There were some questionable incidents, especially his dealings with Vietnamese-backed Khmer factions, or the Ratchaburi hospital hostage incident that ended in the death of 10 militant Burmese students. But, generally speaking, society didn't pay much attention to these controversial spots on an otherwise unblemished record. After all, he was a source of comfort for all of us when Thai and Burmese troops were slugging it out along the common border.

That Surayud, as Thailand's current interim leader, is being battered by a crisis of confidence is something that deserves both sympathy and scrutiny. He inherited a nation greatly divided and damaged by a political crisis. The coup didn't help, and the fact that he was considered a representative of the "undemocratic" generals who ousted Thaksin took away half of his hard-earned integrity even before he started working. Yet Surayud cannot deny that much could have been different if only he had acted differently since taking over the hot seat from Thaksin.

Poll after poll shows that faith in the Surayud government is on a steady decline. With the resignation of finance minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula on Wednesday, the Surayud administration's popularity has sunk to an all-time low. What went wrong? Were our expectations too high? Were Thais too naive to think that being a professional Army commander with a clean record was enough to lead the country?

Given the fact that there are only seven months left for this transitional government to do its job, it may not be appropriate to call on the Council for National Security to appoint a new government. But then again, Surayud can't go on like this.

It's not too late for the prime minister to fine-tune his direction and policy, and spell out in plain language in which direction the country is heading. Thais need assurances - sincere ones backed up with action - not lip service mocked by developments day in and day out that point to the contrary.

Surayud could start by axing a number of people who are not suitable - namely those who are allowing Thaksin's cronies and clan members to hang around the government's corridors and take up Cabinet posts that could go to more capable and suitable people. Incompetent ministers must be shown the door and the issues that eat into public trust and faith like the different treatment accorded to two cable TV stations must be handled with firm principles and integrity. The ASTV versus PTV issue is a good lesson, for if the government had been true to its principles from the beginning, the people behind PTV - nicknamed "Pojaman-Thaksin TV" by cynics - would never have had the audacity to surface with the station in the first place.

It's upsetting to remind ourselves that the current government should have pushed for a cleaner slate from the beginning. Instead, the Surayud government permitted a certain group and individuals who had been instrumental in the fall of Thaksin to dictate to the government who should be fired and what concessions should be handed out.

Perhaps looking back at Anand Panyarachun's government, also junta-appointed, could serve as a good history lesson. Anand was able to pick his dream team because he stood up to the military council that appointed him. He didn't let media personalities, the military's top brass, or those with an axe to grind have a say in the selection of the new government.

Thai people have the capacity to let bygones be bygones. It's not too late for this military-appointed administration to rebuild trust and faith, but time is fast running out.