Barack Obama departs the White House for Oslo

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama left Wednesday night for Norway's Oslo to receive his Nobel Peace Prize.

He is scheduled to speak there Thursday. According to the White House, he is to talk about the 30,000-troop increase to Afghanistan last week in his acceptance speech of the prestigious prize for peace.

"The president will address the notion that last week he authorized a 30,000-person increase in our commitment to Afghanistan, and this week accepts a prize for peace," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, in a daily press briefing before Obama's departure.

Responding to a question about whether Obama feels embarrassed, Gibbs said Obama is proud of the steps his administration has taken to re-engage the world.

Obama is to accept the prize Thursday in Oslo. The irony of his being both Nobel laureate and war time president has raised many eyebrows.

Gibbs said Obama "understands" he isn't "in the same discussion as Mandela and Mother Theresa." Nelson Mandela, former South African president, and Mother Theresa were both Nobel Peace Prize recipients.