Of course, we can expect to read a few more interviews in well-known publications if Thaksin can charm news people with his plans for the future. One wonders what else he has to say about his future now that he has said more than once that he has called it quits.

Or is it easy for him to quit politics many times?

When Thaksin told interviewers that he had "quit politics", one would have assumed he would not politicise the statement and chalk up more political points for himself time and again while heaping blame on those who booted him from power.

The so-called "exclusive interviews" with Thaksin claimed by international publications have revealed nothing exclusive. It is also a curious point to know who sought whom for the interviews. Each time, Thaksin seemed to dig his political grave a little deeper with his mouth.

His latest interview in Time also saw Thaksin pointing an accusing finger at everybody else who had a role in forcing him to remain in exile until now. This time around, he was even very blunt about the role of His Majesty the King, exposing his ill-concealed and long-standing attitude towards the revered institution.

It is not the first time Thaksin has trod on such sensitive ground. Even while still in power, his arrogance and over-confidence were bottomless, with careless references to the role of His Majesty. He went for broke and put his fate and future on the line. If he really cared about what he said or did, he did not show it.

As expected, the Time interview had the Army generals fuming. A few of them said they would no longer play Mr Nice Guy towards Thaksin. No more niceties but real hard ball, they said.

They should have known better. Thaksin has been very successful in keeping his foes at bay and frustrated while he chooses the right timing to take pot shots at the Council for National Security (CNS) and the Surayud government.

Presenting himself to the world through leading media houses as the hapless victim of a military coup despite his status as a democratically elected leader, Thaksin has managed to spend his money wisely in gradually getting the international community to overlook the fact that his regime was a fertile ground for massive corruption of all kinds known to man, with his family and kin acting as top players.

The CNS and the Surayud government have proved no match to Thaksin in the race to capture media space and time, and they are making no attempt to reverse the situation for reasons still not known to those who are frustrated by their repeated bumbling and ineptness.

The CNS generals said they would be more aggressive from now on. With such a poor track record in media manipulation, compared with the sterling performance in the same arena by the Thaksin crowd, they can expect disappointment and failure.

One wonders again how venomous Thaksin could be if he changes his mind about quitting and resumes active charge of a political battle. Knowing his true nature, there are doubts that he would have the courage to face a real challenge if it becomes a matter of life and death.

There are several people who long for the day to settle scores with Thaksin, especially those with underworld influence, after enduring legal and financial hardships caused by his cronies in the Anti-Money Laundering Office.

The CNS and the government can do a lot to put Thaksin and his family members in more legal trouble, but time is of the essence and they have less and less of it, while efforts to find evidence for court trials have encountered many stumbling blocks due to uncooperative officials who still dread Thaksin's power.

The CNS generals and members of the Surayud Cabinet have to overcome their own fears, and show it to the people, before they tell those poor souls in the civil service not to be afraid of Thaksin.

 Sopon Onkgara