Since Rashid Khalidi has, by his close friendship to Senator Obama, returned to prominence, it may be worth revisiting the quality of Khalidi’s scholarship and how he subordinates scholarly integrity to polemic. I had the pleasure of reviewing one of Khalidi’s recent books, here.
Separately, Qubad Talabany has, for more than a year, privately asked Kurdish businessmen to donate to Democrats. What is ironic, however, is that while no doubt many Democrats are sympathetic to Kurdish nationalism and show antipathy toward Turkey — Qubad’s motivation — Khalidi’s influence upon Obama might subordinate basic human rights to the virulent form of Arab nationalism that led to the Anfal.