http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks ... 312413.ece
The article's in Norwegian, but it's the Nobel Committee leader Thorbjørn Jagland saying that it would be wrong to wait to give Obama the prize. He says: "Remember the confrontation that characterized the world's political scene only two years ago. With Barack Obama leding the USA there has been a total change in international politics. And this is what the Committee has had in mind when they chose to give him the prize."
He's also saying to those that think it's too soon: "Obama has started a positive development that needs all the support it can get, and this is some of the background for giving him the prize. And if no one reacts now, you might be too late to support this positive development."
He says that sometimes it's necessary for the Committee to move into the realm of realpolitik. And that the Nobel Peace Prizes given to persons like Willy Brandt, Lech Walesa og Mikhail Gorbatsjov all were supporting ongoing political processes. And helped moving the world forward.
I do hope Obama's prize can have some of the same positive effect.
Edit: I hear that's what Obama's saying too, that he's seeing this prize as a support to an ongoing process.