Walter Reed scandal may be 'tip of iceberg,' Waxman says

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Walter Reed scandal may be 'tip of iceberg,' Waxman says

WASHINGTON -- As several committees gear up to investigate the shoddy medical care provided to returning combat veterans from the Iraq War, congressional leaders charged today that the scandal unraveling about soldiers' treatment at Walter Reed Hospital represents the "tip of the iceberg."

In hearings of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee at Walter Reed Hospital, Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles) said that veterans and their families are "flooding us with complaints" and that "this may be the tip of the iceberg of what is going on all around the country."

And, citing a litany of news stories and congressional reports, Waxman threw doubt on claims by the Army's higher-ups that they were surprised by disclosures of poor treatment in a Washington Post series two weeks ago.

"They said, 'We never knew things were out of hand.' " Waxman said. "I have a stack of reports and articles that sounded the alarm bells."