User blog comment:Wolfishtail/The Ultimate Civil War Vote/@comment-6365350-20130606071034/@comment-121.219.70.200-20130607122550

It would be difficult for the Thalmor to attack Skyrim. It's A LOT of distance to cover to get there by sea (they're almost going half around Tamriel). Plus, they would be passing by Hammerfell, something the Redguards would not take kindly too. Now imagine what kind of trouble if they done that AND an independent Skyrim strikes up an alliance with an independent Hammerfell.

This is one of the particular reasons why I'm leaning somewhat towards the Stormcloaks. Things they share with Redguards: Proud warrior heritage, hatred for the Thalmor. That's a fair ground for them to ally with eachother. And if they do, well we got a large, Thalmor hating power. With that, a lot of anti-Thalmor sentiment would spread.

Anyway, regarding the Empire I'm going to have to defend them. Regarding the Red Mountain catastrophe, and the invasion by the Argonians, that was before Titus Mede took the throne with his men, about 10 years before in fact. There was nothing he could really do about it as he wasn't Emperor then. And besides, the Empire was being torn apart by petty infighting over the Throne by the Elder Council. What Titus Mede got was a fragmented weak mess of an empire, and I'd bet that most of the time the Mede Dynasty spent was trying to fix it.And how can you expect a weak Empire, whose provinces are ceceeding from it, to fight against such a growing power as the Thalmor?

And what are you saying that the Emperor accepted the Thalmor's ultimatum and then they backstabbed him, attempting to take Cyrodiil? The Emperor REJECTED the Ultimatum. And because of that, the Thalmor invaded and havoc was wreaked. Also, considering the Empire's state, I don't think the Emperor could really do anything but accept the demands as they were, unless he wished to further strain an already strained and hateful relationship, potentially prolonging the war.