Petraeus may testify on Sept. 11

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus likely will report to Congress on progress in Iraq on Sept. 11 or 12, a White House spokesman said Monday.

Aboard Air Force One, spokesman Gordon Johnroe said Petraeus, the overall coalition commander in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker "will testify in open hearings on the Hill. Administration officials are reaching out to Hill leadership today to discuss with them the potential dates for that testimony.”

Johnroe said given the tight schedule leading up to the congressional recess, “the likely dates for testimony are Sept. 11 and 12.”

The likely timing had nothing to do with the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, only the congressional schedule, Johnroe said.

U.S. President George Bush flew to Canada Monday for a summit with the Canadian prime minister and the president of Mexico.