[The 1,000 Reader]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

I disagree with this hole notion of Sauron being 'stupid.' Sauron never was a general, a leader, or a fighter, but in no ways does that make him stupid. Sauron was a brilliant tactician, deceiver, manipulator, and powerful enemy.

However, there is the major topic of the fight with Huan, and often times he played right into the hands of others. While he did have some smarts, he also failed to use them in critical moments, which makes him a rather odd character.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Have you forgotten that with words alone Sauron sent Numenor spiralling into chaos and destruction?

I am aware, but Numenor appeared on a bad track without Sauron's help. In my opinion, he just sped up the process, putting himself in the way of danger and giving the elves and the survivors the right to place the blame on him, making himself a major target. If he sat idly by (say, didn't arrogantly proclaim himself king of the world) when Numenor fell, the survivors and the elves would be more depressed and broken in will.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Have you forgotten that the Ring's will (which was Sauron's) was so powerful that no one had the strength to destroy it:

I am aware of that also, but I don't see a will as his brain as well. It just seemed to be his desires.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

The Ring was ultimately destroyed because of Eru's intervention. The Ring's power was so strong no one had the strength of will to destroy it.

I know, but having power is not a sign of intelligence. He did have power, yes, but he made some awful blunders.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Have you forgotten Sauron's brilliant strategy when it came to the War of the ring? His strongest enemy was Gondor, so it was Gondor who he would focus most of his strength on.

I know of that, but he did not use enough strength. The Morgul host (even though Pippin did stir problems) was sent early, and Mordor certainly had enough power to crush Gondor whenever, yet he never lent it to the Witch-King or sent it out.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

What does Sauron do, fill Denethor's mind with dread and despair sending Gondor's ruler to madness.

I do admit, that was a good maneuver. However, that still doesn't cover up his poor choices.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

To prevent other 'outside help' coming to Gondor's aid and prevent the 'great alliance' that was gathered against him at the end of the Second Age; he had effectively tied up all of Gondor's possible allies.

True, but time itself was tying them up also. The elves were much weaker of will and wanted to be by themselves or to travel to the West. They were not as critical as they were in past times. As easily seen in LOTR, the time of men had come, and the elves were shadows of the world.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Rohan was Gondor's strongest ally, he corrupts Saruman and gets Saruman to keep Rohan busy. Saruman (with Grima's help) corrupts Theoden, sends Rohan to it's near destruction...It's not Sauron's fault Saruman couldn't get the job done and do what he was supposed to.

That is true, but Saruman did not have much time or freedom to prepare. The hosts of Dol Guldur could have been used to help instead of being thrown against the isolated Lothlorien.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

From Dol Guldur Sauron attacks Mirkwood, keeping them occupied.

Yes, but the elves were quite isolated and rather weak-willed in that time, and the hosts of Dul Guldur would have been better-used to assault the elves only if they took action to help man. Keeping the elves busy was not as important as it might have been in the First or Second Age.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

He sends an Easterling force to Dale and Erebor to keep the Dwarves and men there occupied.

I honestly don't recall that, but that does seem smart, seeing as how Erebor might be one of the few dwarven kingdoms not content to flee beneath their mountains, and Dale seems like it would quickly help Gondor.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Orcs from Moria assault Lorien to keep them occupied.

Well, like I said earlier, Lorien wasn't very interested in the world, so it wouldn't have taken that much attention to trouble them. The hosts that attacked Lorien may have been better off assisting the hosts that tried to do Saruman's work.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Sauron's strategy was a brilliant one. He isolated his strongest enemy (Gondor) from outside help and kept Gondor's allies from uniting together into a strong alliance. The only wrinkle in the plan was Saruman was unable to deal with Rohan...which isn't Sauron's fault.

Actually, more forces from Moria could have helped Saruman, and seeing as how it is implied that the Corsair forces could have won at the Pelenor, Rohan didn't turn out to be as mighty as it might have been.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

So, as obloquy correctly observes, it's not Sauron was stupid, he was unlucky. Sauron never was a fighter, he never was a general, that we know...that does not mean he was stupid.

I know that too. However, Sauron's brain failed him at the most critical of times over and over again, which seriously damages his image of being a wise and mighty foe.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Looking from a military perspective what he did during the War of the Ring was a brilliant strategy.

Not that brilliant, but some brain-power was used.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

You have to recognize the extraordinary circumstances that took place to cause Sauron's defeat The Ring's destruction didn't happen because Sauron was a fool, no it happened because of intervention by Eru. As constantly made clear there was no hope of a military overthrow of Sauron...so Sauron could of spent as many troops as he needed to. Yet he still devised a tactical plan that isolated his strongest enemy and prevented the Free Peoples from making this 'grand alliance.'

I know all of that. I am simply pointing out key flaws in his actions, and the key flaw in his plans was a sudden disinterest in locating the Ring once his wars began, as well as his severe arrogance as to the possibility of the Ring being destroyed. After Eru himself sank Numenor and split the world in two you'd think that at the very least he would have had some concern of divine intervention, even if it was a psychopath falling over. He also was dreadfully afraid of someone using the Ring against him, which is very confusing considering that his will would prevail over the weilder and they wouldn't be able to use its full force. Is it possible that he forgot its potency, could the Ring have been more easily mastered than one thought, or was this a plothole?

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Sauron obviously was powerful enough to overthrow the power that dwelt in Lorien. Which is no small feat considering Galadriel was the most powerful of the Noldor (save for Feanor).

I know that he was powerful, but his lack of brain-power was his major fault. While he could have caused Lothlorien to fall, he might have made a serious error or fail to use his power effectively, thereby causing him to fall instead.

Just because it could have happened, doesn't mean it would have happened.