One of the ongoing criticisms of the American occupation of Iraq--militarily speaking--has been that the Americans need more soldiers to quell the insurgency. Bush and Rumsfeld, however, have repeatedly said that if any commanders on the ground in Iraq were to ask for more troops, the request would be given. They simply haven't asked, and that's because more troops aren't needed.

Now we learn that the unit of marines from Ohio that lost those 20 soldiers last week had, in fact, asked for another battalion of a thousand men. For some reason the request was not granted.

And people say I'm the one with the credibility problem....