@Zik:
Some times you have to make hard decisions. Attain your goal or save your son and put your life's work aside.
I definitely agree on that but in this situation there's the special case that you can kill two birds with one stone.
I never said there were different enemies. Furthermore, I get the overall feel he's not a person that acts on impulse or emotions like Luffy. Far from having a one track mind. I wouldn't be surprised if he was using the focus on Ace's execution and the war to do something else and take advantage of the WG. You guys can keep expecting and assuming Dragon will do something directly in this war/execution but I wouldn't rely on it. There's just as good a case for Dadan to show up and help.
You're right, he doesn't seem to be acting on impulse. But that wasn't my point. My point was that there's also rational strategic reasons as to why Dragon could/should join the fight. I'm not saying he will join. I'm just giving plausible reasons as to why it would make sense for him to do so and how.
You're assuming that they can crush the marines now. As of what we know so far only the marines are directly handling this war. We don't know if Dragon has an army of revolutionaries prepared to fight the marines and then eventually WG operatives/agents after that.
The assumption is based on the known facts so far and basic math. Everything stated in the manga indicates so far that the one side (Whitebeard Pirates) and the other side (WG: Marine HQ + Shichibukai) are on equal grounds. This is one premise. The other premise is that the revolution army is the most serious threat the WG is currently facing. So if you count those two premises together the logic conlusion is that the WG doesn't stand a chance if it has to fight on two fronts at the same time.
Sure coming up and fighting in the war is one idea BUT wouldn't attacking numerous countries allied to the WG around the OP world be just as good if not a better move?
It's definitely not a better move, at least not for a revolutionist. A revolutionist's ultimate goal is to overthrow a government and by gaining territory might growing more and more powerful but the final fight is still not decided with this. A better move is to overthrow the government. Once that is done, the allied countries will eventually either fall or follow you. Considering that the WG is a corrupt government (slavery, joint ventures with pirates, desire for Ancient Weapons) and rules by fear (think of the Ohara Buster Call) I doubt that the allied countries will be sad to see it fall.
How can you say they are of lesser importance when the countries allied with the WG is what give them political strength? If they overthrow a bunch of countries they now gain the upper hand. Add in the fact that the marines will not be at full power after the war whether they win or not makes them easy pickings….
Well as I stated, I don't think that the politic strenght comes from allied countries but from fear. The allied countries most probably just follow because they might fear the consequences. That's the problem with every corrupt regime. If nobody would follow them they couldn't legitimate their moves, but still they use fear in an effective manner to keep people from turning on them. That's why aiming for the head of the snake is a smarter move if you have the chance.
That'd be your choice. I'd go with the more territory I have the more my overall power would grow from a revolutionary perspective…
Actually it's not just my choice but everyone's choice who'd go for a real revolution. The ultimate goal is getting rid of the corrupt regime which always is a minority when you compare it to the number of peoples living under such a system. It's always few people that terrorize many. A revolution is only successful if you bring order you're fighting against down. And this is the government. Winning ground, resources and allies is definitely helpful for that but it's not a guarantee for the ultimate victory.
…If these countries Dragon are taking over are of little importance then why is he the worst criminal in the OP world? Why would the gorusei care if the countries are of little importance?
Because he's opposing the WG directly and not only the membership countries. He doesn't just want to take over membership countries. If that would be the case the WG couldn't care less. Just think back of Drum and Arabasta. The WG didn't care for Blackbeard rampaging at Drum. True they didn't know but the lack of information can only be because of a lack for interest. And right now Dalton is the new king and the country became the Sakura Kingdom. Practically the order has been overthrown there but this is not a problem for the WG if Dalton and the Sakura Kingdom would continue to be a member of the WG.
And now think of Arabasta. True, the WG didn't know what Crocodile did. But the fact is that there was a rebellion for 3 years. There's no way that a WG doesn't know about such a development for one of its members. As to why they did not interfere, most probably because it was a local matter (just as it was with Drum). They only interfered after Smoker reported. And remember that Smoker's conclusion was that if Nico Robin is involved in all this, not only Arabasta but the entire world might be in danger. I have no doubts that this is what Smoker reported and that this is why the WG decided to interfered. With Robin involved, the asses of the Gorosei themselves might be in danger. That's exaclty as what kind of institution I take the WG to be. And that's why Dragon is the worst criminal, because he aims to bring the WG to fall.
How are these countries that are being overthrown of little importance? You seem to think this is just a war of power.
No I'm not. But this situation is special because the war takes place before the gates of the Holy Land Maryjoa itself. If you successfully take down the WG's military force right there, then the WG has zero protection. There's no revolutionist in the world who'd consider such a chance not to be of more importance then the take over of a allied country.
I'll say it again the war will most definitely result in many deaths and casualties for the marines win or lose. They will definitely be weakened and not at full power after it. During this war the revolutionaries taking over important countries around the world gives them more power politically and military wise. The WG won't be able to do anything about it except for send the wounded marines in to try and stop them. How does that not make sense?
I'm not saying that it does not make sense. I'm saying that considering the ultimate goal of a revolutionist it would be the worse choice considering that the other option practically allows you to achieve said altimate goal. How does that not make sense?
I mean if that is to philosophic then we can use practical examples from the story itself. Doesn't Luffy say if he defeats Crocodile the entire rebellion thing is dealt with? Wouldn't the global scale of the same concept be Dragon kicking the asses of the Gorosei? I understand the strategic reasons to overthrow the allied countries first. But this only makes sense if you so far are not ready to attack the leader(s). What I'm suggesting is that this war gives Dragon the opportunity to do exactly that. That's why in this situation, taking over the minor enemies is of lesser importance. Get what I mean?
Anyway there's no telling what Dragon will do regarding Ace. He may help, he may take advantage of his situation and further his goals, or he may do nothing and ignore it.
Actually this our entire talkback has made me question if the WG does consider Dragon a threat in this entire confrontation at all. I mean do they know that Dragon is Ace's father?