[Hagelin]

Yes, an independent committee whose "five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament and roughly represent the political makeup of that body”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Nobel_Committee

[mbreese]

That may be true, but they aren't speaking with the authority of the state. There is a difference.

[Hagelin]

Sure, I don’t disagree, I just wanted to provide some nuance to the word ”independent”.