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While not probable, it is possible that Saddam will opt for some sort of exile rather than get blown to bits by our Army, Navy, Air Force & Marines or have his brains blown out by some of his own people who do not want to go down with his ship. Saddam has to know that his time is about up unless he cuts some sort of a deal. He cannot believe that he can cooperate with the inspectors and hope to avoid domestic problems and he has to know that he cannot buck the inspectors and avoid getting smoked by the US.

As matters progress, Saddam's bargining position deteriorates. If he tosses the inspectors, we will rain missles on his head. If he lets the inspectors in we are either going to find a lot of bad stuff and try him for war crimes or some similar offense. If he lets the inspectors in and they do not find much (unlikely) he will look like a paper tiger his domestic enemies who would like to run the place is still likely to be put on trial for something like war crimes.

Suppose for purpose of argument that Saddam does cut some deal to go into exile. GWB will have deposed a dictator and ended the possibility of another North Korea without having fired a shot. What are the odds of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee taking note of this? Probably Zero since that crowd is more ennamored with the likes of Jimmy Carter handing nuclear materials to North Korea or Arafat and his suicide bombers than in real peace, but P.J. O'Rourke's statement that "one United States Marine has done more for world peace than all of the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream ever sold" will be vindicated.