The Powers of the Istari

[Lord of Angmar]

some might call it divine intervention (The Saucepan Man)

If that were the case, it would not necessarily reflect on Gandalf's power. It would simply mean that, because of his affiliations, he had access to a greater medium of others' power. That would be like saying that, if Morgoth came back and helped Sauron conquer Middle Earth, it would mean that Sauron individually was more powerful than Gandalf.

I do, however, see what you are trying to say Saucepan Man. It is power in terms of connections and affiliations (think George W. Bush [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] ), and it is also a very real form of power.