Definitions by Dancing with Fire
Caravan of Death
In October 1973, Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet organized the “Caravan of Death," a military death-squad charged with eliminating perceived opponents of the military regime. Flying a cross-country circuit by helicopter, the Caravan of Death landed at military bases throughout the country and tortured and summarily executed at least 75 political prisoners.
Many of the victims of what became known as the "Caravan of Death" had voluntarily turned themselves into the military authorities. Prisoners were taken from their cells and summarily executed, often without the knowledge or consent of the local military authorities.
Caravan of Death by Dancing with Fire April 9, 2013
Hamas
In early 2006 Hamas won legislative elections in the Palestinian territories, ending the secular Fatah party’s hold on the Palestinian Authority and challenging Fatah’s leadership of the Palestinian national movement. Hamas continues its refusal to recognize Israel or renounce violence against Israelis and, since early 2008, has conducted one suicide bombing, which killed one civilian, and numerous mortar and rocket attacks that injured civilians. The United States has designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Hamas by Dancing with Fire April 9, 2013
Boko Haram
Boko Haram is an Islamic militant group that believes politics in northern Nigeria has been seized by a group of corrupt, false Muslims. It wants to wage a war against them, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria generally, to create a “pure” Islamic state ruled by sharia law.
Boko Haram by Dancing with Fire April 9, 2013
Tamil Tigers
A terrorist organization in Sri Lanka that began in 1970 as a student protest over the limited university access for Tamil students.
The Tamil Tigers sought to establish an independent Tamil state called Eelam; they relied on guerrilla strategy including terrorist tactics that targeted key government and military personnel; the Tamil Tigers also perfected suicide bombing as a weapon of war.
Tamil Tigers by Dancing with Fire April 9, 2013
26th of July Movement
The 26th of July Movement (Spanish: Movimiento 26 de Julio) was the revolutionary movement led by Fidel Castro that overthrew the regime of Fulgencio Batista in Cuba in 1959. Its name commemorates an attack on the Santiago de Cuba army barracks on July 26, 1953. The movement began formally in 1955 when Castro went to Mexico to form a disciplined guerrilla force. The leaders of the movement remaining in Cuba to carry out sabotage and political activities were Frank País, Armando Hart, and Enrique Oltuski. At this time the movement espoused a reform program that included distribution of land to peasants, nationalization of public services, industrialization, honest elections, and mass education.
Prominent leaders of the 26th of July Movement included Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, Raúl Castro, Camilo Cienfuegos, Frank País, and Juan Almeida Bosque.
26th of July Movement by Dancing with Fire April 9, 2013
ISI
The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (more commonly known as Inter-Services Intelligence or simply by its initials ISI), is the premier Intelligence service of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, operationally responsible for providing critical national security and intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan.
ISI by Dancing with Fire April 8, 2013
SAVAK
SAVAK has been described as Iran's "most hated and feared institution" prior to the revolution of 1979 because of its practice of torturing and executing opponents of the Pahlavi regime.
SAVAK by Dancing with Fire April 8, 2013