The Nobel Peace Prize was established in 1901, to be awarded to an individual who has 'done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses' in a given year. When Barack Obama was awarded the Peace Prize in 2009, there was a great deal of hope that a new era in American History (indeed, in World History) was dawning; an era of Peace, of Civility, of Acceptance, and of wide-spread prosperity. After decades of invasive foreign policy which left much of the world furious at the United States, and after the more than One Million Iraqis and Afghans who were slain in the United States' occupation of those countries, many eagerly awaited the return to more sane practices on behalf of the United States of America. Barack Obama had promised to 1) close Guantanamo Bay, to 2) end torturous 'interrogation' techniques, to 3) end the DEA's raids on Medicinal Cannabis facilities in states which recognized the plant's medical value, to 4) bring ALL American Soldiers home from their occupation duties in Iraq within three months, to 5) Have the Attorney General review every single Executive Order of President George W. Bush and review them for Unconstitutionality and Civil Rights Violations, rescinding those orders, and to 6) curtail overly invasive provisions of the PATRIOT Act, among other progressive accomplishments.

Instead, not only was no effort even made to fulfill these promises, but in several cases the actions of the Obama Administration are diametrically opposed to the campaign promises which won him the election. Guantanamo Bay is still open, with most of its detainees not charged of any crime, and with large numbers engaging in a Hunger Strike to draw attention to the egregious Human Rights Violations conducted in this American operated Cuban Prison. Torture, including 'waterboarding', remains an accepted means of gathering information - despite the incredibility of confessions under duress being known for over two centuries. The DEA has increased its raids on Medicinal Cannabis facilities, and even prosecutes terminal cancer patients (among other infirms) for legally possessing and producing their medication - despite decades of studies showing the medical benefits of cannabis (and multiple patents attesting to the fact filed by the US Government). The Occupation of Iraq did not end officially until 2011, and even today there are tens of thousands of 'private military contractors' (Mercenaries) operating in Iraq, in the hire of the US Government. There has been no review nor rescinding of George W. Bush's Executive Orders - indeed, the number of borderline despotic orders has only increased under the Obama Administration. The PATRIOT Act was renewed, with no significant changes being made.

This, however, is unfortunately only the beginning. The United States is currently engaging in extrajudicial Drone Assassinations in over Seven countries, and have even assassinated United States Citizens, resulting in thousands of civilian casualties, including children. These drones are even now flying over our own country, covertly surveying and collecting data on US Citizens generally. The United States, in consortium with numerous European powers, provoked armed revolt in Libya, in order to illegally depose Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi; in the process destroying the world's largest irrigation system (which supplied Libya with much of its food) and poisoning the major source of the country's water for hundreds of years with depleted uranium. Attorney General Eric Holder engaged in programs to give assault rifles to Mexican drug cartels, ostensibly to 'track their movement' - resulting in the deaths of US Citizens, and an unknown number of people in Mexico. Despite speaking against the Indefinite Detention provision of the NDAA of 2011, Barack Obama signed the NDAA with the provision included, allowing the US Citizens to be detained without charge indefinitely, without so much as notification to the victim's families of their disappearance. In the wake of Wikileaks, the Department of Justice gave advice to the Bank of America to blackmail American Journalists, to infiltrate and attempt to discredit Wikileaks, and to expose the "leadership" of the nebulous social justice group Anonymous. While claiming support for the Occupy Wall Street protests, Barack Obama did nothing to protect protestors or their property from violence, arrest, and confiscation at the hands of police. Even though he had promised to respect American Civil Liberties, his National Security Agency engages in a country-wide, passive data-collection program known as PRISM, which collects emails, transcribed phone calls, text and picture messages, SMS data, Web browser histories, and more besides from tens of millions of American Citizens; despite denying such collection scant weeks before the program was exposed. In the wake of this Unconstitutional program's exposure, Barack Obama's Administration has imposed upon the National Sovereignty of over a dozen countries, threatening to ground planes, cut off financial aide, and to engage in economic sanctions against them if they offer political asylum to Edward Snowden, the Whistleblower who exposed PRISM. His administration has targeted political opponents for investigations of Tax fraud, and millions of dollars of property has been confiscated from those who have supported his rivals. He has done nothing to curtail rampant police brutality across the United States, nor to curtail the power of the CIA overseas, nor to prevent the CIA from hiring private intelligence firms to circumvent the law on their behalf. Worst of all, under the Obama Administration, the United States have been shipping arms to rebels, mercenaries, and criminal organizations in Syria (Iran's staunchest ally) in order to depose the country's leader, causing a bloody civil war which has left over 100,000 people dead and two 4,000 year old cities in ruins. Even as long as this list is,it is far from exhaustive.

In recognition that Barack Obama has, in actuality, done little to foster fraternity between nations, abolish or reduce standing armies, or hold and promote of peace congresses, and recognizing that Barack Obama has in many instances run completely counter to these goals, we request that Barack Obama return his Peace Prize, as suggested by Thorbjørn Jagland, the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. While we have no say in determining the recipient of this prize, it is our suggestion that the prize be awarded posthumously to Irena Sendler, who smuggled over 2,500 Jewish children out of Nazi Germany, at great personal risk.

We also request that Barack Obama make a public, sincere apology to all who have been killed as a result of his actions and those of his administration, honoring the many victims with a moment of silence. The apology and moment of silence are to be broadcast internationally.

Regardless of Barack Obama's decision to return his Nobel Peace Prize and issue a public apology to those who have lost their lives due to the actions of his administration, we Require that the numerous violations of Human Rights Laws, International Laws, and the Constitution cease immediately, and that all efforts be made to correct these matters in whatever manner is possible.

Please sign our Whitehouse.gov Petition if you have not already done so:
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/return-obamas-nobel-peace-prize-and-issue-public-apology-families-thousands-slain-his-administration/RqzYzhHG