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Leia was coming to Tatooine to ask on behalf of her dad to help them in their most desperate hour. What exactly what was he going to do? Train Leia? Join the Alliance and help lead it? What did Bail Organna have in mind?

Perhaps since the rebellion was in full gear he wanted Obi to find Yoda, return to Alderan and restart the Jedi order anew.

The use of the title "General" indicates to me that they wanted him for a military command position. Perhaps his fame among old soldiers would bring more expreienced imperial officers. Being a Jedi was probably jsut a perk.

Leia probably thought Kenobi should command the Rebels' desperate mission to destroy the Death Star. The Rebel Alliance already knew about the Death Star, so it seems unlikely that she had anything else in mind.

Um, lets see...get the one of the only two remaining Jedi back into action on the rebel's side maybe?

She doesn't seem to have realized he was a Jedi. It's never mentioned, and her recording refers to him as General, not Master. I would suspect that he was mentioned by Bail Organa as having been a friend of his who had been a General and defender of the Republic during the Clone Wars. As such, when the Rebellion started looking at actively fighting the Empire as the Alliance, he would have been wanted to complement the abilities of General Dodonna, who appears to have been a master space combat strategist, but possibly not experienced in ground warfare (which General Kenobi did have experience with).

The Dark wrote:She doesn't seem to have realized he was a Jedi. It's never mentioned, and her recording refers to him as General, not Master. I would suspect that he was mentioned by Bail Organa as having been a friend of his who had been a General and defender of the Republic during the Clone Wars. As such, when the Rebellion started looking at actively fighting the Empire as the Alliance, he would have been wanted to complement the abilities of General Dodonna, who appears to have been a master space combat strategist, but possibly not experienced in ground warfare (which General Kenobi did have experience with).

How would the fact of Jedi being generals during the Clone Wars not be some part of her historical education? Palpatine couldn't wipe the existance of the Jedi from the galactic mind with only 20 years.

If she was looking for someone to lead a desperate mission to destroy a moon sized planet killer battlestation, why would she look for a dedicated ground general? Also, the rebels don't really fight the Empire in open ground battles. when they do, they tend to get curbstomped. If someone tried using Clone Wars ground strategies in the GCW on the rebel side, it would equal quick death for lots of rebel troops. No, Leia knew he was a Jedi, and probably figured that only a Jedi would have any possible chance of destroying the death star.

Darksider wrote:If she was looking for someone to lead a desperate mission to destroy a moon sized planet killer battlestation, why would she look for a dedicated ground general?

Perhaps because he was also a renowned fighter pilot? Did you watch ROTS?

Also, the rebels don't really fight the Empire in open ground battles. when they do, they tend to get curbstomped. If someone tried using Clone Wars ground strategies in the GCW on the rebel side, it would equal quick death for lots of rebel troops. No, Leia knew he was a Jedi, and probably figured that only a Jedi would have any possible chance of destroying the death star.

It is not clear whether Leia knew that she was a Jedi or believed in the legend of the Jedi, but she would have known that he had once commanded fleets of warships and flown fighters, and that he was never defeated in any engagement. In fact, it was the arrival of his forces that turned the tide of the last and most significant major space battle of the Clone Wars. That's a fucking good resume.

I don't know if Obi-Wan was undefeated, IIRC, he lost the Battle of Jabiim. Still, one major loss compared to dozens of major victories is damned impressive. As for the fighter pilot thing, I know Obi-wan is good, but I always figured Anakin would be the renowned pilot of the duo

Darksider wrote:I don't know if Obi-Wan was undefeated, IIRC, he lost the Battle of Jabiim. Still, one major loss compared to dozens of major victories is damned impressive. As for the fighter pilot thing, I know Obi-wan is good, but I always figured Anakin would be the renowned pilot of the duo

Does this make Obi-wan a bad pilot by extension?

Darksider wrote:I don't know if Obi-Wan was undefeated, IIRC, he lost the Battle of Jabiim. Still, one major loss compared to dozens of major victories is damned impressive. As for the fighter pilot thing, I know Obi-wan is good, but I always figured Anakin would be the renowned pilot of the duo

The ROTS Novelization mentions that the Republic always mention both in terms of being great warriors and pilots. The duo Skywalker and Kenobi is almost treated the way we say Bennifer so I doubt there was a general sense that Anakin was better than Obi Wan. Among the Jedi perhaps and some small sampling like commanders and high level fighter pilots there might have been a confirmation that Anakin was better but as far as the rest of the galaxy was concerned Obi Wan was an awesome fighter pilot and it says alot that the only person that could outclass him was someone like Anakin.

I stand corrected, I should have read that passage more closely in the ROTS novel.

Oh, BTW. Do those "Republic Holonet News" and "CIS Shadofeeds" in the Insiders count anywhere on the canon scale? I seem to remember one where Obi-Wan and Anakin secured a planet from the seps, and Anakin is praised for his piloting skills, and Obi-wan for his tactical skills, making it seem like the republic knows that Ani is the pilot, and Obi is the brains. I can dig through and find it tomorrow if you want.....

^the same thing was mentioned in the novel IIRC

I'd say they were strapped for good commanders.. and Obi-Wan is that, and more.
It doesn't matter whether he was a Jedi (though he was), or what sort of battles he led (though he does in fact have experience in all applicable fields).

