Good guys of LOTR clueless?

[the phantom]

Incompetence categorizes the subject as being wholly unfitted for the required task

Well, Kuru, I hate to say it but I think that Gandalf was "unfitted for the required task" (that task being the defeat of Sauron).

I also believe that Gandalf was meant for the job.

Confusing? Well, let me use another example to explain.

Frodo was meant to be the Ring bearer, but he certainly wasn't fit for the job. When it came down to it he could not destroy the Ring. He failed though he was the perfect one for the task.

Gandalf as the leader of the resistance to Sauron also failed. Remember, Gandalf died when he fought the Balrog. At that point it was over for the good guys. Just imagine the rest of the book without the things that Gandalf did. But Eru sent him back (with extra power) and so ammended his failure.

Similarly, when Frodo failed Eru stepped in and made everything turn out okay.

The good guys only won by sheer luck. The destruction of the ring was the only way in which they could win.

And I would add that the destruction of the Ring was not possible, making the good guys losers no matter what.

Thank Eru for Eru.