Should the Federation have freed Bajor during the Border Wars?

[Anwar]

Well, in WWII the pre-Vichy government had unconditionally surrendered in war to the German Army so either way the Germans were the legitimately recognized power there since they were adhering to the rules of war the world had established. France declared war, then lost, surrendered unconditionally. The Germans were within their rights as a sovereign nation to occupy France.

And we DO have to take into consideration the "Big Picture" here, it wasn't just about Bajor but about the Federation reaction to a world annexed by another power. Bajor was no different from any world conquered by the Klingons and Romulans, so whatever reaction the Feds have to them would also alert those others as to how the Feds deal with conquered worlds. If they do it for Bajor whose to say it won't happen to all other conquered worlds, the Klingons and Romulans would have new reason to distrust the Feds in that case.

 

[DonIago]

These issues actually surfaced in the "A Time to..." books as well, as one of the presidential candidates espouses the belief that the Klingons conquering other worlds is wrong...which ideally I'd tend to agree with, but realistically essentially means the guy is advocating war with the Klingon Empire.

 

[Anwar]

Not just the Klingons, but the Romulans, Dominion and any other Trek powers who have enslaved/conquered others.

 

[Admiral Shran]

And we DO have to take into consideration the "Big Picture" here, it wasn't just about Bajor but about the Federation reaction to a world annexed by another power. Bajor was no different from any world conquered by the Klingons and Romulans, so whatever reaction the Feds have to them would also alert those others as to how the Feds deal with conquered worlds. If they do it for Bajor whose to say it won't happen to all other conquered worlds, the Klingons and Romulans would have new reason to distrust the Feds in that case.

On this, we agree.

 

[Nightdiamond]

I'll give the Federation credit also for at least possibly having something to do with Cardassia's withdrawal-

It's speculated that during negotiations with Cardassia, one of the stipulations for exchange of territories was the withdrawal from Bajor.

But then again, on this note, why interfere with the Klingon's invasion of Cardassia?

 

[DonIago]

Officially the Feds didn't do anything on that note except log protests.

 

[Anwar]

And also, they knew that conflict between Alpha Quadrant powers was what the Dominion wanted. Divide and Conquer. A Klingon-Cardassian War would just destabilize the region and weaken both of them (it also led to a Klingon-Fed time of hostilities, which may have been the Dominion plot all along).