His assurance follows intense speculation that he might choose to opt out under a barrage of formidable problems and challenges. There were also reports about possible fallout in his relationship with the army chief, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who heads the Council of National Security.

Although he did not say he would plough on as the going gets tough, come hell or high water, his show of gut feeling and his willingness to bite the bullet shows strength.

Was his assurance over continued leadership encouraging? Or was it, in fact, disheartening to those who have followed his performance these past months?

Many people are very unhappy about the sloppy job done by his Cabinet so far, while there are those who are happy to see that he has proved no better than politicians in managing affairs of state.

While there have been no proven dubious actions or blatant irregularities, disappointment over the government's lacklustre performance has been thick in the air. The original claim of efficiency, the spicy "old-ginger" Cabinet, has instead given way to the strong impression that what we are watching now is just plain dead wood.

The PM's insistence on staying on does not come with the firm assurance that the performance of his Cabinet ministers will improve and satisfy the public. That kind of pledge was heard recently but the old ginger has yet to show its pungency.

By staying on with aloofness amid serious political and economic problems, particularly the prolonged crisis over terrorism in the three southernmost provinces, the remaining months of the PM's term may not produce anything close to the desired results.

"Chief ginger" earlier assured people that he had been doing regular self-evaluation. By his not disclosing the results, we must assume that he is satisfied with his performance. If he is to be his own barometer, he should be told to spend more time reading daily news reports.

Outside Government House and beyond his inner circle of dead wood, words are no longer minced over economic slowdown and the lack of hands-on management on pressing problems.

The PM's policy of reconciliation by seeking to shake hands with brutal terrorists who hold guns and other fearsome weapons is increasingly viewed as an overly optimistic approach, if not one that is seriously misguided. His one-sided gestures never receive a positive response.

As the days pass, casualties in the military and police force continue to mount, together with civilians who are equally the targets of mindless and beastly terrorists. Surayud's preaching about the peace effort falls on the deaf ears of well-trained and increasingly bold insurgents.

Surayud has also been indifferent to noisy protesters at Sanam Luang, the fans of Thaksin, saying only that security is the responsibility of the CNS, thus ensuring that he continues at Government House in some semblance of peace.

This friendly gesture towards the hecklers was admirably reciprocated: the Sanam Luang crowds spared him their tirades, which were directed at the CNS and the investigators probing Thaksin's family members for various misdeeds and shenanigans.

Surayud's promise to stay on just to complete his term, while ignoring what he regards as pipsqueaks of critics, may make a lot of people less hopeful of better days. On the contrary, the political trend seems to be towards turbulence as the Constitutional Court prepares to deliver its verdict on the fate of the Thai Rak Thai and Democrat parties.

Thai Rak Thai members have hinted already that there could be chaotic events if the party is dissolved, with all executive-committee members banned from political activity for five years. The Democrats say they are prepared to accept the verdict without protest or the threat of violence.

More months of dead wood don't inspire confidence or a sense of optimism that we are going to enjoy a better future. The ongoing conflict over the new constitution should forewarn us of more trouble, if not some violence, from those pursuing a different agenda.

Surayud is expected to retire, along with his collection of dead wood, after a new Cabinet takes over. The public does not know what will come next.

But what's the difference anyway? It will be one thing or the other, if not much worse. All signs point in the direction of economic trouble or political violence.

It will be great good luck for this country if none of the above happens.

Sopon Onkgara