User blog comment:JoshofBlades/Why the Empire Should Prevail Over the Stormcloaks! (part 2)/@comment-75.207.28.227-20121113101136

You're right in some points, very wrong in others. Tamriel hasn't had any contact with Akavir since Ionith centuries ago. The Akaviri haven't attempted an invasion of Tamriel since Tiber Septim. And while the Stormcloaks are blatantly and unashamedly racist, so are the Thalmor, who the Empire give free reign to do as they wish throughout all Imperial holdings. While Ulfric and his people neglect and, not uncommonly, abuse the other races, especially elves and beastfolk, the Thalmor abduct, torture, and invariably murder whoever they wish on a frighteningly regular basis. The Imperial plan may be to let them do what they want to lull them into a false sense of security, but it simply isn't working. Their plan is ineffective at best, disastrously counterproductive at worst. The Thalmor are preparing their armies for round two of the Great War while eliminating all who would oppose them in all lands they and the Empire currently occupy. The Thalmor dossier on Ulfric even expresses their concerns that he may have become unpredictable, unlike General Tullius. Pacification of an enemy who actively seeks your destruction is never the way to go. Ulfric may be an overt racist, but his method of exterminating/exiling every Thalmor agent in Skyrim is effective, unlike the Empire's. I'm not saying I hate the Empire, I love them. They were the greatest thing to happen to Tamriel. But for now, they are not what's best for Skyrim. What's more, consolidation of the Empire, having all their legions back in Cyrodiil, gives them a better chance against the Thalmor. They'd have roughly twice the men there. And the Stormcloaks can take care of themselves. They've proven it. A good many of them are veterans of the Great War, and many others have been fighting for the Stormcloaks since the rebellion started 20 years ago. When the elves attack again many will die on every side, but I believe that hopefully, with the Legion concentrated in greater numbers in Cyrodiil and veteran Stormcloaks in Skyrim, they Aldmer and Bosmer can be defeated, perhaps retaken for the Empire. I side with the Stormcloaks to save the Empire. Ultimately I want them to regain Tamriel. But for now they must defend Cyrodiil.