President Bush?s two favorite self-descriptions are “Commander in Chief” and, more recently, “The Decider.” Both are severely, if so far unsuccessfully, under challenge by congressional critics determined to end U.S. involvement in the Iraq war.

In their relentless attempt to amend war appropriations legislation with timetables and other proposals for withdrawal or redeployment of American forces, they seek in effect to wrest control of the war from him.