Rebecca Skoryanc, Author at WestExec Advisors

Danny Russel quoted in The New York Times article, “U.S. Applauds Tsai’s Re-election as Taiwan President: Pompeo”

"Daniel Russel, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia until early in the Trump administration, said the extent of Trump's interest in Taiwan had seemed to be as a customer for U.S. weapons systems and as leverage on Beijing in the trade war. "'At times that has meant moving in Taipei’s direction; at other times it has meant backing off demonstrations of support,' he said. "'Now that a mini-trade deal has at last been reached with Beijing, Trump may have fewer [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T22:02:44-05:00January 11, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Michèle Flournoy quoted in Task and Purpose article, “The Missiles Have Stopped Flying But Iran Isn’t Done Yet”

"The immediate crisis may be over, but Iran is likely to 'resume provocations' unless it gets some relief from the United States' maximum pressure campaign, said Michèle Flournoy, who served as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from February 2009 to February 2012. "'I think those are most likely to be either covert or clandestine or through proxies or directed at others in the region,' said Flournoy, now managing partner of WestExec Advisors, a strategic advisory firm in Washington, D.C. 'I [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T22:05:28-05:00January 11, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Liz Rosenberg quoted in The Wall Street Journal article, “New Sanctions Power Could Squeeze Remaining Iranian Trade Channels”

"The executive order is a limited expansion of the already extensive U.S. sanctions on Iran, but it gives sweeping power for the U.S. to issue secondary sanctions on non-U.S. individuals and companies that maintain ties with Iran, said Elizabeth Rosenberg, a former senior sanctions adviser at the Treasury Department. “'A primary intention of these measures is to threaten Iran and deter anyone who would do business with Iran,' she said... "By naming a few targets outside of Iran, the U.S. sends [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T22:00:11-05:00January 10, 2020|Economy & Trade|

Michèle Flournoy on Bloomberg’s “Wall Street Week”

"Michèle Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense of Policy, reflects on recent escalations between U.S. and Iran with former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers and Roger Ferguson, TIAA chief executive officer..." Watch the full interview here: Full Interview

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T22:06:56-05:00January 10, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Michèle Flournoy featured on NPR’s “Morning Edition”

"'From one tweet to the next, from one day to the next, you never know what he's going to say or what his approach will be. And I think for adversaries who are trying to figure out where the line is, it's very difficult to establish deterrence for them. For allies, it makes them very uncertain.' "... Flournoy says Trump's approach isn't strategic—it's tactical, transactional, impulsive. "'I actually think [Trump's] an interesting mix of, on the one hand, wanting to appear [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:10:23-05:00January 9, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Linc Bloomfield and Dan Shapiro quoted in CNBC article, “It Isn’t Over — Iran’s Promise of Revenge Could Take Months or Years to Play Out, Analysts Say”

"'Since there were no casualties, President Trump seems to be taking the opportunity to say this is the end of this round. That’s a hopeful sign, (but) it doesn’t mean this is the end of this conflict,' said Daniel Shapiro, who was the U.S. ambassador to Israel between 2011 and 2017. "He warned that the supposed a deescalation in tensions could be 'fragile.' “'It’s very likely that the Iranian response to the death of Qasem Soleimani will play out over weeks, [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T22:04:04-05:00January 9, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Michèle Flournoy interviewed on CNN’s “New Day”

"'The fact that there were no casualties gives President Trump the opportunity to throw the circuit breaker on this particular cycle of escalation,' ex-Under Sec. of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy says after Iran attacked Iraqi bases housing US troops..." Watch the full interview here: Full Interview

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:16:19-05:00January 8, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Nick Rasmussen quoted in Bloomberg Government article, “Iran Threat Response Seen as Weakened by Trump Migrant Focus”

“'The focus on immigration to me has meant the senior leadership could not possibly have as much of an in-depth feel for the terrorism and counterterrorism set of issues,' Nicholas Rasmussen, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center who worked on the issue under the last three administrations, said in an interview. 'When you get into crisis mode, you can’t just acquire that experience.' "Rasmussen and some former DHS officials and security specialists applauded aspects of the department’s response, however, pointing [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:17:36-05:00January 8, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Tony Blinken on CNN’s “Amanpour”

"Former U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Antony Blinken says he suspects Iranians will look for other ways to exact a cost on the US for the killing of Soleimani..." Watch the full interview here: Full Interview

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:06:52-05:00January 7, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Meghan O’Sullivan writes in Foreign Affairs, “The U.S.-Iraqi Relationship Can Still Be Salvaged”

"One of the most dramatic consequences of killing Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani is unfolding at a rapid pace: the severing of ties between the United States and Iraq. There is still time to salvage this most critical relationship, but doing so will depend on the willingness and ability of the Trump administration to change the tone of the conversation in very short order. The current U.S. approach—calling for sanctions against Iraq if it demands the exit of American forces—risks [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:01:59-05:00January 7, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

About Rebecca Skoryanc