Sept. 11 battle

U.S. Senate Democratic floor leader Harry Reid’s office says he is trying to move the date for Gen. David Petraeus’ anxiously awaited report on progress in Iraq.

“Senator Reid agrees that September 11th is a sacred day, and he has been working to have Generals Petraeus and Crocker testify on another day if at all possible,” said a statement from Reid aide Jennifer Lopez. “He is also trying to accommodate at least three Senate committees and a closed-door, all-senators briefing by Petraeus and Crocker. The House has similar requests that must be accommodated. In addition, there are religious holiday constraints that week.”

The testimony was scheduled for Sept. 11 by the Senate Armed Services Committee and provoked a strong reaction from online activists. A movement began on the website Daily Kos to move the date. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has also objected to the date. But selecting an alternative date is not proving to be an easy decision.

Sources in Congress say the only alternative dates are the 10th, which is a Monday, or the 12th, a Wednesday. A hearing on the 12th would have to end before sundown, the start of Rosh Hashanah.

As a result of the holiday, the House will not be in session on the 13th or 14th. Presumably, that leaves the 10th or a date after the 14th.