Quote:
|
The point has been raised in a different thread that Sauron's grasp of strategy sems to be rather weak. The smart thing to have done in the War of the Ring would have been to concentrate all available forces against Gondor and Rohan. After all, due to the distances involve and general lack of communication, its unlikely that the elves of Lothlorien, or the Lakemen, for example, could have come to Gondor's aid. Sauron seems to suffer from trying to emulate his ex-boss!
|
I would disagree with this, Rumil. He had more than sufficient forces at his disposal. He struck at Minas Tirith too soon, but could not have foreseen the events that led to his forces' defeat at the Pelennor. But, even with this set-back, he would easliy have vanquished the force at the Black Gate had it not been for events on Orodruin. Given his overwhelming strength in force, it made perfect sense to strike at Lothlorien and (via Erebor and the northern passes) Rivendell. They would have been great prizes indeed. Their capture would have demoralised the remaining forces of the Free Peoples and ensured that the Elves were taken out of the picture (either by their elimination or by their retreat to the West).
Sauron's failure was in underestimating the forces deployed against him (especially the smallest among them [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] ), not in military startegy or the deployment of his own forces.