One of Iraq’s most prominent Shiite leaders today insisted that Sunnis will be included in a national unity government “irrespective of how their parties fare in the polls.” On the one hand, I applaud Abdul Aziz al-Hakim for making such a bold statement. On the other hand, Sunni “participation” is almost a moot point.

Some pundits claim that a Sunni boycott of the January 30 elections will “de-legitimize” the outcome. Granted: Sunnis make up 32-37% of Iraq’s population, but the Shiites make up 60-65%. While their representation is important, the majority of terrorist attacks aimed at destabilizing Iraq have been committed by Sunnis.

The Sunni terrorists have the most to lose from Iraqi elections. Democracy is an anathema to their Islamist dreams of a worldwide caliphate. Most importantly, the Sunni minority have terrorized Iraq’s other ethnic/religious groups for decades. They fear losing their old power, which they will most surely lose no matter what happens. The Shiite majority and Iraq’s other ethnic groups (Kurds, Turkoman) will never vote for their former torturers.

I’m sure there are Sunnis who aren’t involved in terrorism. Iraq’s interim president, Ghazi Yawer, is a Sunni, but the group’s main political organ, the Iraqi Islamic Party, has withdrawn from the elections. What kind of message does this send? Sounds like, “We’ll commit terrorist acts and we won’t participate in democracy.” What’s left? Answer: dictatorship.

In a farcical move, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Syria have called on all Iraqis to participate in the January 30 elections. Think about it: Dictatorships encouraging Iraqis to vote. This is nothing but cynical, self-preserving lip service. Iraq’s elections aren’t only making some Iraqis nervous. A democracy in Iraq will turn the Middle East’s tyrants upside down. It is about time. Under no circumstances can the U.S. heed calls for postponing the elections. Any such action would only embolden the terrorists and give Iraq’s totalitarian neighbors breathing space they do not deserve.