A Palestinian American professor who became the focus of anti-Obama attacks during the presidential campaign is warning against expecting major changes from Obama’s White House. Columbia University Professor Rashid Khalidi’s personal ties to Obama were cited by the McCain campaign in a widely ridiculed campaign ploy. Speaking in Egypt, Khalidi said he doesn’t think Obama will reverse US policy in the Middle East.

Rashid Khalidi: “The lethal combination of the fear of appearing soft on terrorism, which has sort of replaced the fear of being soft on communism in American public discourse, together with the unparalleled clout of the American military-industrial complex may unfortunately help to prolong the agony brought on by the current heavy American footprint in the Middle East, whatever intentions President Obama may have.”

Khalidi and Obama knew each other while teaching at the University of Chicago in the 1990s.