More troops have been needed in Iraq since the very beginning. Many of the problems in securing the country could have been minimized if the civilian theorists running the Pentagon had listened to the military and put enough soldiers on the ground to get the job done.

Finally, in the wake of the assault on Fallujah and increased violence around the country, the White House has recognized the need for a larger force. Without a more robust force, chances for a successful election in January are very limited. Even with more forces, the election’s success is questionable.

Unfortunately, the way the administration will meet this need only reinforces its failed strategies in Iraq and its inability to adequately plan for the invasion and occupation of a country of 25 million people.

To meet the demands for more soldiers, the Pentagon will again extend the deployment of units already in the field, while also deploying a part of the 82nd Airborne Division that is held in reserve to deploy in a crisis. Iraq has been a crisis since the first days of the U.S. invasion and remains so.

Men and women who have served honorably in Iraq will find that their tours of duty have been extended. For some units, it will be the second or third time. As soldiers serve in combat for longer periods of time, their effectiveness deteriorates. The stress on people and materiels increases the dangers they already face.

Troop levels are expected to increase by 12,000 during the run-up to the Jan. 30 election date, pushing the total number to about 150,000, which is the largest force since the war began in March 2003. Even with the additional forces, it’s not clear whether there will be enough of them to provide the security necessary for a national election in Iraq.

It has been clear for some time that the U.S. military is stretched thin and drastic measures – extended deployments, stop-loss orders that amount to a backdoor draft, and retired soldiers being forcibly called back to service – have been necessary.

The administration has finally recognized the fact that the United States hasn’t had a large enough force in Iraq to accomplish its goals. Now it must recognize that this country’s conventional forces must be expanded to meet the commitments we have in Iraq and to the soldiers who bravely serve in the military. For too long, they have carried the burden of poor Pentagon planning in Iraq. It’s time for a correction.