What is Obama talking about? Why nothing sooner?

OBAMA: You know, I've heard from an Army captain who was the head of a rifle platoon -- supposed to have 39 men in a rifle platoon. Ended up being sent to Afghanistan with 24 because 15 of those soldiers had been sent to Iraq.

And as a consequence, they didn't have enough ammunition, they didn't have enough humvees. They were actually capturing Taliban weapons, because it was easier to get Taliban weapons than it was for them to get properly equipped by our current commander in chief.

I find this statement to be pretty incredulous and I think it borders on rumor. I'd like to hear more about this because I've never spoke to one soldier coming back from Iraq or Afghanistan saying anything about not having the guns and bullets they need to do their job. Have some grabbed weapons that belonged to the enemy and then using it against them? Maybe but since hearing this I have contacted soldier that I know and have asked if they knew or heard about this happening. Them not having the equipment they needed. The response I got . Laughter I was told that it was funny to hear that one.

Is there more and newer equipment they could use? Yes but the soldier being sent into combat zones unarmed I doubt that would happen.

The Pentagon made a statement today, via Reuters:

The Pentagon on Friday cast doubt on an account of military equipment shortages mentioned by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama during a debate with rival Hillary Clinton.

"I find that account pretty hard to imagine," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters.

"Despite the stress that we readily acknowledge on the force, one of the things that we do is make sure that all of our units and service members that are going into harm's way are properly trained, equipped and with the leadership to be successful," he said.

Whitman's remarks were unusual as the Pentagon often declines to talk about comments from political campaigns.

Obama said the captain was the head of a rifle platoon, which should have had 39 members -- but 15 were sent to Iraq so the unit deployed to Afghanistan had 24 soldiers.

Several Army officers said a platoon is normally commanded by a 2nd lieutenant -- two ranks below a captain -- but the size of a platoon would indeed be around 40 soldiers.

Here's another response from the army at FOX News:

Army spokesman John P. Boyce Jr. issued a statement saying: "Without a unit designation or time frame of deployment, it's difficult for us to verify the validity of what was told to the senator. Our soldiers deploy as complete units - either as companies, battalions or brigades, and they do so with every soldier armed with his or her individual weapon. ... Army units and individual replacements arrive in country fully capable to conduct combat operations."

I agree with Senator John Warner though if by some chance it did happen then Barack should have brought it to the attention of the House and Senate for investigation not using it as a sound bite during a debate. That fact makes me believe that the factuality of this statement is a bit on the hazy side.

I know he might have heard this story but you would have thought he would have had someone at least look into it before now to see if something so horrible was true or not. However he could have been so excited at what a good jab he had the current administration and didn't think it through before he said it.

No matter he should have reported it and not used it as a gotcha for his campaign.

What do you think?