It seems like everything has lightened up a bit in the last few weeks since I last wrote, "Don't go to war you fucking idiots!"

We're not really on the brink, even though we're pretty much at full force in the Middle East as far as U.S. troop deployment goes. We've got at least 150,000 troops standing at the ready, running maneuvers and having photo shoots in the desert. But inspections are continuing. Nations are arguing. And I'm pretty sure we're not gonna be at war when the NCAA basketball tournament starts.

In the last few days, Iraq destroyed some missiles and found some of the missing mustard gas-tipped warheads buried in the desert. Missile inspectors, using one of my least favorite corporate speak words, said Iraq is "proactively" cooperating with the inspectors. Meaning they are beginning to show inspectors where some of the bad stuff is and destroying it.

This recent Iraqi capitulation would not have occurred without direct pressure to the wounds. If it takes this mass buildup of military presence to make Iraq comply, then maybe all of this crap we've been through over the last six months or so is worth it.

But, I should point out making Iraq comply with the inspectors was never the Prez's agenda.

Causing this huge buildup of U.S. troops in the Middle East--without actually going to war--will end up making Bush look even stupider than usual. And I know he doesn't want that. He is still an inch away from pressing the button on this conflict simply because he doesn't want to back down.

If, in the next month or so, inspections turn up a large majority of the weapons we suspect Iraq has, it will be a victory. A victory for peace, negotiations and the diplomacy most of the people in the world have been in favor of.

In other words, it wouldn't be a victory for Bush. It would be humiliating for him to have to make a speech saying Saddam has capitulated to UN inspectors' wishes. It will be humiliating to have to recall all of those troops, all of the weaponry and all of those inflammatory speeches he's been giving since his infamous "axis of evil" bullshit over a year ago. And, most likely, it will cost him the election in 2004.

Not only will he look bad for threatening war (being the nasty aggressor he keeps saying these other countries are) and then backing down, but he'll also have to answer questions about ignoring the U.S. economy while pursuing war at all costs. And, just maybe, some of those spineless Democratic contenders will actually push him on this.

So where are we with all of this?

I have no idea.

Bush has passed the point of no return. There is no thought in his mind of backing off or apologizing for his repeated calls for military action. As far as he's concerned, we are already at war--we just haven't started actually shooting yet.

The tide, however, is turning against him. Pro-war hawks are looking more and more extreme. Questions that have been mostly unanswered keep getting repeated. And the economy isn't helping Bush's cause. Not only did he unveil an economic stimulus package no one like, but consumer confidence, stocks and job creation are still stalled out.

Tons of large companies are on the verge of throwing up their hands. A few years back I was concerned the massive consumer debt (in the form of credit cards) would bury our economy. Now I realize it's not just Joe Public being careless with their budgets. Everyone was so sure the hot economy of the 90s was going to go on forever, companies all over the nation threw caution to the wind and leveraged their real assets against phantom profits. The government did the same thing--which is why we are hitting our own debt ceiling, and the federal budget is pushing the country into the biggest deficits ever.

All of this fiscal irresponsibility has created a hole that will take a while to fill up again. A war will just make this worse. But not going to war will bring this point to center stage quicker than the Fred Durst/Britney Spears fling.

Trust me, Bush and company do not want this to happen.

So we've all got our swords out, and the way it'll all play out is unclear.

I do think, however, that the efforts for peaceful resolution are beginning to turn the tide. Which is what I've been hoping for all along.

Matt Worley wants out of these silly war games.