Well, that's what comes of believing in diplomacy. My Saddam March futures -- I bet on his departure on the Tradesports market -- are in the toilet. I went short in the low twenties, and the market is now saying there is a 44% chance he'll be gone by the end of the month. I'm $208 down. For a second, I'm no longer sure I want a quick war, but that's a sick thought.
   But it does give rise to an idea. There's nothing like a financial incentive to mix up someone's motives. We give Saddam a bunch of derivatives, either linked to his actual departure, or out-of-the money options on the S&P. If the Iraqi dictator leaves voluntarily, the equity markets boom, and Saddam makes billions. Which would be cheaper than war, even if might give future despots the wrong idea.
Tradesports