User blog comment:Some Argonian Named Kesch/Stormcloak Rebellion: Is Anyone Really Right?/@comment-24165787-20131113212045/@comment-82.32.203.67-20131114175826

The only reason the great war ended when it did was because the empire cared enough to not sacrifice their own people to fight the Thalmor. Had Ulfric ask Torygg to speak out, he would have done,

If the Storm cloaks truely wanted unity, why fight a war of independance? The empire is the only thing keeping the Thalmor from wiping out the nords and beginnig the second Great war. The Thalmor wished to extend the fighting in Skyrim, had Alduin not showed up, the Thalmor would have intervined and help Ulfirc escape.