[Galadriel55]

It would not have been difficult for Saruman to "acquire" his orcs. Firstly, since Isengard is in close proximity to the Misty Mountains, and we hear from Celeborn, I believe, that orcs have been flocking there again.

Secondly, because of his power over minds. If he could manipulate good and wise people with his voice, arguments, reputation, power, threats, etc, he could certainly turn a rabble or orcs into his servants - even somewhat loyal ones, as much as orcs and loyal go together.

Most importantly, though, I think that this is a clear example of how evil draws evil. Lesser evil, or those with lesser power, flock to the greater. This is partially why Sauron was so successful in winning the East and South to his side. Same goes to Saruman and his orcs. They do evil, he is powerful evil, they follow him.


As for the Uruk-hai, the half-men-half-orcs, we are lead to assume that they were produced through "mixed marriages" between men and orcs, but then there's no proof of this or otherwise. Maybe Saruman just figured out a way to increase orc size and reduce the fear of the sun. Maybe they were genetically modified orcs, or they were on preformance-enhancing drugs, or whatever you want. He invented ME dynamite - why not oversized orcs?

I think that the Prof never considered how the orcs are trained. It seems that they are just "born with a sword in hand", so to speak. Unless they are "made with a sword in hand". But whatever their origin, fighting and other gruesomness seems to be as innate to them as various arts are for Elves. When they are on their own, the reason for being so unorgainsed is because they don't have a leader who is significantly stronger and more powerful than they are to make they obey. Without a dictator they have complete anarchy. When they have someone to put them in line, they can march in that line.

Yet, contrary to my previous point, it was always the men - Dunlendings, Haradrin, Easterlings, etc - that made up the more organised part of Sauron's and Saruman's armies. The orcs' main purpose was not brains, skill, or tactics, but numbers.