If it smells fishy, it probably is

There's still much to be learned about the battle yesterday near Najaf, but we're already learning that the initial reports were as fishy as they smelled:

BAGHDAD, Jan. 29 —Iraqi forces were surprised and nearly overwhelmed by the ferocity of an obscure renegade militia in a weekend battle near the holy city of Najaf and needed far more help from American forces than previously disclosed, American and Iraqi officials said Monday.

Doesn't bode too well for that old "standing up and standing down" schtick, does it?