A fight erupted on Capitol Hill Wednesday when U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz reported a wounded-troop count that enraged Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA).
Waltz faced questions about fatalities linked to daily strikes in Iran during a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing.
Eighteen U.S. service members have been reported killed and 447 wounded — including a third soldier from a July 17 Iranian missile strike in Jordan whose death the Pentagon has not yet formally confirmed, according to KCRA.
That death toll hung over the hearing room when Lieu opened his questioning.
“How many U.S. troops have been wounded in the Iran war?” Lieu asked.
“My understanding from the Defense Department’s latest numbers is over a hundred,” Waltz replied.
“That number is wrong,” Lieu fired back.
Lieu cited the Defense Casualty Analysis System — the Pentagon’s own database tracking casualties for Congress and the president — putting the wounded count at 482.
CBS News reported the system has lagged events by days or weeks throughout the war.
Lieu then referenced Waltz’s previous position as national security adviser, which he lost after accidentally adding The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief to a Signal chat discussing imminent military strikes.
“The reason you are here today and in your position is because you were fired by the president from your former position as national security adviser,” Lieu said.
“The president never said a negative word about me!” Waltz shot back.
Lieu moved on to the war itself. Trump declared on March 16 that Iran’s military was “literally obliterated,” according to PolitiFact. Lieu wanted to know how that squared with the body count.
“You need to explain to the American people how an Iranian military that’s been purportedly obliterated killed 18 U.S. service members and wounded 482 U.S. service members,” Lieu said.
“The Iranian Navy, Air Force, air defense system, and industrial capacity have been massively damaged, if not completely ineffective,” Waltz replied.
“[U.S. troops] are exposed right now in the Middle East — repeatedly being exposed to Iranian missiles!” Lieu pressed. “You should be ashamed! You don’t know basic facts!”
“Because it’s not our problem!” Waltz replied.
“You should resign! You don’t even care about the number of U.S. troops that were wounded!” Lieu said.
A Republican colleague moved to have Lieu’s words stricken from the record, calling him out for dishonoring “the distinguished ambassador.”
“He lied to Congress!” Lieu said. “November is coming for you and this administration!”
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