So, let’s suppose A breaks B’s arm. Let’s further suppose that A doesn’t let B see your doctor, but A does send A’s son, who has no medical training, to see to B’s medical needs. In desperation, B splints his own arm, and when it proves to be healing reasonably — or at all, for that matter — A takes all the credit.

Substitute, Bush for A, Iraqis for B, and Iraq itself for the arm, and you’ll have a neat summary of how the Administration is going to play the elections in the coming days.