Rebecca Skoryanc, Author at WestExec Advisors

Puneet Talwar writes in Foreign Affairs: “Iran and the United States Can’t See Each Other Clearly”

"Just before the novel coronavirus pandemic struck, the United States and Iran appeared to be set on a collision course. COVID-19 quickly displaced such concerns from international headlines. But as the world prepares for further outbreaks of the disease in the months ahead, it should similarly brace for tensions between the United States and Iran to flare up again. Domestic political dynamics in the two countries risk fueling a cycle of escalation. Each side is digging in and making decisions based [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-07-10T09:16:55-04:00June 29, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Michèle Flournoy interviewed on CNAS’ Brussels Sprouts podcast, “Defense Priorities in a New Administration”

"Michèle Flournoy joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how a Biden administration can work with NATO to confront transnational threats. Flournoy has been a leader in defense policy under several administrations, including as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from 2009 to 2012. She is the managing partner of WestExec Advisors and former co-founder of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS)..." Listen to the full episode here: Full Episode

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-06-26T15:16:59-04:00June 26, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Michèle Flournoy quoted in Yahoo News article, “Former Pentagon Officials Blast Trump for Politicizing the Military”

"'Trump has constantly tried to use the military as a political prop,' said Michèle Flournoy, former undersecretary of defense for policy under Obama, citing, among other examples, the president’s interference in the military justice system to pardon two convicted war criminals and his decision to prevent the Navy from punishing a third — Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher. "Flournoy... is not shy about what she thinks is needed to right the ship. 'The way it can be repaired is by having a [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-08-01T12:53:11-04:00June 25, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Julie Smith quoted in POLITICO article, “Trump’s Foreign Friends Race to Lock in Gains”

“‘It’s hard to name too many European countries that don’t have a ruptured relationship with the Trump administration. Poland is an exception,' said Julianne Smith, a former Obama appointee and top Pentagon official who described the decision to host Duda at the White House days before his election as 'shocking.' "An agreement on Fort Trump or increased U.S. troop presence may be far from certain, as there are some complex issues to settle -- who will foot the bill, for example [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-06-26T08:59:42-04:00June 24, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Michèle Flournoy testifies before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, “The Chinese View of Strategic Competition with the United States”

Commissioner Kamphausen, Commissioner Lewi, other distinguished members of the Commission, it is truly an honor to testify before you today on the U.S.-China strategic competition. Nature and Features of the U.S.-China Competition As you well know, the strategic competition between the United States and China is multi-faceted, with economic, technological, political, ideological, and military dimensions. Any successful approach to this competition must take account of each of these dimensions. Economic Dimensions: First and foremost, strategic competition between the U.S. and China [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-06-26T08:46:12-04:00June 24, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Michèle Flournoy quoted in NPR broadcast, “Trump Administration Says It’s Up To Israel To Annex Parts Of West Bank”

"A former Obama administration official, Michèle Flournoy, tells the Israel Policy Forum that both the U.S. and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu need to consider the concerns from Arab partners who support Palestinian aspirations for independence. "'You know, these countries may not be full-fledged democracies or democracies at all, but they do have to care about their street. And these leaders will not have the political maneuver room to continue investing in their relationship with Israel if Netanyahu and his government [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-06-26T08:51:42-04:00June 24, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Miriam Vogel writes in Tech Crunch: “Biased AI Perpetuates Racial Injustice”

"The murder of George Floyd was shocking, but we know that his death was not unique. Too many Black lives have been stolen from their families and communities as a result of historical racism. There are deep and numerous threads woven into racial injustice that plague our country that have come to a head following the recent murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. "Just as important as the process underway to admit to and understand the origin of [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-07-31T09:17:51-04:00June 24, 2020|Social Impact|

Ely Ratner quoted in New York Magazine article, “China Is Going to Be a Big Issue in the 2020 Campaign. But What Does That Mean?”

"Trade still lingers as an issue for Trump, too. The victory he hoped to herald with 'phase one' of his trade deal could unravel in the response to the coronavirus, dealing another blow to a weak farm economy. As Ely Ratner, a former senior adviser to Biden described Trump’s dilemma to Intelligencer, 'On the one hand, he’s sitting on this totally empty trade deal, but on the other hand, it’s the only thing he can talk about as a concrete agreement.' [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-06-26T09:04:52-04:00June 23, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Avril Haines quoted in Foreign Affairs article, “When the CIA Interferes in Foreign Elections”

"'If the United States were identified as having promoted disinformation or tampering with votes in an election, it would undermine our credibility and our policy efforts, given how inconsistent such actions would be with the values we promote, which are at the heart of our soft power,' said Avril Haines, a former deputy CIA director. 'The same is not true for Russia...'" Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-06-26T08:48:55-04:00June 21, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Ely Ratner quoted in The Washington Post article, “Bolton Revelations Undercut Trump’s Reelection Message of Toughness on China”

“‘The revelations were shocking to read but they basically confirm everything we already knew about Trump’s approach to China — his total disregard for human rights and the political motivation for the trade deal,' said Ely Ratner, executive vice president at the Center for a New American Security, who served as Biden’s deputy national security adviser from 2015 to 2017. “'Anybody paying attention can see the contrast also between the Cabinet officials who are outspoken on some issues and the president’s [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-06-26T09:01:31-04:00June 19, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

About Rebecca Skoryanc