The essence of chess is this: remove your opponent’s options until none are left. And then this civilized, metaphorical representation of war is over. The players shake hands and walk away.

The Bush Administration is playing a game of chess against Saddam Hussein, only — when the Iraqi leader has run out of options, that is when the real war will begin.

UNSCOM has found that the Iraqi missile, the Al Samoud 2, is capable of traveling 193 km (120 mi), putting it in violation of the 150 km (93 mi) limit for offensive weapons permitted under the disarmament order which ended the Gulf War. Iraq insists that the UN-estimated range of this missile is overstated, since the estimates are not taking into account the lessened range of the missile if it were fully loaded with fuel, guidance systems and warhead.

“Makes no difference”, Hans Blix says, and demands that the Iraqis begin destroying these missiles by this Friday. And this is where the options run out.

There is no guarantee that if Saddam begins destroying these missiles that the crisis will be over and the US and its hawkish allies will call off the dogs of war. However, if he does destroy the missiles, he will be removing one of his more effective weapons, leaving him less able to defend his country should the war begin. Saddam must choose between the unlikely scenario that the US will back off if he cooperates, and the likely scenario that he will be markedly weakened if he begins the dismantling. He is being backed into a corner, checkmated, and it would not be surprising if he were to erupt and turn the table over.