Ron Moore

[Beastro]

That must be why the Federation invaded Cardassia in "Way of the Warrior", because of their close alliance with the Klingons, and obligation to be pulled into their little power grab.

No, wait, they told the Klingons to stuff it and the Klingons pulled out of the Khitomer Accords. The UFP doesn't agree to conflicts built on bad faith.

But they do agree to bad faith agreements when it's in their interests, like leaving the would-be Maquis out to dry.

Cardassia wasn't an existential threat to the Federation.

The UFP is a nation like any other facing the same sort of international anarchy that affects the real current human world. The only thing that protected the Fed until late TNG and DS9 reined in it's idealism was plot armour.

[FaxModem1]

That must be why the Federation invaded Cardassia in "Way of the Warrior", because of their close alliance with the Klingons, and obligation to be pulled into their little power grab.

No, wait, they told the Klingons to stuff it and the Klingons pulled out of the Khitomer Accords. The UFP doesn't agree to conflicts built on bad faith.

But they do agree to bad faith agreements when it's in their interests, like leaving the would-be Maquis out to dry.

Cardassia wasn't an existential threat to the Federation.

But the UFP was dealing with a cold war with the Romulans, and was freeing up resources. They also relocated most of the colonists who didn't want to be under the Cardassian boot. That was also getting themselves OUT of a conflict, not INTO one. Quite a difference, no?

The UFP is a nation like any other facing the same sort of international anarchy that affects the real current human world. The only thing that protected the Fed until late TNG and DS9 reined in it's idealism was plot armour.

Yes, Wolf 359 was a reality check for Starfleet and the Federation. They seemed to increase their ships in the build up for the Dominion War, though. They also seemed to be on a more military footing as of Voyager's series finale.

But, who in the Alpha Quadrant would have the ability to prosecute a war against the Dominion?

The Klingons? They're so extinguished after their civil war, fight with the Federation, Cardassians, and Dominion that they're going to be spending the next decade rebuilding. According to Section 31 anyway.

The Romulans? Their leadership was just offed in a coup, and now has to deal with a slave rebellion. At best, that's quite a few months of unrest. At worst, the Romulans are going to have to deal with a civil war.

The Cardassians? They're so destroyed that they're going to be relying on foreign aid to have a semblance of order anytime soon. That doesn't allow a campaign to fight.

The other powers were either neutral with the Dominion(Tholians), or were former allies(Breen). This means that the Dominion won't be facing a war with the Alpha Quadrant anytime soon. Meanwhile, the UFP will be rebuilding, and advancing(assuming that they use the tech Janeway brought back from the Delta Quadrant).

[Beastro]

But the UFP was dealing with a cold war with the Romulans, and was freeing up resources. They also relocated most of the colonists who didn't want to be under the Cardassian boot. That was also getting themselves OUT of a conflict, not INTO one. Quite a difference, no?

The point is ugly decisions are needed, it's an ugly world.

But, who in the Alpha Quadrant would have the ability to prosecute a war against the Dominion?

It depends on exactly when a post-DS9Voyager series picks off.

The Romulans? Their leadership was just offed in a coup, and now has to deal with a slave rebellion. At best, that's quite a few months of unrest. At worst, the Romulans are going to have to deal with a civil war.

You forgot the most important thing, and the only good thing that has come from Abram's Trek: Spock failed to save Romulus.

There is now no Romulan homeworld

How do you think the Romulans would take that? Their first real opportunity to trust the Fed when they needed their help the most and the Vulcan, one noted for meddling in their internal affairs in the past, sent to do the job not only failed but conveniently vanished without a trace?

I'm willing to bet the Star Empire's struggling to rebuild from that with a maddened desire for revenge, for in their perfidious minds, all of this must be an act of calculated manipulation and betrayal by the Federation (and Vulcans) to cripple them as a threat.

With all of that nicely set up any new series in the post-Dominion War just HAS to have the Romulans as the main antagonists in the back ground just as Klingons and Cardassians have been.

[FaxModem1]

Yeah....that doesn't track. When, if ever, has the Federation openly declared war under bad faith?