While US Defense Secretary Mr Donald Rumsfeld today ruled out Shi'ite clerical rule in Iraq, US diplomats are calmly sounding out opinions in southern Iraq among the very Shi'ites who might see neighboringIran as an example to follow, US officials say.
The different approaches illustrate the continuing divide between the US military and the diplomats over how to handle the internal politics of Iraq, where the collapse of three decades of Baathist rule has left a gaping power vacuum.
Ideally, the two branches of the US executive probablywant something very similar - a liberal democracy favorable to the interests of the US and its ally Israel.
Before Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein disappeared and anarchy replaced repression, US officials spoke about the possibility of Iraq serving as a model of democracy for other Arab countries such as Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The realities of patching together a credible Iraqi authority has made them lower their sights somewhat, as has the unexpected political assertiveness of the majority Shi'ite community, among whom opposition to the US military occupation of Iraq appears to be a rallying cry.
The experience of the last few weeks has raised the specter in American minds that Iraqis might choose an Iranian-style government dominated by Shi'ite Muslim clerics who see the US as the Great Satan.
But Mr Rumsfeld told a briefing at the Pentagon today that the US would not let that happen.
"This much is certain. A vocal minority clamoring to transform Iraq in Iran's image will not be permitted to do so. We will not allow the Iraqi people's democratic transition to be hijacked by those who might wish to install another form of dictatorship," he said.
Earlier this week, asked how Washington would handleattempts to set up an "Islamic republic" in Iraq, he said: "I don't think that I would characterize what's going on in Iran as a democratic system. I don't think I would say that it fits the principles that I've just indicated."