Why is there a battle on Kashyyk?

[stillakid]

Of course we have no idea why the Separatist worlds want to separate in the first place, due to poor writing by Lucas. Given that, one would assume that if any world or nation wanted to divorce itself from it's "motherland," it would just sort of declare it and then defend it's own land. For instance, if Texas wanted to be it's own country, it would simply say it and then expect that the military of the United States would come across it's borders in order to take control back. We see that happening in the former Soviet republics.

Which leads us to Kashyyk. Why on earth would the Separatists fly across the galaxy to attack another planet? What's in it for them? Like I said, we know practically nothing about their discontent or their overall cause, but if it was because they were simply not happy being part of the Republic, then wouldn't they just concentrate their energy on defending their own worlds? Why expend resources to attack another sovereign world?

Naturally, George just wanted to shoehorn a Wookie battle into ROTS somewhere to make up for not having them in ROTJ, but is there an actual story reason for this invasion?

[The Overlord Returns]

Well, considering the two leaders of the separatist cause were actually in cahoots with the leader of the republic, and a sith lord, I'd say he gave them the order to take systems in battle and control them, using their inhabitants and resources for their "cause". The separatists were comprised of the financial powers in the republic, who KNEW that the senate was being controlled by a sith lord who they also KNEW to have screwed them over. They were actually separating under the illusion that they would be breaking away from a corrupt system. All this is plainly spelled out in AOTC, which I assume you have watched at least once, so perhaps you weren't paying close enough attention?

[stillakid]

Well, considering the two leaders of the separatist cause were actually in cahoots with the leader of the republic, and a sith lord, I'd say he gave them the order to take systems in battle and control them, using their inhabitants and resources for their "cause". The separatists were comprised of the financial powers in the republic, who KNEW that the senate was being controlled by a sith lord who they also KNEW to have screwed them over. They were actually separating under the illusion that they would be breaking away from a corrupt system. All this is plainly spelled out in AOTC, which I assume you have watched at least once, so perhaps you weren't paying close enough attention?

Oh, I was paying attention alright and AOTC says nothing about why the "separatists" are separating. All we know is the the Naboo campaign didn't work out and then that the Trade Federation wants Padme dead in revenge. This doesn't explain why someone simply wishing to remove themselves from a political government (the Republic) would actively invade another system. IF the Separatists decided post-Naboo that they would break away because they "knew" that Sideous (a Sith) was in control of the Senate (which would indeed motivate Padme's line about being on the correct side in ROTS), then they still would have no reason to invade another world unless their purpose switched from "separating" to "overthrowing" the Republic. And that is never stated as a goal of the "Separatists." And even if it was, what would be the point of sending troops to a place like Kashyyk? Why wouldn't they be letting the systems of the Republic know what they know about Sideous? And then why wouldn't they mount a campaign against Coruscant? What good does overthrowing Kashyyk do them?

[Bossk77]

I think Lucas did it this way to try to show that more of the Galaxy was involved in the fray. There were senators from every known planet in the Senate and if Sidi was to just stop involving other planets in battles, the Jedi in theory would have figured that it was all a coup to get Palp into power. Also it served to seperate all of the jedi out, keeping them ocuppied as Palps design unfolded. He couldnt let anyone know he was involved.

[Ji'dai]

If I were Palpatine, I would make sure the war spilled over and included some of the more powerful systems in the Republic. War on these planets would destroy infrastructure, kill millions of people (maybe a lot more), and perhaps cause severe ecological damage. The war would leave many once powerful worlds severely weakened.

So when Palpatine declares himself Emperor, these once powerful worlds would be unable to really mount a challenge to him. I think that's why the Separatists are made up primarily of the galaxy's financial powers. Palpatine knew that in the end, the front lines would eventually engulf those worlds and they would end being occupied by his clone army. Kashyyyk may also have been one of those worlds that Palpatine wanted to make sure was weakened in the conflict. Wookies are a strong species physically, and may be reknowned throughout the galaxy for their courage and fierceness in battle. It was probably a good idea to make sure the conflagration spread to their planet.

This is supported in Episode IV's opening crawl, which tells us that the Rebellion has just won it's first major victory against the Empire. Supposedly the political faction opposed to Palpatine was organized shortly after he declared himself Emperor. However, as we see in Episode IV, it was nearly 20 years before that opposition was strong enough to launch military strikes against his Empire.

[JediTricks]

This is one that I can personally chalk up to "they wanted it", probably for its resources or strategic location. I didn't feel any qualms on them trying to take it over, though Padme's comments about being on the wrong side suggests that the Separatists are the more noble side of the war which makes "wanting it" a little ridiculous, but I did feel like the whole thing was a bit hollow and almost pointless to include, it reminded me of the SE inclusion in ESB of the Wampa, it looked cool but it also looked out of place and like a guy in a white bigfoot suit standing in front of a VERY small set.

Dang it Stilla, now you've made me think of another issue that I think needs addressing.

[stillakid]

Dang it Stilla, now you've made me think of another issue that I think needs addressing.

You left us hangin' !

[JON9000]

AOTC says nothing about why the "separatists" are separating. All we know is the the Naboo campaign didn't work out and then that the Trade Federation wants Padme dead in revenge. This doesn't explain why someone simply wishing to remove themselves from a political government (the Republic) would actively invade another system.

I think the separatist movement started because certain systems felt they were being unfairly taxed, sorta like a separatist movement we had in our own little country.

While this area could have used more development, I can live without it. Politics was ever so lightly touched on in TPM and every critic from here to Shiznizzit, Kyrjackistan derided GL endlessly for having "boring politics" in Star Wars.

[stillakid]

I think the separatist movement started because certain systems felt they were being unfairly taxed, sorta like a separatist movement we had in our own little country.

While this area could have used more development, I can live without it. Politics was ever so lightly touched on in TPM and every critic from here to Shiznizzit, Kyrjackistan derided GL endlessly for having "boring politics" in Star Wars.

Well, that's the real problem...the "boring" part. Politics or whatever don't automatically have to be "boring" in a fictional story. Its all in the presentation which means that it falls to the writer to be responsible for including the necessary information in a manner that conveys what needs to be said and is also, in some respect, entertaining. To just toss it out the window because the writer isn't skilled enough to pull it off is lame. This story is ABOUT the politics and Lucas left out the entire catalyst for everything that is going on. That'd be like having a murder mystery in which we never see who is murdered or how or find out why. What fun is that?

[JimJamBonds]

I think its simply to show that the war isn't just on a planet or two but across the universe. We see several planets that the war is on for only a few seconds, since we do know of Wookies it makes sense to have an 'extended' fight with familar characters. Also as stated before it draws more planets into the fight which makes it an even bigger mess killing more etc etc. Which makes it easier of Palpers to take control.

Jim Jam