Representative Anna Paulina Luna (L) criticized Senator Lindsey Graham (R) over the latter's recent remarks on U.S. troops.
Rep. Luna Blasts Lindsey Graham for ‘Disrespectful’ Comments About U.S. Troops
Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna criticized South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, claiming that the latter acted as if the U.S. military troops were "expendable cattle" while talking about fallen soldiers in war. Luna's criticism of Graham followed the senator’s support for the U.S. taking Iran's Kharg Island during his interview on Fox News' Fox News Sunday.
Luna ‘Deeply Upset’ With Graham
Representative Anna Paulina Luna calls out Senator Lindsey Graham in a post on X for the latter's recent comments on U.S. troops.
On Sunday, March 22, Luna took to her X account and sharply criticized Graham's statements. "I am deeply upset at the lack of respect for life Senator Lindsey Graham is displaying when talking about our troops. He is acting as if they are expendable cattle. This is unacceptable and dark. There were over 26,000 American casualties at Iwo Jima," Luna wrote.
What Did Graham Say About the U.S. Troops?
During a Fox News interview, Graham expressed his support for the U.S. Armed Forces taking Kharg Island – a small island that sits 16 miles off the coast of Iran and serves as a major hub for the country's oil exports.
"This has been an amazing military operation. God bless the fallen. But it's a difference when we talk about troops on the ground. I trust the Marines…," Graham told the show's host, Shannon Bream. "I trust the DOD [Department of Defense]. We got two Marine expeditionary units sailing to this island. We did Iwo Jima. We can do this," the South Carolina Senator added.
For the unversed, the Battle of Iwo Jima was a conflict between the United States and Japan during World War II, and is considered to be one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps. According to the National Museum of the Pacific War, it is the only battle in World War II where the American casualties outnumbered the Japanese casualties.
Is The U.S. Considering Invading Iran's Kharg Island?
On March 13, the U.S. reportedly bombed Iran's military targets on Kharg Island, which is a key hub for 90 percent of the Islamic Republic's oil exports. At the time, President Donald Trump said that American troops had "totally obliterated" Iran's military facilities on the island but did not attack its oil infrastructure.
However, recent speculation suggests a U.S. invasion of Kharg Island might be on the cards. According to the BBC, on Friday, March 20, U.S. news outlet Axios quoted four separate sources and reported that the Trump administration "was considering plans to occupy or blockade the island to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz through which one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes.
On Sunday, March 22, Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. "If Iran doesn't fully open, without threat, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 hours from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various power plants, starting with their biggest one first!" the president declared in a social media post.
Iran responded by stating that "ships not linked to Iran's 'enemies' can transit the strait by coordinating security and safety arrangements with Tehran."
Meanwhile, Graham said in his interview on Sunday, "I don't know whether you take the island or you blockade the island, but I do know this: the day we control that island, this regime, this terrorist regime, has been weakened. It will down a vine."