President Bush truly has a mandate as he contemplates his second term, not to pursue a narrow, divisive agenda, but to broaden his thinking, unify Americans and cooperatively tackle global challenges.

Freed from the constraints of seeking another term and surely mindful of the legacy that he could build with the right mix of policies, Bush should embrace the moderate multitudes — in America and across the world — and cast extreme views to the sidelines.

On the international stage, the war against terrorism demands primary attention. In the months leading up to the election, the Bush administration publicly fretted that Osama bin Laden and his notorious al-Qaida network would play a disruptive role. Critics, especially those who downplay the terrorist threat, practically jeered as Election Day passed without an attack.

But, in fact, bin Laden managed to shake up the U.S. date with its democratic traditions in an ominous fashion. In the now-famous videotape that emerged mere days before the vote, bin Laden corrected any misperceptions about his alleged demise. He also warned that the United States would not find safety or security under any president. And he offered a bizarre olive branch, al-Qaida’s guarantee of peace, if Washington would stop its “attacks” in Islamic countries.

No one should be fooled by such transparent gestures. Although bin Laden and his gang will likely maim and murder more Americans before justice subdues them, they cannot, during the long term, withstand a comprehensive, multilevel and re-energized war against terrorism of the kind that I suspect will materialize shortly.

U.S. adversaries in other places, namely Iraq — which crawls with al-Qaida operatives, Saddam loyalists and other troublemakers — also should take heed. Bush, whether or not he acknowledges that Kerry had a good idea in urging thousands more troops for Iraq, will have little choice except to move in that direction if he wishes to stabilize and pacify that nation. How many more? At least 100,000 and perhaps twice that number.

Such power would allow the U.S.-led force to unleash the dogs of war not just in highly visible trouble spots such as Fallujah but anywhere in Iraq. Time is running out to regain the upper hand and prepare Iraq for elections next year.

Of course, military might alone cannot determine a positive and peaceful future for Iraq and the broader Middle East. The situation begs for substantive international negotiations to resolve outstanding regional disputes and conflicts within realistic timetables. Besides Iraq, the issues include the Palestinian question — made more urgent by the ending of the Yasser Arafat era — and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

History urgently beckons Bush to recapture the diplomatic promise that developed after the Persian Gulf War of the early 1990s and the Cold War’s end, when former President George Bush and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev co-convened a summit meeting on the Middle East in Madrid, Spain. Bush should start by making a phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, inviting him to test the potential of another bold summit meeting. Bush could also invite his father and Gorbachev to serve as honorary co-conveners.

Next, Bush should contact Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Once again securing Madrid as the host would help ease strains between the United States and much of Europe over Iraq, and point toward greater international participation.

Bush cannot afford to squander a chance to mend fences at home and abroad, and to spend his political capital on issues that affect America’s vitality and future.

John C. Bersia is an editorial writer for the Orlando Sentinel and special assistant to the president for global perspectives.