Misunderestimation

Wolfowitz short on US casualties

ASKED how many American troops have died in Iraq, the second-ranked US Defense Department official today estimated the total was about 500 — more than 200 soldiers short.

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz was asked about the toll at a hearing of a House Appropriations subcommittee.

"It's approximately 500, of which — I can get the exact numbers — approximately 350 are combat deaths," he responded.

"He misspoke," spokesman Charley Cooper said later. "That's all."

American deaths today were at 722 — 521 of them from combat — since the start of military operations in Iraq last year, according to the Department of Defence.

Just … wow.