I'm currently on a temporary duty assignment (TDY) to the intellectual center of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB. While listening to lectures on military doctrine and wartime organization, I considered how some of the themes might apply to the GFFA. Yeah, I'm geeky like that.

Made From Scratch!

It would be difficult to overestimate the challenge of integrating a combat ready military force into the fabric of a society that had not faced total war in several millennia. The Republic, a galactic bureaucracy that spanned thousands of largely self-interested civilizations, operated on a concept of consensus. Many planets found the idea of a defense build-up unsettling, therefore movement towards the creation of a standing military was initially slow and cautious. It was only after several major crises erupted that the majority acquiesced to the Chancellor's recommendations by proxy.

While the Republic benefited from the "windfall" of a clone army during its time of need, the rapid mobilization of the GAR didn't immediately force the Separatist to capitulate or sue for peace. After all, military success is not as simple as training capable soldiers and pairing them with the most advanced equipment that money can buy. There are factors other than troop numbers and competency that impact the course of a war.

Command and Control

Experienced and competent leadership is essential to the success of any military operation, yet the Republic had no pre-existing command authority to effectively utilize the GAR prior to the battle of Geonosis. While we are not privy to Jedi Council discussions with the Supreme Chancellor's office following the revelation of the GAR's existence on Kamino, at some point the parties involved agreed that Palpatine should assume administrative control of the new military force while deferring operational responsibilities to the Jedi. While the "guardians of peace and justice" may have seemed the logical choice to lead the clone army, they could hardly be considered the ideal choice. As illustrated in Episode I, the Jedi typically served the Republic by resolving conflicts peacefully through diplomatic efforts rather than armed conflict. It's doubtful that any Jedi were thoroughly trained in conventional military doctrine, or that many (if any) possessed personal battlefield experience that could aid in the development of a coherent and unified strategy for executing "total war" against the Separatists. In this environment it's easy to see how Palpatine could exploit Jedi inexperience and uncertainty to influence the course of the war while maintaining a significant level of plausible deniability over its execution.

Lessons Learned

While the Jedi sought to end the Clone Wars as soon as possible, Palpatine publicly pursued the total elimination of the Separatist threat. These goals are not necessarily synonymous, as evidenced by the many discussions following Dooku's demise. It's in this area of information warfare and manipulation that the former Senator from Naboo excelled. So long as a single battle droid remained capable of firing a shot, it's conceivable that the Supreme Chancellor could have continued to press the conflict. It seems to me, however, that Darth Sidious knew that he had a limited window of opportunity. The Jedi would eventually recover from the shock of a surprise war and learn from their battlefield mistakes. Based on the events of the Clone Wars micro-series, EU novels, and Episode III, this seems to have been the case. Also, given that the Jedi Council was hot on the trail of Sidious, lengthening the conflict any further could have exposed him unnecessarily. At the moment of maximum opportunity and benefit, he exerted administrative control of the military and issued Order 66. The Jedi Order's bravery, determination, and selflessness could not overcome the careful machinations of the Sith. Good intentions alone do not win wars.

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