American officials assume the fighters are militants whose presence in Iraq is not state-sponsored.

But responsible officials should assume the worst and make appropriate preparations.

American officials assume those reports are usually incomplete and distorted.

At the time, officials assumed that the marketplace would exert its own restraint.

Moreover, critics stress, all military officials must assume the worst to avoid surprise.

They said that federal officials rather than private companies should assume direct control for hiring screeners.

But Nassau support, which officials had assumed, is equally critical.

A sharp decline could help the dollar, the officials assume.

The others are listed as missing, but officials assume that virtually all are dead.

But because officials have always assumed that there would be more time for such a wider evacuation, it is not part of the emergency plan.