Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-25

[The Minsky Moment]

It's the Nobel Peace Prize, not the Piece of Ass Prize.

Seriously, George Mitchell was nominated for Northern Ireland as he was the lead envoy.  Clinton's main contribution was choosing good diplomats.  An under-rated skill perhaps (especially as we watch the Trumpy clowns fumble about), but one that rarely wins prizes.

[Sheilbh]

I have no issue with John Hume and David Trimble getting it for Northern Ireland.

And I agree that he chose good diplomats. The prizes are meaningless ultimately.

But I also think that while those diplomats did incredible, grinding work to get step by step to the point of agreement,  Clinton matters. Certainly in the case of Northern Ireland there were points when he was essential it was his prestige, charisma, investment in time that was really important in convincing leaders to make the jump - basically bringing all the skills and warmth that made him an effective politician to bear on Northern Irish leaders in concentrated doses (fair to say it worked more on the Nationalist side than the Unionists ). I've no doubt he was being closely advised by Mitchell, Ahern and Blair on when to engage and when to hold off but hs contribution was significant.

As I say the prizes are meaningless and I don't really know how you value it but I think Clinton's contributions go way beyond picking the right people. I suppose it's sort of the difference between the guys who do all the detailed work ad the ones who kind of make it happen/do the politics/create the conditions to do it.