"Not that I am aware of, no," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters at his daily press briefing when asked if Obama has received the check of USD 1.4 million from the Norwegian Nobel Committee; which awarded him the coveted peace prize on December 10 last year.

Gibbs told curious reporters that Obama has not asked for the money yet.

"I assume it (money) is with the committee," he said.

Soon after receiving the award, the White House had said that Obama intends to donate this money to charities.

"That's what we're working on. That's quite perceptive," he said.

"There will be a process to evaluate that, from his perspective. I assume it will be many different charities.”

Does Obama really deserve Nobel Peace Prize?

‘Either you are with us or against us’ doctrine have been thrown in the dustbin by the charismatic United States President Barack Obama ever since he stepped into the shoes of the most powerful man on this earth.

Obama symbolises hope and encouraged people to believe in the power of dreams. Nobody expected a black to become the President of United States of America. To the utter surprise of one and all, Obama created history by becoming US President.

But there was more to come from Obama and it came much sooner than expected. He has been surprisingly given the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 for ‘his extraordinary efforts in strengthening international diplomacy and for taking landmark initiatives to create a nuclear-free world’. And he achieved this feat by beating 205 other nominees for the prestigious award, which includes a gold medal, a Nobel diploma and 1.4 million dollars.

But, isn’t it too early? Has Obama done enough to achieve the prestigious award? Or are we judging him just on the basis of his intent? Well, that’s the impression one gets.

No doubt, President Obama doesn’t believe in confrontation. He prefers engagement and dialogue rather than indulging in adventures. That was a welcome break from the George Bush era wherein, either you were with America or against them.

Even when it comes to dealing with Iran and North Korea, Obama has shown considerable restraint which is praiseworthy.

The only US Presidents to have won the award while in office were Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson in 1919.

It’s farcical to say the least, isn’t it? Obama says, I want peace and he gets the peace prize. It’s so obviously a political decision. Come on, he has only been President for less than a year.