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I read an interesting essay recently which partly concerned Glorfindel and the trouble Tolkien had with reconciling that character in its Third Age and First Age iterations. Rather than rename the old character, he changed the rules of the game slightly by allowing him to return to Middle Earth. This reflects a trend by Tolkien of treating his own works, even its mistakes, as real "historical" facts as far as possible.
With that in mind, we have the dilemma in Tolkien's world arising. The world has a big bad enemy, but also much bigger good-guy gods who could roflstomp Sauron whenever they wanted to. I think Tolkien rationalised this problem by saying, generally, that power corrupts, and therefore a pre-emptive military strike (heh) would be detrimental to Middle Earth rather than helpful in the long run.
Observe what happens when the Valar overthrow Morgoth by force, and then give divine gifts to the Children of Iluvatar.
Initially (in the War of Wrath), the earth undergoes great and terrible upheavals. Beautiful things are marred and never remade. Many die and many choose to depart Middle Earth. Almost all of Beleriand is drowned. Really only the gravest of evils justify victory at such costs.
Later, when the Men of Numenor are given divine gifts of long life and technological superiority, they are slowly corrupted and fall from grace. This shows that top-down solutions will mar more than they aid the Eruhini. Even though Sauron was the one to finally take advantage of Numenor's power, it was already becoming militaristic, greedy and corrupt without his influence.
A final demonstration is the example of the Istari. Saruman and Gandalf choose different roles to play - Gandalf wanders and advises while Saruman studies the arts of the enemy and builds up power. Predictably, Saruman's more direct influence upon Middle Earth results in his corruption, and near disaster for Men.
The role of the Valar in an already fragile world is to empower, rather than save, Eru's children. Already mentioned is the wind which saves Minas Tirith, but what about those tiny moments of hope which Elbereth gives to Frodo? Or the inexplicable ease with which Sam lifts Frodo up the mountain? Tom Bombadil, the Eagles, or any other stroke of luck which happens to save the day? It's like running along behind your children when they start to ride a bike. If Eru's children feel like they can fight for good by themselves in Middle Earth, they are much more likely to do so.
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