Rebecca Skoryanc, Author at WestExec Advisors

Mike Singh in The Wall Street Journal: “Beijing’s Curious Silence on the Syria Withdrawal”

One of the more troubling yardsticks by which to measure President Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria was the gratification it seemed to offer American adversaries. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the decision “correct,” and senior Iranian regime cleric Ayatollah Hassan Ameli asserted that it “hands [Syria] to Iran.” The state-run media of Syria’s Assad regime gloated predictably. Conspicuously quiet on the matter, however, was the country the U.S. increasingly regards as its chief rival—China. Beijing’s silence reveals how [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T17:02:04-04:00January 8, 2019|Cybersecurity & Defense, Geopolitical Perspectives|

Michael Camilleri in the Miami Herald: “Who will save Brazil’s democracy if Jair Bolsonaro tries to destroy it?”

When Jair Bolsonaro was sworn in as Brazil’s president on New Year’s Day, he announced that, “One of my priorities is to protect and reinvigorate Brazilian democracy.” The hardline former army captain was known for many things during his 27 years in Brazil’s Congress, but champion of democracy was not one of them. Bolsonaro expressed nostalgia for Brazil’s military dictatorship and dedicated his vote to impeach then-President Dilma Rousseff to the colonel who led a dictatorship-era torture squad... Read the full [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T17:02:18-04:00January 7, 2019|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Antony Blinken and Robert Kagan in The Washington Post: “‘America First’ is only making the world worse. Here’s a better approach”

Foreign policy was the last thing on voters’ minds in the midterm elections, but as we look toward 2020, one thing is clear: President Trump’s “America First” foreign policy — or its progressive cousin, retrenchment — is broadly popular in both parties. Trump’s recent decision to withdraw all troops from Syria and 7,000 from Afghanistan has been condemned by Democrats and Republicans alike in Washington. But it is not at all clear that Americans beyond the Beltway are equally outraged. The [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T17:02:28-04:00January 1, 2019|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Lisa Monaco discusses today’s threat landscape on “Intelligence Matters” podcast

In this episode of "Intelligence Matters," host Michael Morell speaks with Lisa Monaco, former U.S. Homeland Security Advisor to President Barack Obama. She reviews her career trajectory from federal prosecutor to Hill staffer to running the National Security Division at the Department of Justice to a series of high-profile roles at the White House. Monaco evaluates the existing threat from foreign-directed terror attacks and the importance of continuity in counterterrorism policy... Listen to the full podcast: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T17:02:40-04:00January 1, 2019|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Michèle Flournoy appears on NBC’s Meet the Press to discuss climate change and national security

Managing Partner Michèle Flournoy appeared on Meet the Press alongside Michael Bloomberg, Governor Jerry Brown, Craig Fugate, and others to discuss the impact of climate change on national security. Watch the full Meet the Press interview: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T16:35:54-04:00December 30, 2018|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Dan Shapiro in The Atlantic: “Trump Leaves Israel in the Lurch”

Ask Israelis what they appreciate about President Donald Trump, and they can tick off a substantial list: the long-sought move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem; the abandonment of the much-maligned Iran nuclear deal; the lack of pressure (so far) on Israel to curtail settlement expansion or make concessions to the Palestinians; and the absence of tensions with Israel’s leaders, which plagued the relationship between former President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But dig a bit deeper, and you [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T16:35:35-04:00December 28, 2018|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Meghan O’Sullivan in Bloomberg: “One Fewer Reason to Be Nervous About the G-20 This Weekend”

If asked what will be the most consequential meeting this weekend in Argentina at the G-20, you might have a hard time making up your mind. You’d have good reason to choose a) the Trump-Xi bilateral. But b), the gathering to sign the new Nafta deal, could also go awry. If you are like me, you are relieved that c), the Trump-Putin meeting, is now off the table. We should certainly be concerned about what will transpire when President Donald Trump [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T16:35:20-04:00November 29, 2018|Economy & Trade|

Meghan O’Sullivan in Bloomberg: “Even If OPEC Cuts, Oil Prices Could Still Fall in 2019”

Some of us are starting to associate turkey with low oil prices. Just four years ago, on Thanksgiving Day in 2014, OPEC held a meeting in Vienna, the outcome of which set off a dramatic slide in oil prices. The price of Brent crude dropped $6 a barrel, or 8 percent, in just the 24 hours after OPEC announced the outcome of its meeting. This Thanksgiving, there was no OPEC gathering, but on Friday, the Brent price still slid nearly $4, [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T16:34:58-04:00November 29, 2018|Economy & Trade|

Dennis Ross in The Washington Post: “There’s no reason Congress and Trump can’t achieve their goals for Saudi Arabia”

Policies — not just politics — are deeply polarized today. Every choice becomes binary with no middle ground. In response to the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, either we should punish Saudi Arabia and try to force Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman out of power, or our interests are so great in the kingdom that we should simply put this behind us. President Trump has chosen the latter course, disregarding our values in declaring that our interests in Saudi Arabia matter more [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T16:34:41-04:00November 29, 2018|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Ely Ratner in Foreign Affairs: “There Is No Grand Bargain With China”

In true showmanship fashion, U.S. President Donald Trump is keeping the world in suspense about whether he will soon double down on the United States’ trade war with China or call a truce. The big reveal will come after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the margins of the G-20 in Buenos Aires later this week. Trump has at times been optimistic, telling reporters, “I think a deal will be made. We’ll find out very soon.” Don’t believe the [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T16:34:27-04:00November 27, 2018|Geopolitical Perspectives|

About Rebecca Skoryanc