[Feanor...]

In all these arguments we forget 1 importantnt thing. Sauron's ring of power wasn't anything special in that it would have given him enhanced powers in the third age if he had regained it. Because of the fact that the ring's power was the greater part of the strength native to Sauron in the begining. The ring's primary purpose was to gain domination over the power accesible from the other rings, and in gaining control of those, Sauron would gain power to control the mind, strength, influence, and whatever resourses the unfortunate user of those lesser rings possesed. There fore making giving him more powe than he originaly had (see my train of logic here) [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] so what lindil said about Sauron's intentions,

Did he forsee that Celebrimbor would see him finishing and begining to use the One Ring?
Did he know that the Elves simply would not use them if they guessed something was amiss?
Did he know that the ( would become wraiths instead of maintaing a bodily state {like the Mouth}
Did he know they would have little effect on the Dwarves?

I think not in most if not all the above . They were an ambitious experiment w/somewhat poor results.

is somewhat false the only thing that messed up Sauron was him losing the One and even though he didn't completely succede with the Elves and Dwarves he still accomplished evil by incapacitating the elvin power and by stoking the deadly fires of Dwarven greed. So I agree with the fact that the ring did not give sauron any extra power besides controlling the other rings. Remember, the power in the ring was all originally native to him so gaining it would only bring him to full power. Also about Sauron controlling dragons and Balrogs, it says in the Valaquenta

Among those of his (Morgoth's) servants who have names the greatest was the one whome the Eldar name Sauron or Gorthaur the Cruel...In all the deeds of Melkor the Morgoth upon Arda, in his vast works and deceits of his cunning, Sauron had a part and was only less evil than his master in that for long he served another and not himself.

Remember also that Sauron was the captain of Angband, and to have such high rank in a fortress whre all is evil you must be able to reinforce it and maintain with your power. So I don't doubt Sauron's capabilities. However Thingol's quote is very reasonable.

My theory as to why Sauron did not employ Dragons during the Second Age is that the dragons were all asleep. It is probable that the first of the dragons had Maia spirits inhabiting them, but I doubt that their brood would. Most of the dragons would have been like the vast majority of orcs; chained to the mind of their master, and powerless without his will to guide them. The shock of losing the will of Melkor would have put the dragons out of commission for the Second Age. Sauron might not have been able to, or even thought to wake the dragons before the Last Alliance formed, and by then it would have been too late. By the time of the Third Age the dragons would have recoverd from the shock of losing Melkor's will. Becaue they were such powrful creatures, perhaps they would have learned to operate on their own. However, during the Third Age Sauron did not have the Ring and would not have been able to compel the Balrog or dragons to obey him. He and the Balrog at least had an understanding, considering his orcs and the Balrog had been cohabiting for several hundred years. I believe that Gandalf’s statement was made with the unsaid, but understood, stipulation that Sauron would need the Ring to use Smaug to wreak havoc in the Northern Lands. With the Ring (which was designed to enhance Sauron's power to dominate others) I believe that Sauron would have been able to force the Balrog or the dragons to at least acknowledge his leadership role.

I like what he says about the dragons falling asleep due to the shock of losing Melkor's will. As you see in the battle at the gates in the Return of the king this is exactly what happens (although in lesser degree because the orcs and other soldiers were less poweful than dragons and requred less force of will). The primary reason I think that Sauron couldn't control the Balrog was that the balrog for much of the second age was asleep and hidden deep in the bowels of the earth and when he did come out in the second age for a while Sauron had no idea he was there apparently it seems the balrog was setting up his own dominion in Moria after the dwarves were driven out as we see from the immense gathering of orcs and trolls (it was obviously the Balrog's will directing them). And when Sauron finally figured it out when he directed his will towards Moria in the third age, (most likely in search of mithril) his ring was lost and the greater part of his power native to him with it yet he was still powerful enough that the balrog had a healthy respect for him (otherwise that balrog might have tried to take Sauron's place as the dark lord). These are my thoughts, so hit me with all you got! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]