Dumbledore the General

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 124157


Phoenixgod2000:
 
There has been a lot of talk about Dumbledore and what he should/did 
do to interfere in Harry's life.  But I was thinking the other day 
about his larger role as the leader of the Order of the Phoenix. And 
it struck me that the Order was losing the last war right up until 
Voldemort blasted himself into atoms by attacking the Potters.
 
So my question is, is Dumbledore really the best person to be 
leading this war?  The order of the Phoenix independant of the 
government and you would think that would give them a lot of leeway 
to act since they don't have to act within the law. But Dumbledore 
doesn't seem to be doing much in the way of fighting back. He seems 
to be running a very passive, reactive war.  They know who a large 
number of death eaters are but don't seem to do anything to them.  
Why not?  Even if no one but harry can kill Voldemort, the Order can 
still cut the legs out from his support to weaken him it make it 
easier for Harry.
 
I realize that a large part of it is because if DD was winning the 
war Harry wouldn't be the hero of the story, but within the 
confines  of the narrative, why is DD doing such a poor job of 
prosecuting the war?  He is clearly personally powerful but tactics 
he uses seem to be lacking any sort of aggressive push towards the 
Death Eaters. Is it simply that he has more honor than his opponents 
and if so is that really the person who should be leading it?


Alla:

As you probably know, I am having A LOT of trouble answering your 
question from within the narrative. The fact that JKR needs kids to 
be the heroes unfortunately seems to be the most plausible answer.

I suppose, my answer will be UNLESS Dumbledore knows something that 
we as readers don't know yet ( meaning that he has specific reasons 
for not doing anything or to be more precise not doing anything 
active), he is NOT the best person to lead the war.

It is just what you said - Order should be more active and try to 
cut Voldemort's support, to make him weaker, NOT just sit around and 
wait till Harry will be strong enough to fight with him and 
hopefully kill him.

I do NOT consider Dumbledore to be a good general at all with the 
facts we had been shown so far, but then again maybe Dumbledore 
knows something  and unfortunately that something can only be 
connected to knowing the future , IMO. Maybe Dumbledore indeed 
travels backwards on the timeline or something like that and he 
knows that it is better not to interfere too much, if he wants to 
escape catastrophe in the future.

And no at this point I don't consider "doing nothing" as being noble 
and having more honor than Voldie and Co. The war started and 
innocent people ARE getting killed.

On the hand, JKR did say that Dumbledore had a reason not to try 
killing Voldie in the battle of MOM....

Just my opinion,

Alla