He took the helm in rough seas, plotted a sure course between quagmire and fratricide, and stabilized a nation sliding into chaos, but General David Petraeus' toughest struggles have been of a personal nature. For the first time, the man presently in charge of the war in Iraq shares how he fought to confront his shame and admit his problem, hoping his honesty will give courage to others to confront their problems.

"I can't write the progress report that Congress is so looking forward to this September," Petraeus says. "And it's because I'm illiterate."

The report had been built up by pundits and politicians as an independent "on-the-ground" assessment free of the political spin that had accompanied so many previous reports of the political and military situation in Iraq -- until it was acknowledged that the actual writing would be done by White House officials. [See, for instance, The Petraeus Report: Already History?]

"After this came to light, everyone in Washington wondered why the White House would be writing the Success Report," says political analyst Norbert Quail, "especially when President Bush had said so many times that we should listen to the generals and not let politicians decide how to fight the war. With Petraeus going public, it finally makes sense."

"I've been under so much stress to write this," Petraeus admits. "I've got to come out and admit my shortcomings."

He says he was heartened by the way President Bush surmounted his dyslexia and alcoholism to become a powerful speaker and sober voice of reason.

"I took courage from the president's brave example. Here was a man who could overcome his awkwardness and hindrances to become a second-rate president."

"If there's any lesson I want people to draw from my struggles, it's that they can work to overcome limitations, to be successful - that you should believe in yourself."

In other news, dastardly Iranian forces continue to infiltrate Iraq in an attempt to destabilize the newfound peace and prosperity.

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Wash. Times falsely claimed Petraeus will give "Sept. 15 progress report to Congress"