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The Lounge at Iwan Ries,
19 S. Wabash Ave, 2d Floor
Tuesday, March 3, 2020, 5:30-9:00 pm
Cocktails and cigars at 5:30, with the
presentation at 6:00 for about 30 minutes.
A mashup of eclectic cocktail conversation
follows.
Reservations are required. |
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THE MIDDLE EAST is a complicated
region of the world, with Syria, Kurdistan,
Turkey, ISIS, Iran, and Saudi Arabia being
intricately and inextricably inked. The
first task in understanding the region is
to understand the overwhelming importance of
gas and oil production to its population of
410 million inhabitants and $4 trillion USD
in sovereign and personal wealth, the
political and commercial connections between
the region's players, and the roles played
by the two main rivals: the Shia'a and the
Sunni.
In just this past year, tensions have
escalated between these two rivals, led
mostly by activity from Iran and from Saudi
Arabia. Most recently, the events involving
Aramco refineries, Kurdish in Syria, and
drone strikes in Iraq, have brought the
region to a tipping point.
In this talk, Middle East expert Marius
Vygantas will explain why the region is as
it is, review pivotal events from the last
year, and examine which cards have been
revealed and how the game is going to play
out. Mr. Vygantas writes, "There will be
plenty of political fodder, some gossip,
and, Insha'Allah, lots of fun." |
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Marius Vygantas
is a 16 year veteran of the Middle
East. Born and raised in Chicago,
Mr. Vygantas has worked for Arabian
royal family members, sovereign
wealth funds, and global asset
managers. He understands the region
intricately and has seen much
evolution in the regional landscape.
Mr. Vygantas is a founding principal
of Soling Partners, where he and two
other principals advise global asset
managers on the Gulf Cooperation
Council (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the
United Arab Emirates, Qatar,
Bahrain, and Oman). He currently
manages ten clients that look after
approximately $2.4 trillion USD in
global assets.
Mr. Vygantas is a graduate of
Northwestern University and the
London School of Economics. He
started his career with
apprenticeships at The Federal
Reserve Bank and Goldman Sachs in
Chicago while at Northwestern.
He is an Eagle Scout, an alumnus of
the Chicago Youth Symphony
Orchestra, an avid surfer, a jiu
jitsu practitioner, and a life-long
Cubs fan.
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About
the
Cigar Society of Chicago
ONE OF THE OLDEST AND
greatest traditions of the city clubs of
Chicago is the discussion of intellectual,
social, legal, artistic, historical,
scientific, musical, theatrical, and
philosophical issues in the company of
educated, bright, and appropriately
provocative individuals, all under the
beneficent influence of substantial
amounts of tobacco and spirits. The
Cigar Society of Chicago
embraces this tradition and extends it
with its Informal Smokers, University
Series lectures, and Cigar
Society Dinners, in which cigars,
and from time to time pipes and
cigarettes, appear as an important
component of our version of the classical
symposium. To be included in the
Cigar Society's mailing list, write to the
secretary at
curtis.tuckey@logicophilosophicus.org
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