On Saturday, December 3, nearly 60 people attended the first-ever Chanticleer Intelligence Brief Symposium. The event, held at the Myrtle Beach Education Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, featured timely updates about some of the world’s most critical hot spots by a panel of CIB Analysts. It was held in conjunction with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Coastal Carolina University.

The audience was exposed to analytical briefs about several timely topics. CIB Executive Director Blake Gutberlet spoke about the current status of Boko Haram, the Nigerian-based militant group that operates in the Lake Chad region of Western Africa. Victoria James, the CIB’s Communications Officer, gave a presentation about the actual and potential use of weapons of mass destruction by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in the Middle East, with special emphasis on the use of chemical substances. She was followed by CIB Quality Assurance Officer, Ryan Haag, who spoke on the latest developments regarding the stability of the North Korean government.

Following the break, the CIB’s Records Officer, Madison Nowlin, spoke on the impact on Russia’s internal security of the country’s involvement in the Syrian Civil War. Next spoke CIB Officer Without Portfolio, Michael Jones, who specializes on Islamist radicalism in the former Soviet republics of Central Asia. The program concluded with a presentation by CIB’s Finance Officer, Casey Mallon, about the current status of Jemaah Islamiah, a Southeast Asian militant Islamist group with a record of terrorist activities in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. A discussion followed, with comments and questions from what proved to be a well-informed and curious audience.

During the event, the CIB raised funds for its activities by offering community subscriptions to The Intelligence Review, its peer-reviewed publication that is published twice a year in cooperation with the European Intelligence Academy. The Symposium was moderated by CIB Faculty Advisor Dr. Joseph Fitsanakis. The Second CIB Symposium will be held in April of next year. The CIB wishes to express its gratitude to CCU Director of Community Outreach Dr. Carol Osborne, OLLI Senior Director of Operations Kelli Barker, OLLI Administrative Specialist Ellen Jampole, and OLLI Board of Advisors member Samih Baalbaki for their help in coordinating this event. You can see photographs from the event here.