User blog comment:ShawnCognitionCP/The Empire vs Stormcloaks, the most likely answer/@comment-24728100-20140612193759/@comment-27007772-20140613010943

Hammerfell succeeded. It is common military tactic to attack one enemy at a time. This is one idea why the Thalmor is benifiting from the civil war. If a full scale war emerged, bigger than the great war, the diminon would launch a force large enough to crush the Empire with ease. In terms of war and size Thalmor>Empire>Stormcloaks. Also, you forget the Diminion is as large as the Empire, yes? They both have 3 Provininces. Diminion's provininces are more diverse in typing, and would be more effective more then, being elves.

Tullius does clue toward the fight of the Thalmor.