Editorial: The chess game continues

Thursday, May 3, 2007 | 7:23 a.m.

Even low-rated chess players are able to see a few moves ahead in obvious positions. So it was with the Democrats' bill to force a change in the direction of the Iraq war.

The Democrats' move: A war-funding bill is introduced committing U.S. forces to begin withdrawing if the Iraqi government fails to reduce sectarian violence and enact democratic reforms, and setting a goal of ending the war next year.

President Bush's move: A threat to veto the legislation on the grounds that it's not a "clean" bill. In other words, he asks for a blank check that asks nothing of the Iraqi government and commits the United States to nothing more than the status quo of daily bloodshed.

The Democrats' move: Passage of the bill.

The president's move: A veto.

The Democrats' move: A failed attempt to override the veto.

Now the position is a lot more complicated and the next moves are bound to be played blindly, with neither the Democrats nor the president knowing how they will turn out.

Bush and congressional leaders met at the White House on Wednesday to begin talks about how to avoid a stalemate. Bush appointed key members of his staff to work with Congress on a new bill.

Many Democrats seem committed to their original stance. "Make no mistake, Democrats are committed to ending this war," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said change is needed because Bush "has put our troops in the middle of a civil war."

Deliberations on Congress' next move will take at least two weeks. Democrats are in a tough position because they have vowed to fund the troops, but do not have the numbers to override a presidential veto. There is talk now in Congress of a compromise bill that would include strong benchmarks for Iraq to meet, but with no strong repercussions - such as troop withdrawals - if it doesn't.

That, of course, would likely suit Bush just fine, as he would be free to continue committing money and troops - and blunders.

As in a chess game, there are three fundamentals that lead to victory - space, force and time. Bush has the first two locked up. But, owing to the wisdom of American democracy, time remains a factor.

It would be a tragedy if the president allows the next 20 months to elapse without moving to end the war. Nevertheless, there will be a new president in charge come January 2009, and real moves leading to an endgame in Iraq can then be made if they haven't been made already.