Missing tarfile Module

[Metnetsky]

I'm trying to use the 'tarfile' module without any luck.  The Python 
interpreter keeps telling me: "ImportError: No module named tarfile".  So 
naturally I don't seem to have the module, which is slightly confusing 
because I'm running version '2.2.1-17' on RedHat Linux.  I'm at a loss, 
suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

~ Matthew

P.S. Thanks for the FTP assistance =)