User blog comment:JoshofBlades/Tiber's Hard Work Shall NOT Be Torn Asunder!/@comment-173.184.68.192-20111221001915/@comment-80.216.209.127-20111221033443

The Rising Threat 4 specifically mentions that the AD's strengh is having a good spy network (as proven by the killing of all Blade agents) and making it seem like they are all powerfull and have endless troops. The thalmor lie to look strong, look at their claim of bringing the Moons back and how that got Elsweyr behind them. The Dominion is not as strong as it would appear. But yeah, maybe their rise could not have been prevented. That does not absolve the Mede empire from their failure to Man.