Watchtower leaders no doubt justify their deceptions as "theocratic war strategy." An article titled "Use Theocratic War Strategy" tells Witnesses:

A great work is being done by the witnesses even in lands where their activity is banned. The only way they can fulfill the command to preach the good news of God's kingdom is by use of theocratic war strategy. ... So in time of spiritual warfare it is proper to misdirect the enemy by hiding the truth. ... Today God's servants are engaged in a warfare, a spiritual, theocratic warfare, a warfare ordered by God against wicked spirit forces and against false teachings. ... At all times they must be very careful not to divulge any information to the enemy that he could use to hamper the preaching work.
—The Watchtower May 1, 1957, pages 285-286. Compare discussions of this policy in The Watchtower February 1, 1956, pages 76-90; June 1, 1960, page 252; Aid to Bible Understanding (1971) page 1061; Insight on the Scriptures (1988) vol. 2, page 245.