When President Obama flew to Norway this week, he faced, perhaps, the most daunting task of any Nobel laureate in memory: How to accept an award for peace while commanding a military at war in two nations.

I believe the president struck the right balance.

Acknowledging, first, that the decision to award him the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize was not universally praised or understood, Obama began his 36-minute acceptance speech with appropriate humility: “Compared to some of the giants of history who have received this prize — Schweitzer and King; Marshall and Mandela — my accomplishments are slight,” he said.

As for the war in Afghanistan, the president made no apologies. As much as people of goodwill might desire peace, he correctly stated, negotiation and nonviolence have their limits.

“I face the world as it is..., “ Obama said. “For make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world. A nonviolent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies. Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaida's leaders to lay down their arms. To say that force is sometimes necessary is not a call to cynicism -- it is a recognition of history, the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.”

What has often separated America from its enemies, he said, has been our nation’s relentless pursuit of peace and freedom and the manner in which, when compelled to fight, we have conducted those wars.

Listen to the speech and see what you think.