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How does Yoda rate as a general?

I thought Yoda did quite well leading the Clonetroopers. He went into Geneosis (SP) with two objectives: Rescue the Jedi from Mace Windu's excellent plan (Take the low ground and die!), and his secondary goal was to stop Dooku.

He rescued the Jedi, crushed the Separatist army, and almost defeated Dooku. Not bad for one crippled old Muppet.

He didn't really do much... His commands were basically "Around the Jedi a perimeter form." Most of it was just "That ship, destroy it you must."

Exonerate wrote:He didn't really do much... His commands were basically "Around the Jedi a perimeter form." Most of it was just "That ship, destroy it you must."

Which is the way a general should act. A good general normally doesn't give specific orders on how each small subunit is going to be deployed; he gives the general objectives, any special considerations (i.e. looking for particular prisoners), and leaves it to the subunit commanders to decide best how to deploy the forces under their own commands to meet the objectives of their immediate CO's. The size of the clone army used on Geonosis was such that any general would have been unable to effectively micromanage his forces.

Exonerate wrote:He didn't really do much... His commands were basically "Around the Jedi a perimeter form." Most of it was just "That ship, destroy it you must."

He really didn't do much on screen, admittedly, but there was a lot going on off-screen. He must have given orders between then and the arena scene. And Wong pointed out, the focusing of fire on that particular ship greatly aided the Clonetroopers against the Droids.

Considering he managed to insert a major landing force without alerting the Seperatist Command, rescue the Jedi without any more casualties, and then cause signifigant damage to the retreating forces, I'd say he's doing pretty well for an old guy with no military training.

Generals shouldn't and generally don't micromanage their forces. They look at the intelligence on hand and make 'general' decisions on the objectives, the method of attack, etc. It's up to the commanders lower down to decide how to achieve their objectives. The general is like a maestro

Vympel wrote:Generals shouldn't and generally don't micromanage their forces. They look at the intelligence on hand and make 'general' decisions on the objectives, the method of attack, etc. It's up to the commanders lower down to decide how to achieve their objectives. The general is like a maestro

Ahh. I could do that! "Unit1, secure that area." "Unit2, concentrate fire on that ship." Woo, I'm a general!

Exonerate wrote:

Vympel wrote:Generals shouldn't and generally don't micromanage their forces. They look at the intelligence on hand and make 'general' decisions on the objectives, the method of attack, etc. It's up to the commanders lower down to decide how to achieve their objectives. The general is like a maestro

Ahh. I could do that! "Unit1, secure that area." "Unit2, concentrate fire on that ship." Woo, I'm a general!

Now direct the supply lines, do the paperwork, and put up with the press in your face.

SirNitram wrote:

Exonerate wrote:

Vympel wrote:Generals shouldn't and generally don't micromanage their forces. They look at the intelligence on hand and make 'general' decisions on the objectives, the method of attack, etc. It's up to the commanders lower down to decide how to achieve their objectives. The general is like a maestro

Ahh. I could do that! "Unit1, secure that area." "Unit2, concentrate fire on that ship." Woo, I'm a general!

Now direct the supply lines,

"You, supply those guys."

do the paperwork,

Generals have assistants for a reason.

and put up with the press in your face.

<Ashcroft>I am sorry, I cannot confirm nor deny that at this point in time.</Ashcroft>

Thank you for being wholely ignorant.

Generals typically are managing more then the tactics of single engagements. Often they have to coordinate and manage their forces strategically over time and across many areas. Besides your missing the point that this assault took place over the entire planet.

Yoda gave general orders, from there it was up to the Yellow and Red rimmed Clone Troopers to take care off. Personally i was far from impressed with his outting as a General. But as a sword fighter he owned ass.

Darth Pounder wrote:Yoda gave general orders, from there it was up to the Yellow and Red rimmed Clone Troopers to take care off. Personally i was far from impressed with his outting as a General. But as a sword fighter he owned ass.

Well what did you expect him to do? Do you know what a general does? General's are concerned with strategy, not tactics.

Exonerate wrote: Ahh. I could do that! "Unit1, secure that area." "Unit2, concentrate fire on that ship." Woo, I'm a general!

Don't act dumb.

"Unit 1, secure that area"

That easy huh? You have one full strength armor regiment and one 70% strength infantry regiments for the task in that area. The enemy is entirely infantry, in dug in positions with light artillery support- you have 1.5-1 advantage in numbers. They defend a critical juncture which leads to high ground- where the enemy has place the aforementioned light artillery support. Do you

a- order a direct attack with both regiments?
b- attempt to flank them (terrain to attempt this unfavorable to anything but infantry)
c- two pronged attack with armor from the front and infantry flanking (keeping in mind that the enemy force is infantry)
c- hold fast and use these units as a reserve to reinforce other sectors of the battle?

in addition, options a, b and c can be enhanced with the use of your air and artillery support, but using them for this task will draw them away from the other units under your command which are involved in heavy fighting.

"Unit2, concentrate fire on that ship."

That order was actually out of the scope of what generals usually do. You won't find General Patton pointing at a Tiger II tank and saying to concentrate fire on it.