Dancing with Fire's definitions

Bolshevik

The left-wing majority group of the Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party that adopted Lenin's theses on party organization in 1903.

The word Bolshevik, an emotionally charged term in English, is derived from an ordinary word in Russian, bol'she, "bigger, more," the comparative form of bol'sho, "big." The plural form Bol'sheviki was the name given to the majority faction at the Second Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party in 1903 (the term is first recorded in English in 1907). The smaller faction was known as Men'sheviki, from men'she, "less, smaller," the comparative of maly, "little, few." The Bol'sheviki, who sided with Lenin in the split that followed the Congress, subsequently became the Russian Communist Party. In 1952 the word Bol'shevik was dropped as an official term in the Soviet Union, but it had long since passed into other languages, including English.

by Dancing with Fire September 7, 2012

Pentagon

The pentagonal building serving as the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, near Washington, DC. The Pentagon's unique shape makes it a highly efficient office building. Although the Pentagon has 3,705,793 square feet (1,129,526 meters) of office space, it is possible to reach most points in the building within 10 minutes, a remarkable architectural achievement. In a building which coordinates the armed forces of the United States along with organizations responsible for intelligence and security, workers often need to be able to access each other quickly.

The idea of the Pentagon was conceived in 1941, when Brigadier General Brehon Sommervell was trying to solve the problem of limited space for the Department of Defense, a serious issue in the Second World War. It was agreed that a new building was needed, and a groundbreaking ceremony took place on 11 September, 1941. It took just two years to complete the building on former marshlands along the outskirts of Washington, and the Pentagon was quickly filled with communications equipment and staff to coordinate the Department of Defense.

by Dancing with Fire September 6, 2012

NKVD

People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs: the Soviet police and secret police from 1934 to 1943: the police from 1943-46.

NKVD - Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del

by Dancing with Fire September 6, 2012

Baader Meinhof Gang

A radical left-wing revolutionary terrorist group active in Germany from 1968 until 1977. They later became known as the Red Army Faction (RAF). The RAF was founded in 1970 by Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin, Horst Mahler, and Ulrike Meinhof.

The Baader Meinhof Gang (or RAF) described itself as a communist and anti-imperialist "urban guerrilla" group engaged in armed resistance against what they deemed to be a fascist state. As such, members of the RAF generally used the Marxist-Leninist term "Faction" when they wrote in English. The Baader Meinhof Gang carried out many assassinations and bombings. They were also responsible for kidnappings and bank robberies.

The Baader Meinhof Gang has been portrayed in the 2008 German film, The Baader Meinhof Complex. The group was also mentioned in the 2005 film Munich.

by Dancing with Fire September 5, 2012

FBI

Federal Bureau of Investigation; an agency of the Justice Department responsible for investigating violations of Federal laws.

The FBI is primarily a law enforcement agency. They collect intelligence related to domestic security and perform crime investigations.

by Dancing with Fire September 5, 2012

CSS

Central Security Service; comprises all U.S. military branches – Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines – and works to ensure a full partnership between the NSA and the military.

The CSS provides timely and accurate cryptologic support, knowledge, and assistance to the military cryptologic community. CSS also coordinates and develops policy and guidance on the Signals Intelligence and Information Assurance missions of National Security Agency (NSA) and CSS, to ensure military integration.

by Dancing with Fire September 5, 2012

MI5

The British domestic and foreign counterintelligence service responsible for national internal security.

Military Intelligence, section five; a former official and present-day popular name for the counterintelligence agency of the British Government. MI5 was formed in 1909 as the Secret Service Bureau.

by Dancing with Fire September 5, 2012