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30 August 2023
US marine deaths latest in a series of Osprey crashes
Nearly one month to the day after the loss of four Australian Army aircrew members in the Talisman Sabre exercise, three US marines were killed in an Osprey helicopter crash on the Tiwi Islands north of Darwin, as part of Exercise Predators Run alongside Indonesia, the Philippines and Timor-Leste in addition to US and Australian forces. While former president Trump’s mugshot from his fourth indictment circulated across global headlines, the tragedy on the Tiwi Islands is a poignant reminder about the importance of the Australia-United States relationship and the realities of the defence and national security cooperation between both countries.
The crash is the latest in a series of fatal Osprey accidents including crashes in Norway and California in 2022 and, reminiscent of the latest crash, one in Australia in 2017 in which three marines were killed.
Australian Defence Minister Marles expressed his condolences and emphasised to ABC News “how important these exercises are in making sure that our defence forces are ‘match fit.’”
The twin tragedies for both the United States and Australia underscore the risks and costs that exist even outside of direct conflict.
NEWS WRAP
Earliest Trump trial date set for 4 March
Trump trial set to start day before Super Tuesday | Former president Trump’s federal trial regarding his alleged role in interfering with the 2020 election has been scheduled for 4 March 2024. This is just one day before Super Tuesday during which 15 states will cast their primary votes. READ MORE HERE
Jacksonville shooting investigated as hate crime | A white man shot and killed three Black people in a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida. Occurring hours after a commemorative March on Washington marking the 60th anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s “I have a dream” speech, the Department of Justice said it is investigating the shooting as a hate crime. READ MORE HERE
Mark Meadows testifies to move trial to federal court | Former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows provided testimony to a judge to move his case from Fulton County, Georgia to federal court because he was acting as part of his role as chief of staff. Moving his racketeering trial to federal court would likely allow the former Trump administration official face a more favourable jury pool. READ MORE HERE
Biden administration to negotiate prescription drug costs under IRA | The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) included legislation allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for certain prescription medications. The administration released the first list of 10 medications they will negotiate, which includes blood cancer drug ibrutinib, which costs AU$747 per tablet in the United States, compared to AU$93 per tablet in Australia, with an outpatient cost of 33 cents under Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme. READ MORE HERE
“This tragedy and the recent loss that Australia also suffered, reminds us all how grateful we are to those who serve in uniform – risking their lives every day to protect and defend the country they love and to keep the rest of us safe.”
US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy on the deaths of US marines | 28 August 2023
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Did you USSC?
- EXPLAINER | Where the ‘other’ 2024 Republican candidates stand on Australia and the world
Research Associates Samuel Garrett and Ava Kalinauskas curated a tracker of the foreign policy positions of the major Republican candidates, including their positions on AUKUS, trade, support for Ukraine, competition with China and the US-Australia alliance. READ HERE
- PODCAST | Technology and Security (TS) | Digital ID, leadership and innovation with the Hon Victor Dominello
Director of Emerging Technology Dr Miah Hammond-Errey is joined by the Hon Victor Dominello, former NSW Minister for Community Services and Digital Government. They discuss the potential and complexities of digital identification, what it means for democracies, and how to lead risk-averse organisations like government in a manner that promotes innovation and productivity and empowers decision-making. LISTEN HERE
- COMMENTARY | The social licence for AUKUS has not yet been earned
Foreign Policy and Defence researchers Dr Peter Lee, Alice Nason and Sophie Mayo write in The Interpreter that while the ALP has firmed up support for AUKUS, more work needs to be done to make the case to the Australian public. READ HERE
- PODCAST | USSC Briefing Room | Deterrence dialogue returns to DC
Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Prof. Peter Dean and Research Associate Alice Nason join Mari Koeck to provide a read out on this year's deterrence dialogue in Washington DC and where the United States and Australia align and diverge on their approach to deterrence. LISTEN HERE
- NEW WEBSITE | The USSC website has a new look - check it out here 👇
BY THE NUMBERS
All publicity is good publicity
By Victoria Cooper, Research Editor
Facing 13 criminal charges relating to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, former president Trump surrendered to authorities in the state’s Fulton County Jail on Friday. The surrender was the first time, despite having already undergone three other criminal proceedings, that Trump’s photo was taken as part of the procedure, which gave the world the unprecedented, first-ever mug shot of a US president.
Now infamous, the photo presented Trump's detractors and allies with the perfect symbol for their vastly different messages; for critics – the image of an untrustworthy, reputationally weathered and reckless political figure, and for allies – a defiant martyr facing political persecution and the so-called ‘weaponisation’ of the justice system by Democrats. It also marked the former president’s official return to X (formerly ‘Twitter’) with the caption “NEVER SURRENDER”.
As Trump’s legal woes mount pressure on the former president's 2024 calendar (including the most recent announcement of a major trial beginning just one day before Super Tuesday) and wallet, perhaps the most lucrative use of the image was by Trump’s Save America fundraising committee for various merchandise.
Within days of the photo's release, $12 bumper stickers, $25 coffee mugs and $34 t-shirts brandished with the mug shot emerged for sale on Trump’s official presidential campaign website. Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr also advertised the merchandise on his X account, pledging all profits from the sales would go towards Trump’s legal defence.
According to the probes in his first criminal indictment in New York (relating to the Trump team’s alleged campaign fund mismanagement), Trump has invested over US$98 million (AU$153 million) in merchandise operations since 2015. While red ‘Make America Great Again’ caps have become iconic symbols of the president’s political causes and supporters, time will only tell whether these new ‘mug shot mugs’ will ascend to the same iconic status or make any difference to the president's fortunes in 2024.
EVENT
Film screening: Mr Smith Goes to Washington
Decades before the “deep state” entered the parlance, Mr Smith Goes to Washington explores how a corrupt political machine falsifies evidence to expel the idealistic Boy Rangers leader who was appointed to the Senate.
Culminating in the heroic filibuster scene, Senator Smith (in the role that catapulted Jimmy Stewart to fame), holds the floor of the Senate while his supporters rally to prove his innocence. From special appointments to legislative proceedings, the 1939 film was one of the first films preserved by the Library of Congress because it was considered so “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
The United States Studies Centre invites you to a film screening with Non-Resident Senior Fellow Stephen Loosley AM (whose expertise combines presidential politics and Hollywood history). CEO Dr Michael Green will host an audience discussion following the film.
TYPE
Film screening
WHERE
HOYTS Broadway, Bay Street, Broadway NSW 2007
WHEN
SYDNEY | Tuesday, 12 September 2023, 5.30-9.00pm
COST
Full price $35; Concession $25
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United States Studies Centre
Institute Building H03
University of Sydney NSW 2006
