Rebecca Skoryanc, Author at WestExec Advisors

Dan Shapiro and Dennis Ross quoted in The New York Times article, “The Secret History of the Push to Strike Iran”

"... Some American military planners derided Barak’s tactic as 'mowing the grass' — a small-bore effort that would need to be repeated again and again — but it might have been more like a way to get the United States to move first. 'Barak would tell us, "We can’t do what you do, so we need to do it sooner,"' says Dennis Ross, who handled Iran policy at the National Security Council during Obama’s first term. 'We interpreted that as designed [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2019-09-09T15:46:06-04:00September 4, 2019|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Bob Work quoted in Foreign Policy article, “American Bases in Japan Are Sitting Ducks”

“Simulations of these attacks are nauseating. In a 2017 report for the Center for a New American Security, Tom Shugart and Javier Gonzales conclude that the missile defense systems of every single American air and naval base in Japan would be overwhelmed by the PLA Rocket Force’s very first volley. They estimate that more than 200 aircraft, almost all fixed American command centers, every U.S. runway, and most of the American fleet at berth would be destroyed—tens of billions of dollars [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2019-09-19T14:47:07-04:00September 4, 2019|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Liz Rosenberg quoted in The Wall Street Journal article, “New U.S. Sanctions on Iran Set Back French Mediation Efforts”

“Tying Iran’s oil sales so directly to those groups will act as a further deterrent to anyone still involved in Iranian oil exports, including tankers, the insurance industry, brokers, banks and even ship captains, analysts said. “'It is clearly meant to tarnish Iran’s image and oil sales by linking it to support for terrorism and regional destabilization,' said Elizabeth Rosenberg, a former top Treasury sanctions official now a senior fellow at the Center for New American Security..." Read the full article [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2019-09-19T14:26:05-04:00September 4, 2019|Economy & Trade, News|

Michael Camilleri writes in Foreign Affairs: “Plan B in Venezuela”

"From its first weeks in office, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has been intent on dislodging Nicolás Maduro from power in Venezuela—resorting to everything from tough talk of “military options” and indictments of senior officials to hard-hitting sanctions and multilateral diplomacy. In January, after two years of effort, Washington seemed to be close to reaching its goal. With an uncharacteristic display of careful diplomatic coordination, the United States, along with several Latin American governments and other U.S. partners, announced [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2019-09-09T15:36:07-04:00September 3, 2019|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Dennis Ross and David Makovsky release new book, Be Strong and of Good Courage: How Israel’s Most Important Leaders Shaped Its Destiny

"Modern Israel’s founding fathers provided some of the boldest and most principled leadership of any nation. Now Israel needs their example more than ever. At a time when the political destiny of Israel is more uncertain than at any moment since its modern founding, Be Strong and of Good Courage celebrates the defining generation of leaders who took on the task of safeguarding the country’s future. "David Ben-Gurion, Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Rabin, and Ariel Sharon were all present at the creation [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2019-09-09T15:42:37-04:00September 3, 2019|Press Releases|

Julie Smith quoted in The Guardian article, “Washington’s Great Mystery: Trump’s Affinity for Putin and Populists Baffles Experts”

"'Trump’s deference to Putin remains one of Washington’s greatest mysteries,' said Julianne Smith, a former deputy national security adviser to former vice-president Joe Biden. 'No one knows for sure whether it’s just Trump’s admiration for Putin’s authoritarian rule or it’s the fact that Trump owes Putin something.' “'Either way, Trump’s refusal to speak ill of Putin or Russia’s aggression in its neighborhood and beyond is eroding US leadership and the transatlantic alliance.' “... 'Allies are growing tired of the constant barrage [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2019-09-09T15:39:42-04:00August 31, 2019|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Miriam Vogel writes in The Hill: “Making Equitable Access to Credit A Reality in The Age of Algorithms”

"Last week we saw yet another reminder of the ways algorithms will perpetuate historical bias if left unchecked and unrestrained. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) proposed rule released Monday announced the intent to reduce key protections afforded to consumers under the Fair Housing Act. The new rule would revise the HUD interpretation of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to eliminate the disparate impact standard, which prohibits policies or procedures that appear to be neutral [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2019-09-09T15:37:52-04:00August 30, 2019|News|

Dennis Ross writes with Dana Stroul in The Washington Post: “The Flaw in Trump’s Maximum Pressure Campaign Toward Iran”

“The Trump administration says its maximum-pressure campaign on Iran is working. If only that were true. "The administration has consistently made the argument that economic sanctions would deprive the Iranian regime of money and that less money would mean less bad behavior and more concessions at the negotiating table. "Bargaining with Iran is not the same as a closing a real estate deal, however, and Iran-sponsored terrorism is not easily reduced to counting dollars and cents. Less of one does not [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2019-09-09T15:33:57-04:00August 29, 2019|Economy & Trade, Geopolitical Perspectives|

Dan Shapiro quoted in The Wall Street Journal article, “Israel’s Shadow War with Iran Widens as Netanyahu Faces Close Election Contest”

“‘Multiple engagements that are highly public on multiple fronts, with perhaps a political context attached to them, could incentivize one or more of Israel’s enemies to try to escalate into a much more expansive conflict,’ said Daniel Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel who is now at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University…” Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2019-09-03T17:28:52-04:00August 26, 2019|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Julie Smith on The Tea Leaves podcast

"In this episode of Tea Leaves, Kurt and Rich are joined by Julianne (“Julie”) Smith, an expert on transatlantic issues and adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). The three discuss Julie’s experiences in the national security field as a woman, the complexities of Europe’s multifaceted relationship with Beijing, and the European perspective towards the Trump administration." Listen to the full podcast here: Full Podcast

Rebecca Skoryanc2019-09-03T17:36:52-04:00August 26, 2019|Geopolitical Perspectives|

About Rebecca Skoryanc