User blog comment:IGotsAName/Empire vs Stormcloaks... Gray & Grey Morality? Really?/@comment-11269925-20120407034431/@comment-1786741-20120408022834

The only reason he WAS an unwitting puppet to the Thalmor was because of the minor strife he caused within the Empire at first. Now that his rebellion has grown he threatens to remove the Empire's influence from Skyrim, which until the Empire denounces them, the Thalmor would have no one to hide behind in Skyrim.