The Grand Army of the Republic in Attack of the Clones

In the previous post, we explored the rise of the Separatist movement, the role of Count Dooku, and the Sith's manipulation of both sides of the conflict. Now, we're going to turn our attention to one of the most significant developments in Attack of the Clones: the creation of the Grand Army of the Republic. This army, its mysterious origins, and the Jedi's new role as military leaders all fundamentally reshape the galaxy and the Jedi Order, setting the stage for the Order's eventual downfall.

The Discovery on Kamino: Unraveling the Mystery

We are first introduced to the Republic's clone army when following Obi-Wan Kenobi's investigation into the attempted assassination of Padmé Amidala. The Kaminoans reveal that this army was commissioned a decade prior by a Jedi Master named Sifo-Dyas, who, as Obi-Wan explains, was killed around the time the order was placed.

This revelation raises immediate questions. Who is Sifo-Dyas, and was he really responsible for authorizing the creation of the army? Why was it kept secret from the Jedi Council? How did the Kaminoans receive funding and instructions to produce an army so perfectly designed for the Republic's needs? While the answers to these particular questions are not revealed until parts of Revenge of the Sith and The Clone Wars series, the mystery itself adds to the general sense of foreboding that permeates AOTC.

The plot here is admittedly convoluted, which has often been a criticism levelled at the film. While the basic plot is easy enough to follow, the underlying logic is a bit more difficult: the assassin who attempted to kill Amidala was hired by a bounty hunter, who was in turn hired by a mysterious man named Tyranus "on one of the moons of Bogden" to become the genetic template of the clone army (and presumably to kill Amidala?), which had been commissioned by Sifo-Dyas around the time of his death for reasons never explained.

These obfuscations, to be cleared up later, at least initially serve to keep the narrative from getting too bogged down in exposition. At the same time, they're also indicative of the wheels-within-wheels intricacies of Palpatine's best-laid plans. There is a sense in which the overall convolutedness is the point, so that anyone trying to follow the breadcrumbs (like Obi-Wan) eventually finds themselves circling aimlessly, trying to sort out who hired whom for what purpose, and when, and under what name.

When Obi-Wan is finally introduced to the clones, the Kaminoan "cloners" present their creation with a clinical detachment. The clones have been bred to be obedient, efficient, and entirely loyal to their commanding officers. There is a kind of chilling normalcy to the way things run on Kamino. To the Kaminoans, the creation of an entire army comes across as more transactional than anything else, moral and ethical considerations be damned. A peculiar sense of unease lingers over the scenes on Kamino—how could such a massive, galaxy-altering project go unnoticed for so long?

The clones themselves are modeled on the bounty hunter Jango Fett. They are introduced as highly skilled soldiers whose origin and purpose raise significant ethical questions that the film does not directly address but are nonetheless implicit in the narrative. These are not volunteers fighting for any one cause; they are engineered beings, stripped of their individuality, and bred solely for war. Of course, later works will come along and enflesh certain clones with stronger personalities, but the scope of this hermeneutical approach (for now) is looking only at the films and the portrayal of the clones in the films.

The Jedi as Generals: A Fundamental Shift

One of the most significant consequences of the clone army's creation is the shift that occurs within the Jedi Order. For thousands of years, the Jedi have served as peacekeepers, mediators of conflict, and guardians of the Republic. Now, though, with the outbreak of a full-scale war, they are thrust into the role of military leaders, commanding an army they know very little about, against an enemy they understand even less. This shift fundamentally undermines the Jedi's philosophy and purpose. By aligning themselves so closely with the Republic's military efforts, they become even more enmeshed in the very political machinery they are supposed to remain above. Their involvement in the war compromises their objectivity, clouds their judgment, and, in one sense, makes them complicit in the Republic's transformation into an empire.

Mace Windu and Yoda, two of the Jedi Council's most prominent figures, express reservations about the Jedi's shifting roles. In discussion with Palpatine early in the film, the following exchange occurs:

Palpatine: I will not let this Republic that has stood for a thousand years be split in two. My negotiations will not fail!

Windu: If they do, you must realize there aren't enough Jedi to protect the Republic. We are keepers of the peace, not soldiers.

Palpatine: Master Yoda, do you think it will really come to war?

Yoda: The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see, the future is.

Windu's words are telling, both in terms of how the Jedi see themselves and their changing roles in the face of war. It is a bit of a misnomer to say that to be a skilled fighter or a capable warrior is somehow against the Jedi ethos; on the contrary, the Jedi are often portrayed as worthy combatants in their role as peacekeepers. But, as Windu explains, there are too few Jedi to defend the Republic in the event of a full-scale war, and even then, to function in the role of footsoldier is to betray the Order's fundamental mandate.

Yet, despite their misgivings, the Jedi will have little choice but to accept their new position as the leaders and generals of the Grand Army of the Republic once the Clone War begins in earnest.

Palpatine's Emergency Powers

The creation of the clone army is also closely tied to the Senate's decision to grant Supreme Chancellor Palpatine emergency powers—a moment that marks a significant step toward absolute power. Senator Jar Jar Binks of Naboo proposes the motion, unwittingly handing Palpatine the authority he needs to lead the Republic into war. Palpatine's orchestration of these events demonstrates his mastery of manipulation. By engineering a crisis that necessitates military action, he ensures that the Senate will willingly grant him the powers he requires to form the Grand Army of the Republic. The Jedi, bound by their sense of duty to the Republic and already thoroughly submerged in the Senate's bureaucratic quagmire, are drawn into this plan, and are unable to see the larger scheme at play.

And herein lies the Order's greatest tragedy: they are fighting to preserve a Republic that is already under the control of their ultimate enemy. As we have already seen, George Lucas has been quite clear about the political themes that run throughout the Prequel Trilogy, likening the Republic's fall to historical examples of democracies succumbing to authoritarianism. It is a combination of fear and complacency among the legendary Jedi Knights that enables them to be manipulated by a rising dictator. The fragility of democratic institutions—and the ease with which they can be subverted—is one of the central themes of the PT reinforced here in AOTC.

In our next post, we'll shift our focus to the more personal story of Anakin Skywalker and trace his development as a character throughout the middle chapter of the Prequel Trilogy.