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11 October 2023
Mideast conflict deepens challenges in Washington
By Victoria Cooper, Research Editor
Fifty years on from the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the closest US ally in the Middle East, Israel, is at war.
President Biden has already held more than two dozen phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pledging additional US military support, including rockets to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome interceptor system and US intelligence to help in the recovery of hostages taken by Hamas. The Pentagon is also positioning a carrier strike group as well as additional American F-35 and F-15 aircraft to the region, but the administration maintains the United States has “no intention to put US boots on the ground” and that repatriating US citizens is its top priority.
The conflict in the Middle East is yet another major challenge for President Biden, with the United States once again devoting finite resources to a region that multiple administrations have wanted to pivot away from. At the same time, however, the question of the US role in managing such challenges – from Ukraine and the Middle East to China – continues to provoke political debate at home.
The unfolding conflict is expected to be a test for Capitol Hill amid battles over government spending, particularly as Washington gears up to an election year. The House remains paralysed without a speaker and disagreements persist over how to fund the government, including US spending on military aid. The war in Israel only heightens debate about how foreign affairs square with US interests at home. Meanwhile, President Biden’s response will almost certainly become a key part of his presidential legacy and re-election bid against likely Republican nominee former president Trump, who has blamed both the Obama and Biden administrations’ Iran policies for Hamas’ attacks.
Washington is, nonetheless, so-far mostly united in condemning Hamas and expressing solidarity with Israel, but as the White House’s vociferous defence of Israel reveals fractures to previously deeply bipartisan support for Israel, questions remain about whether the current support for Israel will outlast the initial outrage spurred by the horror of Hamas’ attacks.
NEWS WRAP
Can Republicans come together?
- The race for House speaker | House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan are front runners to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, but it is not certain either member can secure the necessary votes. An internal GOP vote on a candidate is imminent, with hopes that one of the candidates, or even Kevin McCarthy as a longshot, can wrangle 217 GOP votes before a floor vote, but such cohesion is doubtful. READ MORE HERE
- US lawmakers meet President Xi | A bipartisan group of six senators met Chinese President Xi Jinping to promote fairness and stability in the US-China relationship, especially in the competitive development of advanced technologies. The meeting heightens expectations for a meeting between Xi and President Biden on the sidelines of next month’s APEC summit in San Francisco. But, perhaps the meeting’s major outcome was a denunciation of the Hamas attack by President Xi following pressure from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. READ MORE HERE
- Biden 2024 bid unchallenged | President Joe Biden’s sole challenger to the Democratic nomination, Robert F. Kennedy Jr has left the Democratic Party and is now running for president as an Independent. While third-party candidates historically struggle to attract attention, recent polling shows a 20-year high in support for a third major political party. READ MORE HERE
- Trump tells Aussie nuclear subs secrets | Donald Trump allegedly shared sensitive information about US nuclear submarines, including the number of warheads they carry, to Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, according to recent news reports. The findings come as the Department of Justice investigates Trump’s potential mishandling of classified documents, with this account being one of several where the former president is alleged to have shared information to people without authorisation. READ MORE HERE
“We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives... we will continue to show the world that the American people are unwavering in our resolve to oppose terrorism in all forms.”
White House Statement from President Biden | 9 October 2023
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EVENT
Sydney International Strategy Forum
The inaugural Sydney International Strategy Forum brings together prominent thought leaders, policymakers and industry experts to tackle the big issues confronting Australia, the United States and the Indo-Pacific. From bolstering supply chain resilience to turning AUKUS into reality, the forum will discuss the enormous opportunities and risks posed by such cross-cutting challenges and what they mean for the future of our region. Read more here.
Tickets are still available, but strictly limited. Register now to secure your spot.
TYPE
Conference
WHERE
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, 199 George Street, The Rocks NSW
WHEN
SYDNEY | 1 November 2023. 8.30am–4.30pm
COST
Ticket prices Student: $180 Full price: $560
BY THE NUMBERS
Out of the White House and into the doghouse
By Victoria Cooper, Research Editor
Commander, President Biden’s dog, has been removed from the White House following a series of biting incidents. According to emails, the most recent biting of a secret service officer in late September is the eleventh known incident since Commander arrived at the White House as a puppy in 2021. One incident in November 2022 even hospitalised a White House secret service officer, who had to receive treatment to wounds on their arms and thighs.
The young German shepherd is the second of the Bidens’ dogs to be removed from the White House due to bad behaviour. Three-year-old Major, another German shepherd puppy, was sent back to Delaware after he bit two people in the first year of the administration.
The Bidens are not alone in their struggle to manage their four-legged friends, with several other White House dogs making headlines throughout history for questionable behaviour. In 2008, George W. Bush’s Scottish terrier, Barney, bit a Reuters reporter, but was allowed to remain in the White House. Theodore Roosevelt’s dog was known to chase and bite several people, including the French ambassador. In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s German shepherd, also named Major, was banished from the White House after he tore the pants of the British prime minister at a state dinner. Herbert Hoover and Ronald Reagan’s respective dogs were also returned to the family home after struggling to settle into Washington life.
Responding to the most recent incident, White House press secretary said “The White House complex can be unique and very stressful. And that is something I’m sure you all can understand.”
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University of Sydney NSW 2006
