[Raynor]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

Sauron wasn't the military commander type

Let me get this straight: are you arguing that:
a) he was letting the war planning to others, because he wasn’t a military time? If anything, he acts in a totalitarian manner, trying to control everything and everywhere, so I don’t think this could be the case.

b) he was trying to reach his goals through… what? Political means? I certainly disagree with that. In the Silmarillion, Of the enemies, it is stated that he “walked behind [Melkor] on the same ruinous path down into the Void”. This is further reinforced in Myths Transformed, HoME X, where, in Notes on the motives in the Silmarillion, it is stated that: “Sauron had not served Morgoth, even in his last stages, without becoming infected by his lust for destruction, and his hatred of God (which must end in nihilism).”. Furthermore, in the Orcs chapter of that work, we find a note that says: “But there remained one flaw in his control, inevitable. In the kingdom of hate and fear, the strongest thing is hate. All his Orcs hated one another, and must be kept ever at war with some 'enemy' to prevent them from slaying one another”. It’s a dog-eat-dog out there. On the general level, Sauron has a growing propensity towards destruction; this is certainly an adoration of power [his master’s power is what drove in the beginning to adore him] and this is most likely reflected in his organisational structure – after all, organisations reflect certain philosophies, and this is one of destruction and of perpetual violence – I have no doubt that the big fish eats the small one.

As Denethor observes he much prefers to sit back, use others as his weapons, and take a back stage approach.

Taking the front row isn’t a prerequisite of a militaristic point of view. Just like Melkor, he keeps his behind safe, fearing for his bodily form, but that in no way means hinders his war agenda.

So, I disagree with the assumption that being more powerful means you are higher-ranked in Sauron's hierarchy.

In the light of my previously stated arguments, I consider this a non-sequitur.

these virtues he had all the way until his end

I disagree; those were the virtues he has in the beginning; in the end, as the Myths state, he went balistic.

but I think it's clear that the Mouth of Sauron can be just as much trusted as the Nazgul.

From what is that clear? If anything, he mishandled the parley with his enemies and displayed fear; worthy of contempt, and if you ask me, Sauron would have been aware of those shortcomings. Would the mouth be trusted to bring back the ring should it have been he that would have found it? I doubt that, he was a man, as you point out yourself, and therefore _very_ vulnerable to the ring – but the witch-king would bring the ring back to Sauron, as we know from Unfinished Tales, The Hunt for the Ring. Comparing the trustworthiness of these two doesn’t favor your candidate.

they don't know their past life

Why would you say that?

Also, again the Mouth was more cruel than any orc (what does that tell us about his authoritative capability?)

To me, not much. And it seems to me that you are now arguing that “martial” qualities do equal authority.

He was going to take Saruman's place and run over Orthanc after Sauron finished with his war.

We can argue this only post-factum; I see no reason to infer that should the withc-king be live, matters would be the same.

Again going back to the Mouth of Sauron as being Sauron's herald...

As stated before, this is not a job he seems to be up to.

Who was able to grow in Sauron's favour.

I believe that even some orcs or trolls could rise up the ranks; none of these instances equal second to Sauron

which to me suggests this is a higher position than the Commander of the army.

In my opinion, that is just speculation.