Insight and Precise Analysis of Incidents

Taking a determinate position and not being a victim of the enemy’s confusion that prevents a clear vision, is a must when dealing with affairs and incidents. This is because planting doubt, suspicion, hesitation, and wrong analysis are the most important purposes and goals of the soft war which is based on shaking faith, trust in thoughts, attitude, characters and symbols. In addition, it is based on confusing the opponent with conflicts and side concerns that lead to damaging the system of relations between his members, failure of potentials and programs, and breakdown of any movement against the enemy. This leads at the end to a certain level of confusion, erosion, collapse, and gradual fall.

Mixing affairs and provoking events is among the functions of soft war which means that it mixes truth with falsehood, raises reformist and rational slogans, and leads to the enemy claiming to extend a hand of cooperation. This causes the mislead of events and issues for some who have not yet understood the lesson and that the game of soft war, international politics in the world of communication and media technology and the era of the information explosion have become based on the media persuasion equation, which is not demonstrative and legal persuasion. “The victorious and strong is the one whose narration of events wins regardless of the truth of the events” 1 which is the party which has the best ability to convince the world with the credibility of his narration and description of events and facts regardless of facts and moral standards. We can take the misinformation and deception that accompanied the events in Syria as an example; and all of these are the ways and methods followed in the soft war.

Hence, we understand Imam Khamenei’s reference (may God protect him) when His Eminence said, “In the exciting events, it is difficult to know the circumstances of these events and to differentiate between the attacker and the defender, and between the friend and the enemy,” because the soft war, according to Imam Khamenei, “is based on misleading people -the public opinion- with slogans whose appearance is right, but its content is void".

His eminence Al Imam Al Khaminai affirmed the importance of insight in facing this case. He repeated this expression tens of times in his speeches and lectures, and described the content of this insight saying “It is like a lamp that lights the path during the dead of night and a compass to arrive at the right path to move towards the goal in the desert of hesitation”. He said in another affair:” We should open our eyes well and not skip incidents easily to behave with insight in the shadow of meditation, thinking, and right evaluation of incidents and affairs”. 2

His eminence added “Insight is the necessary and main condition to succeed in every step and achieve goals because living in the shadow of monotheismic vision means making efforts in a continuous, purposeful and planned way. Working through this vision, every movement will have a meaning and aim where every effort is compensated with a divine reward. With this vision, there will not be a place for frustration, shock or depression. 3

His eminence affirmed, regarding the evaluation of public figures in the regime, that "The right evaluation index doesn’t depend on people, but on insight in order to differentiate between the right and the falsehood since many known characters make mistakes".

Therefore, we’ve seen his eminence wandering during the presidential elections battle and affliction in 2009: Is it a coincidence to see the enemy happy during this affliction? Shouldn’t those notice for what extent the enemy is happy for their behaviors and mistakes?. 4 In another speech, he said:” Those who are responsible for this affliction whether its leaders know that or not, their movements have planted hope in the enemies' hearts”. 5

Leaders, scholars, and authorities should pay attention that observing events should be through rightful sources and methods. It should be an attentive and insightful observation that aims to examine news and evaluate facts with caution to make the right judgment for people and thoughts and make decisions in the light of Islamic standards and scales. They shouldn’t be affected with the news and analysis of the opposite media; however, they should accuse and distrust the news and analysis of the enemy’s news and always be prepared for its opposite impact.

His eminence affirmed again on this formula in a meeting with the leaders and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He considered this formula as a standard that should be followed and handled “Don’t those who raise affairs and disputes see the joy of foreign media and their analysis? The enemy’s pleasure is an indication that this issue constitutes a weakness that must be eliminated.”6

His Eminence, Imam Khamenei, dearest Lord, has provided firm and historical recommendations in this regard “Don’t let the words of those newspapers or news agencies or television stations be a standard for your attitudes. Whenever you sense an intensification in the ferocity of the attack launched by the newspapers and the media, raising the atmosphere and the like against any matter related to the regime, the government, the people, or a certain personality, then you should make sure that there is a strong reservoir and an impenetrable fortress that compelled them to intensify their campaigns.”7

Finally, it is important to abide what his eminence Al Imam Al Khaminai affirm, which was such a slogan, path, and fixed origin drawn by Al Imam Al Khomaini (may God sanctify his secret): “The goal of intellectual and political maturity is based on violating the news and analysis of the hostile foreign media''. 8

The Soft War- the Features of Al Imam Khamenai's Vision, Al Maaref Islamic and Cultural Institution- Freely

[1] The Soft War, the previous source, page 81
[2] A speech for his eminence Al Imam Al Khaminai before a group of students and youth in Kom on 26/10/2010
[3] Same source/ the previous source
[4] Same source/ the previous source
[5] A speech for Al Imam Al Khaminai before a group of students on 26/8/2009
[6] A speech for Al Imam Al Khaminai on the birth of Al Imam Al Hussein and during the presence of the leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on 4/7/2011
[7] A speech for his eminence Al Imam Al Khaminai in the presence of members of the Iranian Diplomatic Corps On Jumada I 16 of the year 1421 corresponding to the year 2001
[8] A speech by His Eminence Imam Khamenei to a group of senior officials of the Islamic regime on the 7th of Rabi’ al-Thani 1421 AH corresponding to the year 2001 AD