OSLO (Reuters) - A Norwegian parliamentarian nominated President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair for the Nobel Peace Prize on Thursday, praising them for winning the war in Iraq .

‘Sometimes it’s necessary to use a small and effective war to prevent a much more dangerous war in the future,’ Jan Simonsen, a right-wing independent in Norway’s parliament, told Reuters.

Blessed are the warmakers.

Now, before you all start flying off the handle about this nomination, consider Mr. Simonsen’s argument: Had Bush and Blair not attacked Iraq there would have been a much bigger war between Iraq and… someone, and Iraq would’ve used all those weapons of mass destruction… that’ve gotta be around here somewhere, and untold thousands would’ve been killed by Saddam’s massive, deadly military… that more or less gave up without a fight, true, but still, y’know…

Look, Alfred Nobel would’ve understood. After all, his will clearly stated that the Peace Prize should go to individuals who “shall have 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.” With the exception of our President’s military build-up, his renunciation of the United Nations’ efforts to find a diplomatic solution, and his withdrawal of “fraternity” between us and several of the world’s most powerful nations, Nobel’s description fits G.W. Bush to a tee.

Still not convinced? Think realpolitik rather than bleeding-heart old-school definitions of “peace” and “war” and “actual dead people.” The future of Iraq under Saddam Hussein was unknowable, of course, but it was probably really, really bad. By preventing that future from ever occurring, Bush and Blair have saved us from (forever) untold mayhem.

Scoff if you will, but it’s the same reasoning that I and (I suspect) many others employ when we suddenly find ourselves walking in a bad neighborhood at night: Rather than open myself to victimization, I promptly burn my wallet, grind my face against a wall or two, and toss myself down a few flights of stairs. Then - bruised, bloodied, limping and penniless - I proceed confidently through the “mean streets,” assured that I will no longer be a target for attacks that I can rest assured would have been much, much worse. It’s just good sense.

Of course, Bush and Blair didn’t lay down their own lives in Iraq, the limbs that were blown off were not theirs, but the principle is the same; if we want to enjoy the Omelet of Peace in the years to come, we might have to break a few eggs today. And heads. Eggs and heads.

Bon appetit. And congratulations to the fightin’ peacemakers of ‘03!