In an Orwellian move, the idiots in Oslo have awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to the fools at the United Nations, and to one toothless nuclear watchdog (lgf: search) in particular: IAEA, ElBaradei win peace prize.

This completes the transformation of the Nobel Peace Prize into a politically-motivated sideshow, with no connection whatsoever to reality.

OSLO, Norway (CNN) — 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.

ElBaradei told CNN he was “overwhelmed.” He said it was “a shot in the arm” for his agency and would strengthen its resolve in dealing with major issues like North Korea and Iran.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee picked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and ElBaradei, an Egyptian, from a record field of 199 candidates.

It praised ElBaradei as an “unafraid advocate” of measures to strengthen non-proliferation efforts. (Full citation)

The prize is to be split equally between the agency and ElBaradei. He promised the money would be spent on “good causes.”

He told a news conference in Vienna, Austria, that the prize “sends a strong message” about the agency’s disarmament efforts and will strengthen his resolve to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

UPDATE at 10/7/05 8:12:38 am:

This pleased another blind Armageddon-enabler.

Former chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix, a friend and colleague of ElBaradei, told The Associated Press the award was “very encouraging and fortunate.”

“I see it as an endorsement of the professional and independent role of the IAEA and of international verification in the field of nuclear power and nonproliferation,” Blix said.