User blog comment:Harold Burned-Mane/The Truth about Ulfric Stormcloak/@comment-1600847-20130912182108/@comment-17114085-20130912200838

Its problably true about the new jarls being agents, but some actually have political power before becoming jarl, like Maven or Vignar for example.

The conflict stems from the very fact that the Mede Dynasty is weak, Septims FTW, They are however the same Empire and like Vignar said how can the 3rd Empire deny its very soul (Talos). The Thalmor only benefit from a long and bloody civil war, which in most playthroughs its not, since bethesda didn't make the Civil War questline reach its full potential. If Skyrim becomes united( doesn't mater under whom) they don't benifit that much, less even if the stormcloaks win (because they won't be able to be there legally). From everything i have experienced in my playthrough im confident that it will be the Dominion that invades first, possibly when the Empire is in a power strugle ( after death of Titus).

Talos guide you-Harold Burned-Mane