Rebecca Skoryanc, Author at WestExec Advisors

Dennis Ross writes in The Hill: “Fears Of ‘What’s Next?’ Will Influence Iran’s — And the World’s — Reactions”

"The killing of Qassem Soleimani is surely a game-changer. He was the mastermind of Iran’s policies in the region, and perhaps the second most powerful figure in the Iranian hierarchy. "He developed and shaped Shia militias as tools of Iranian coercion, leverage and intimidation in the Middle East. He trained, financed, armed and helped guide their operations — and they, in turn, enabled Iran to extend its influence at minimal cost. His successes permitted Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, to refer [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:23:19-05:00January 6, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Lisa Monaco on CNN’s New Day with Alisyn Camerota

"I think we're right now in a situation that unfortunately seems to be spiraling and there's no real clear offramp. In terms of the explanations thus far, I think what we've seen is a series of mixed messages. And it's very, very important that the administration brief, on a bipartisan basis, Congress about what did lead to the attack. "Let's be clear. I'm not mourning, nobody should be mourning, quite frankly, Qasem Soleimani. The man was pure evil. He has the [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:28:54-05:00January 6, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Michael Camilleri quoted in POLITICO article, “U.S. plans for Venezuela hit turbulence as Maduro tries Assembly takeover”

"Now, 'the trend lines point toward increasing authoritarian consolidation, a stronger Nicolas Maduro and a more fragmented opposition,' said Michael Camilleri, who served in the State Department and the National Security Council during the Obama administration. 'Those in the opposition who had deluded themselves into thinking Trump was going to invade and solve all their problems are coming to the realization that’s not going to happen.' "In a sense, the status quo works for Trump politically..." Read the full article here: [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:11:46-05:00January 5, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Matt Waxman quoted in the Atlantic article, “It Wasn’t the Law That Stopped Other Presidents From Killing Soleimani”

"The [assassination] ban arose in response to covert CIA plots to, for example, kill Fidel Castro with an exploding cigar during peacetime—essentially, attempting to kill because of political differences, not in wartime self-defense, said Matthew Waxman, who directs the National Security Law Program at Columbia University and served in the Bush administration. The Obama administration used the term targeted killing for strikes on terrorist leaders in overseas battlefields—arguing that they fell under a right to self-defense in an ongoing war against [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:19:04-05:00January 4, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Nick Rasmussen on NBC’s Weekend TODAY

"President Donald Trump says he ordered the airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani to 'stop a war' and not start one. NBC’s Hans Nichols reports for Weekend TODAY and the McCain Institute’s Nicholas Rasmussen joins for analysis..." Watch the full interview here: Full Interview

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:25:56-05:00January 4, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Dennis Ross on CNN’s At This Hour with Wolf Blitzer

"Well, there will be a response, not just because they're saying it, but because he was part of the core of the regime, the right-hand man, in many respects, to the supreme leader. For the supreme leader not to react when there's a threat to the core of the regime would suggest, somehow, they're willing to live with things of that sort. "Having said that, Ali Khamenei is someone who was very much scared by the Iran/Iraq war, doesn't like direct [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:27:35-05:00January 3, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Nick Rasmussen on MSNBC

Nick Rasmussen joins Geoff Bennett to discuss the aftermath of the strike against Soleimani: the threat to U.S. personnel in the region, the potential for escalation, and concern about the ability of this Administration to manage a crisis of this magnitude... Watch the full interview here: Full Interview

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:31:12-05:00January 3, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Nick Rasmussen quoted in NBC News article, “Iran’s Options for Retaliation Against the U.S. and Americans Span the Globe”

"Nick Rasmussen, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center and an NBC News contributor, said Iran's overseas capabilities can be viewed as three concentric circles. "In its immediate neighborhood, Iran could put together a response almost immediately, such as this week's assault on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. In the broader Middle East, it might take Iran more time, but its proxies could still threaten U.S. personnel, business people or tourists, Rasmussen said. In the rest of the world, including Southeast [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:32:26-05:00January 3, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Lisa Monaco quoted in the CNN article, “U.S. Authorities Prepare as Iran Vows Revenge For Soleimani Strike”

"'We need to be at an increased security posture to protect against threats to our people in Baghdad and more broadly, we should consider risks beyond the immediate region given the penchant for proxies abroad,' said Lisa Monaco, homeland security and counterterrorism adviser to President Barack Obama..." Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:33:34-05:00January 3, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Bridge Colby interviewed in The Asahi Shimbun, “U.S. Needs ‘Denial Defense’ to Thwart Chinese Action in Taiwan”

"Elbridge Colby, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development, recently spoke with The Asahi Shimbun about China’s military ambitions, particularly over Taiwan, and what he believes neighboring countries, including Japan, should do to prepare for such security threats..." Read the full transcript here: Full Transcript

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:38:04-05:00December 27, 2019|Cybersecurity & Defense|

About Rebecca Skoryanc