With the Iraqi elections now less than 30 days away, it was understandable that President George W. Bush would break with administration policy and respond directly to the latest tape released by Osama Bin Laden (Intel Report). That tape, which encourages Iraqis to boycott the forthcoming elections, comes at a critical moment for the President. He has personally staked a great deal of credibility on the outcome of these elections, which he clearly hopes will vividly demonstrate that further significant progress is being made in Iraq toward a fully fledged democracy. Such success and the stability that it is hoped will eventually follow is, of course, the essential prerequisite that must occur before Collation forces can begin to scale back operations and eventually withdraw.

However, the security situation in Iraq remains far from stable, and it is still uncertain that credible elections can be held in many parts of the country. In particular, with the recent withdrawal of the Iraqi Islamic Party from the electoral process, it now seems likely that few Sunnis will be willing or able to embrace the democratic process at least for this election. The President may, therefore, have concluded–probably correctly–that he had to respond to Bin Laden?s broadcast, although it does indicate a certain desperation and does add legitimacy to the deliberate recasting of Bin Laden as a statesmen and leader of the Islamic ?nation?.