Although the most seniorofficials genuinely believe that freer markets are in the country's best interests, many of their bureaucratic underlings are not so sure.
An administration spokesman said Card was speculating, and that while many senior administration officialsbelieve the Iraqi leader was killed during the war in Iraq, the United States has no definitive proof.
America is pressing for sanctions if Iran continues to pursue its nuclear programme, and some senior American officialsbelieve that the quarrel will ultimately end in armed conflict maybe with a raid on Iran's nuclear facilities.