He [Imam Khomeini] turned threats into opportunities. Well, there is an important point here that I mentioned, and that is the fact that the Basij truly shined on the battlefields. Of course, when Imam Khomeini made this statement, the war [Saddam's invasion against Iran] had not begun yet. Later, when the war started in 1980, the Basij’s presence on the battlefield was very useful. It solved problems. It literally was a very important support for official military organizations including the army and the IRGC. So, the Basij’s test on the battlefield was a glorious trial. Nonetheless, the Basij is not merely a military organization. This is an essential point. It is far greater than this. In other words, the status and position of the Basij is higher and more elevated than that of a military organization. What is it? Basij is a culture. It is a discourse. Basij is a way of thinking. What is this way of thinking? What is this culture? This culture means serving the society and the country without any pretense or expectations.
Imam Khamenei
November 26, 2022
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