Rebecca Skoryanc, Author at WestExec Advisors

Meghan O’Sullivan quoted in the Financial Times article, “Will American Shale Oil Rise Again?”

“Meghan O'Sullivan, the head of the geopolitics programme at Harvard's Kennedy School, says the shale revolution had bolstered the US internationally by, 'altering the global strategic environment in a way that made it more conducive to US interests.' "'The global energy abundance that was in large part due to American shale... helped US allies and, on the whole, tended to harm its adversaries, from Iran to Russia to Venezuela,' she adds..." Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-05-01T14:53:04-04:00April 24, 2020|Economy & Trade|

Michèle Flournoy contributes to Der Spiegel article, “How the Coronavirus Is Changing the World”

"Coming out of this pandemic, the U.S. will be judged by two primary factors: First, how well did we handle the pandemic domestically, both in terms of public health outcomes and the economic impact? Secondly, what role did the U.S. play on the global stage orchestrating the international response to the pandemic? "If you look at the U.S. role historically, you can see that previous administrations stepped up to deal with the AIDS epidemic and led the international community in addressing [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-24T10:48:52-04:00April 23, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense, Geopolitical Perspectives|

Julie Smith writes with Garima Mohan in War on the Rocks: “In A Crisis, A Fumbling America Confirms Europe’s Worst Fears”

"Europeans have been watching America’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic with alarm. Last week’s news that the United States plans to freeze funding for the World Health Organization was seen as yet another piece of evidence that the United States is shedding its traditional, global leadership role. In over one hundred interviews, emails, and texts with policymakers, analysts, and colleagues across the European continent, we have found universal shock and disappointment over both America’s failure to lead in this crisis and [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-24T10:45:45-04:00April 23, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Dan Shapiro writes in Haaretz: “Will the Coronavirus Crisis Accelerate Israel’s West Bank Annexation – or Derail It?”

"The Israeli coalition government agreed to by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leader of a shrunken Blue and White party, Benny Gantz, will make its first priority addressing the health and economic challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak. In fact, for the first six months, at least according to its own declarations, it will deal with fallout from the pandemic almost exclusively, as an emergency government. "But one unrelated issue is carved out for potential consideration during this period: Israel’s unilateral [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-24T10:47:42-04:00April 23, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Julie Smith quoted in Business Insider article, “The Coronavirus Pandemic Could Leave ‘A Profound Economic Impact’ On the Pentagon”

"'The bigger question among Democrats that we haven’t sorted out... is to determine exactly what to do with the defense budget,' with different camps advocating freezing, reducing, or imposing drastic cuts, said Julianne Smith, a foreign-policy adviser to former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, at the same event. "'That’s a debate that the party’s going to have to have, and frankly all Americans need to have,' Smith added..." Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-05-01T14:49:49-04:00April 23, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Dennis Ross writes in New York Daily News: “Will the Coronavirus Crisis Finally Lead Us Away from America First?”

"COVID-19 is forcing us to reimagine what life will be like going forward. Can it be a wake-up call for the costs of going it alone internationally? While debate over the scope of change domestically is a given, it is remarkable how little is being discussed about our approach internationally. "Even before COVID-19, America’s role in the world hardly figured in this year’s political debate. True, there were criticisms of President Trump’s readiness to berate our traditional allies while lauding Vladimir [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-24T10:46:43-04:00April 22, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense, Geopolitical Perspectives|

Danny Russel quoted in The Nation article, “How Trump’s Foreign Policy Puts Troops at Risk of Covid-19”

"The coronavirus will likewise severely damage the economy. Daniel Russel, a former US diplomat who served as the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs until 2017, told The Nation that while pandemics have a devastating initial effect on public health, a brutal second wave can come in the form of an economic downturn—particularly in developing countries like Iran. "'I ran the Asia Bureau in the State Department, and I was constantly reminding people that no matter how [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-24T10:57:01-04:00April 22, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Michèle Flournoy quoted in The Bulwark article, “How Trump’s COVID-19 Failure Betrayed Our Military and Veterans”

"'He has created a leadership climate that stifles the kind of transparency, communication and truth telling that’s required in a crisis like this,' Michèle Flournoy, the former undersecretary of defense for policy, said of President Trump. 'What we have learned about pandemic response is that it’s impossible to over-communicate, even with imperfect information. It’s important to be as truthful as possible and communicate as clearly, consistently and as frequently as possible...'” Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-24T10:54:01-04:00April 22, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Michèle Flournoy interviewed on Freakonomics podcast, “Will Covid-19 Spark a Cold War (or Worse) With China?”

"I think it’s very clear that it came from one source or another in Wuhan. I think it’s very clear that the Chinese government sought to suppress that information early on, even punishing people like doctors who were trying to make it known. And that mishandling of the early crisis significantly increased the global implications and the price that every other country of the world is going to pay in lives and in livelihood and economic terms..." Listen to the full [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-24T11:15:25-04:00April 22, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Dan Shapiro quoted in Foreign Policy article, “How the Coronavirus Saved Netanyahu’s Political Career”

"'[Netanyahu] has received fairly high marks from the public for his handling of the crisis because of the relatively low number of fatalities and the fact that the hospitals have not been overwhelmed,' said Daniel Shapiro, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel. 'It may be harder to sustain that support if there is a second wave, or if the economic recovery proves difficult. But for now, he has benefited from it...'" Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-24T10:52:14-04:00April 21, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

About Rebecca Skoryanc