American International Group's financial troubles were too deep for private capital to be raised in a short period of time and only the U.S. Treasury was in a position to finance the bailout of the insurer, said financier Warren E. Buffett.

The billionaire owner of the insurance holding company Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Omaha, Neb., made the observation last night on the “Charlie Rose Show” on PBS during a wide-ranging interview on the economy.

Mr. Buffett said that we are going through a “very, very tough period,” and that he never thought he would see the day that “AIG's checks wouldn't clear.”

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