Would the Federation have trusted a Garak/Bashir situation?

[House Stark]

People often talk about how there was a subtext of romantic feelings between the two and bla bla bla.

Let's say they did hook up. Although the focus for us would be "GAY!!" In the Trek universe the concern would primarily be that a Star Fleet officer of high position had got with a previous member of the Obsidian Order. Analogous perhaps to a UK/American military officer getting together with an ex-jihadist. using an ex-jihadist to take down jihadists is one thing but having one intimately acquainted with an officer privy to sensitive information is another.

It's probably safe to say that Section 31 would have never approached Julian as it would have been too much of a security risk. The Federation would probably conspire to have him demoted. Bajorans on the station may even refuse to be treated by him. I'm uncertain as to whether Sisko would have treated him any different. I'm guessing he wouldn't want to but reluctantly he would have to trust him less. War calls for drastic measures and if they felt he was compromised they would have his chief medical officer status stripped.

 

[mrk]

For me, the crux of the question is whether a romance would be regarded more poorly than a close friendship.

I think Bajoran patients who would be put off by a romance between Bashir and Garak would also be put off by their friendship. I also think that those he serves with would generally find a romance just slightly more troublesome than a friendship.

Starfleet... I can see it going either way. Starfleet is pretty blase about some things, and surprisingly uptight about others. They'd either come down hard on Bashir or barely care.

I can see Starfleet not even restricting his security clearance, in keeping with the overly optimistic worldview that trusts doctors to decide, without bias, whether it's appropriate to sleep with their patients.

I can also see Starfleet assuming he's a traitor with no evidence, in keeping with the general suspicion of Federation citizens who find their home outside Federation space.

I write Garak/Bashir fanfic. In general, if I'm writing something set during the series, I go with the "Starfleet is blase" theory. If I'm writing something set after the series, I tend to go with "Starfleet thinks Bashir is a traitor" theory.

 

[Smellincoffee]

Let's say a soldier from NATO forces deployed somewhere in the middle east suddenly developed a romantic relationship with one of the locals who started feeding him information -- information she hoped would inform NATO's military plans. NATO, or Starfleet in our hypothetical, would be negligent not to be suspicious.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I dunno, they didn't distrust Kira for her close friendship with the daughter of Dukat.

Suspicious is one thing but they'd trust a Starfleet officer not to give information to the enemy. Section 31 is the exception, only Sloan never really gave Bashir any information he could use against them anyway. If anything Starfleet might lean on Bashir to get information from his boyfriend's homeworld connections.

 

[Melakon]

I think it would depend on the political climate. After the Dominion war, with Cardassia nearly destroyed and going through reconstruction, it might not be an issue. But if hardliner Cardassians came into power again and pursued growth through expansion, presenting a possible threat, Starfleet might have reservations.

 

[House Stark]

For me, the crux of the question is whether a romance would be regarded more poorly than a close friendship.

I think Bajoran patients who would be put off by a romance between Bashir and Garak would also be put off by their friendship. I also think that those he serves with would generally find a romance just slightly more troublesome than a friendship.

Starfleet... I can see it going either way. Starfleet is pretty blase about some things, and surprisingly uptight about others. They'd either come down hard on Bashir or barely care.

I can see Starfleet not even restricting his security clearance, in keeping with the overly optimistic worldview that trusts doctors to decide, without bias, whether it's appropriate to sleep with their patients.

I can also see Starfleet assuming he's a traitor with no evidence, in keeping with the general suspicion of Federation citizens who find their home outside Federation space.

I write Garak/Bashir fanfic. In general, if I'm writing something set during the series, I go with the "Starfleet is blase" theory. If I'm writing something set after the series, I tend to go with "Starfleet thinks Bashir is a traitor" theory.

More poorly I would think. I would say even the most closest of friends it is easy to keep secrets from them (I sound like such an awful friend right now). You don't live with them, don't share a bed with them, don't spend as much time with them. It's just on a different level from friendship I would argue. If they wanted to properly display affection in public I think Bajorans would lower their opinion of Bashir.

I agree with the optimistic worldview of the Federation. I suppose it would more be Section 31 who would take a more active interest.

Interesting... I would go with the other way around to be honest.

Let's say a soldier from NATO forces deployed somewhere in the middle east suddenly developed a romantic relationship with one of the locals who started feeding him information -- information she hoped would inform NATO's military plans. NATO, or Starfleet in our hypothetical, would be negligent not to be suspicious.

I agree. I wonder if Star Fleet would be suspicious from a distance or come down hard on Bashir.

I dunno, they didn't distrust Kira for her close friendship with the daughter of Dukat.

Suspicious is one thing but they'd trust a Starfleet officer not to give information to the enemy. Section 31 is the exception, only Sloan never really gave Bashir any information he could use against them anyway. If anything Starfleet might lean on Bashir to get information from his boyfriend's homeworld connections.

I think the difference between Garak and Ziyal or Odo is that the latter group consciously chose to distance themselves from the Dominion. Garak was forced to be away from his people rather than it being a choice making him more suspicious. Odo and Ziyal were also never really "in" with their people like Garak was his whole life probably.

Interesting thought, I never considered that Star Fleet could see it as an asset. A risky asset though. I doubt Bashir would spill on purpose but for Star Fleet the risk is that a member of the Obsidian order could probably manipulate him into doing so.

I think it would depend on the political climate. After the Dominion war, with Cardassia nearly destroyed and going through reconstruction, it might not be an issue. But if hardliner Cardassians came into power again and pursued growth through expansion, presenting a possible threat, Starfleet might have reservations.

I agree.

 

[ajac09]

I always wanted an episode with garak and Julian on a secret mission together during the DW. They could have gone in and saved Ziyal from Cardassia if she had lived.