made so impotent by the power of certain states in this "Union."

The award had to be given now because EU may not exist next year.

Grab it while you can...

The award money will be given to Greece as a parting gift.

The EU exists because the US defended it against the Soviet Union for decades after WWII. Without the US taking on the job as world's policeman after WWII and creating the Pax Americana, there would have been nothing but chaos, as there was after WWI.

Europe was at nearly constant war from the Reformation in the 1500s through the Second World War. By many measures, it was the most warlike region on the planet. It is no small accomplishment to keep Germany, France, and England from each other's throats after 500 years of conflict. But I wonder if the EU really deserves the credit. The USA through the Marshall Plan and the following Pax Americana probably did more than the Europeans themselves to keep the peace.

Sweden gives the award and it is in the EU. Ceremony takes place in Oslo (the two countries were once one).

Americans forget how traumatic the wars of the 20th century have been for Europe, and how fresh those memories remain for many Europeans alive. "Mere" peace amounts to a significant achievement.

I'm Swedish. We identify with our country. I don't have any opinion of the peace prize being given to the EU. However, its a cop out, it seems like the cmte didn't have anyone else to give it to...

I don't understand why anyone even pays attention to these wards anymore. It's absurd!

I don't blame Europeans for not wanting call in. Obama was given the prize and you see how well that went. Receiving has become a bad omen....

It really should have gone to Malala Yousufzai, the 14 year old girl who was shot because she was defending her right to education. She DESERVES it!

Europeans are very nice, civilized, educated, generous people.

It is always a pleasure to deal with them.

Then they put you in an oven...

The awarding of this prize to the EU is beyond insulting to the millions of Europeans who are suffering from living under the incompetent thumb of both Germany and the EU. This was obviously a sad attempt for the North to inflict its agenda onto the the unruly South. The people from Greece, Italy, Spain, Ireland and Portugal will be understandably furious. The Nobel committee not only made fools of themselves, they also probably helped to precipitate the end of the union. For the committee not to understand that Europe never again wants to live under the thumb of Germany is denial at its dysfunctional peak.

For the next year Nobel Peace Prize I nominate EVERYBODY (of course, if we are going to be alive).

People came to America to escape endemic murderous racism and fascism, classism, royalty, theocracies.

America is far from perfect, but it's better than anything Europe inflicted on the world. Anyone Euro who doesn't like America can pack up and return to their fatherland.

This is somewhat of a farce. Even though not really part of the EU, the war in Yugoslavia was terribly handled (we had to come in and play a major role), with century-old factionalism getting in the way.

Is this a Nobel Bailout? Who gets this and can it pay down intracountry debt? Has the Nobel Committee attempted to be more relevant by doing more than rewarding but rather encouraging great efforts?

and what is the EU without the German engine. How far we have come!

The announcement reminded me of how the chairman announced the secret ingredient in iron chef---over the top.

Grats Europe, on 60 years of not killing each other in grand scales.