Leia did say that Obi-Wan Kenobi was "our only hope", though. It's still unclear whether that's Leia's own idea due to her knowing he was a Jedi, or if it's Bail who made clear that Obi-Wan was their only hope without saying why.

Darth Wong wrote:It is not clear whether Leia knew that she was a Jedi or believed in the legend of the Jedi, but she would have known that he had once commanded fleets of warships and flown fighters, and that he was never defeated in any engagement. In fact, it was the arrival of his forces that turned the tide of the last and most significant major space battle of the Clone Wars. That's a fucking good resume.

Woot! Great description of the Mack Daddy

Darth Servo wrote:Um, lets see...get the one of the only two remaining Jedi back into action on the rebel's side maybe?

There were three, actually. One of them was on the Empire's side.

Stravo wrote: The duo Skywalker and Kenobi is almost treated the way we say Bennifer

OKAY THAT'S JUST WRONG.
Comparing the two greatest Jedi to.. ugh.

Leia might have wanted him for propaganda purposes as well. The fact that the renown General Kenobi joined the Rebellion might have a significant impact.

Do those "Republic Holonet News" and "CIS Shadofeeds" in the Insiders count anywhere on the canon scale?

Yes, they are C-canon sources, as far as I know.

OKAY THAT'S JUST WRONG.
Comparing the two greatest Jedi to.. ugh.

Actually, it´more appropriate than you realise, because, like "Bennifer", the Jedi-duo vanished from public memory in only a few years.

Maybe Bail thought having a Jedi on their side would give the Rebellion some legitimacy.

Maybe having Kenobi on their side would give the Rebels hope and make them feel their cause is just.

Trooper TK12746 wrote:Maybe having Kenobi on their side would give the Rebels hope and make them feel their cause is just.

The Rebels have been fighing for years, win their first victory and now they need Kenobi to give them hope and feel their cause is just? I would think they already know their cause is just since they 've been battling for some time and their first victory againt a foe like the Empire has given them hope.

Also most of the rebel alliance personnel would probably either have no memories or dim memories of the Jedi. Considering the swirling rumors around the Jedi at the Rise of the Empire they might be viewed with suspicion more than a rallying force.

THe are facing the Death Star, they might have wanted someone to rally around. Most of the Rebellion's high level leadership served in the old Republic government and/or military, it is possible they overestimated the worth Kenobi. OR maybe Bail wanted Kenobi to train Leia.

StarshipTitanic wrote:

The Dark wrote:She doesn't seem to have realized he was a Jedi. It's never mentioned, and her recording refers to him as General, not Master. I would suspect that he was mentioned by Bail Organa as having been a friend of his who had been a General and defender of the Republic during the Clone Wars. As such, when the Rebellion started looking at actively fighting the Empire as the Alliance, he would have been wanted to complement the abilities of General Dodonna, who appears to have been a master space combat strategist, but possibly not experienced in ground warfare (which General Kenobi did have experience with).

How would the fact of Jedi being generals during the Clone Wars not be some part of her historical education? Palpatine couldn't wipe the existance of the Jedi from the galactic mind with only 20 years.

Possibly Bail would have told her, but I doubt it would be in her official education. Remember, even Han considers the Force a myth and the Jedi just a "hokey religion." Maybe that was due to being educated at the Imperial Academy, but I can't see Palpatine allowing the truth about the Jedi being taught. Think Soviet Russia and Tsarist history.

Actually, Leia's transmission might clear things up a bit:

Princess Leia Organa wrote:General Kenobi: Years ago, you served my father in the Clone Wars; now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person; but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission to Alderaan has failed. I've placed information vital to the survival of the rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; you're my only hope.

Apparently Obi-Wan served Bail somehow (and here I thought it was the other way around, Bail agreeing to take Leia ), and it's Bail who's looking for General Kenobi, and he sent Leia to fetch him. We've been asking the wrong question all along.

[edit]Damn, just re-read the OP. OK, so why would Bail want Kenobi? He knows Obi-Wan was a fairly powerful Jedi (as he was a Master), and is the only one whose location is known, as Yoda went into hiding. He would remember how powerful the Jedi were in combat, and know that stormtroopers wouldn't be able to stop one easily. As stated above, Kenobi was known both as a strategist and a fighter pilot, although due to age and time out of the cockpit he'd probably be less of a pilot than he once was. Plus, it would add prestige to have a Clone Wars general join the Rebellion.

I doubt Bail intended to recruit Kenobi for any of his status, titles or name. It's certainly for the actual abilities he has that he could lend to the Rebellion.

VT-16 wrote:

Cyke wrote:OKAY THAT'S JUST WRONG.
Comparing the two greatest Jedi to.. ugh.

Actually, it´more appropriate than you realise, because, like "Bennifer", the Jedi-duo vanished from public memory in only a few years.

You're right about that much, frightfully enough.

THe fact that everyone forgot about the Jedi Order in 20 some years says something about the effectiveness of Imperial Propaganda.



Was Alderaan armed at anytime during the Clone Wars? Some of the EU makes it sound like it was, some (including the RotS novelization)make it sound like it wasn't.