As thousands and thousands more soldiers, police and war weapons flow into Bangkok, the public wonders when the bloody crackdown on tens of thousands of red-shirt protesters will take place.
Red-shirt leaders, now branded as "terrorists" and "anti-monarchists" by the government, will not leave and their supporters are staying put, ready for battle.
At this stage, every Thai might like to imagine a worst-case scenario - then think of what can be done to prevent or at least alter it.
For this writer, the worst case scenario involves pitched battles lasting for at least three days and nights, with hundreds of deaths and many more casualties on both sides.
Some expensive buildings in Rajprasong intersection area, where protesters are holding out, might be torched or suffer severe damage of the kind we've seen in Kabul.
After days and nights of killing, many red shirts would likely go underground, followed by months if not years of civil war. Anarchy would reign over various parts of the Kingdom as red shirts regroup and fight.
The unidentified "men in black" would ensure there would be more death and destruction - especially on the government's side. Much sorrow would be felt, mixed with tears of anger of friends and families of those killed as they vowed revenge.
Hatred between red shirts and soldiers, red shirts and yellow shirts (or pink and whichever shirt supported the government), would reach a point where lynching could not be ruled out. Even if a military coup was staged at this point, it's unlikely it would be able to restore "peace" or political stability.
Paranoia and distrust amongst different groups, already high as we speak, will be almost insurmountable after the next clash.
Burma will become safer than Thailand and Rwanda's killing may be re-enacted here. The economy will be in ruins. red shirts will lose any remaining trust in the current political system and seek to overthrow the current order by force and through popular revolt.
Now, I don't know what your worst case scenario is like, but if it's not much different to mine, then it's time to keep our human conscience and sanity alive and do whatever we can as citizens to alter it.
To the bosses of the conflicting parties: it's never too late to talk. Stop now before it's too late. Let blood be shed no further unless you are willing to kill by yourself and shed your own blood or those of your family and friends. This applies to both Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and friends, as well red-shirt leaders.
To ordinary folks of various political stances: do not do anything that your human conscience will have you regret tomorrow. Be true to yourself, and if you stand for peace and democracy, see if there is any positive contribution you can make right now.
We may not be able to alter the stance and views of leaders of various sides, but we as individual citizens must ask ourselves now what we can do for peace and democracy - and keep our thinking clear and our compassion alive.
This is not the time to point fingers and place blame, but time to think about Thai society as a whole. Follow your conscience and conviction but bear in mind that, as in any society, we can never agree totally on every matter. What we can and should try to do now is our very best to ensure that this |society can disagree in a mature way, that we will not be tempted to take |satisfaction in the deaths of others |and destruction of our society.