No delay in Iraq verdict; White House determined to comply with Sept. 15 deadline set by Congress.(Main)

Byline: THOM SHANKER and DAVID S. CLOUD - New York Times

WASHINGTON - Amid a chorus of calls for extensions, the White House and senior military officers vowed Friday that an important assessment on progress in Iraq would be delivered by the Sept. 15 deadline set by Congress, even if it takes longer to compile a more complete judgment on the current troop increase.

A day after the No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq said it would take "at least until November" to complete a full assessment, Tony Snow, the White House spokesman, said neither the White House nor military officers in Baghdad were asking for more time before reporting to Congress on progress in Iraq.

"We're not trying to sort of change the ball game," Snow said.

The …