Could the Maquis be the equivalent of the freedom fighters of the Reagan Administration? Starting in 1981, the Reagan Administration with the assistance of ex-Special Ops specialists began training and paying selected members of the civilian population. The thought was-if the Russian Army invaded America, these freedom fighters would offer resistance. (Think the Home Guard of Britain.) In the 1990's, these freedom fighters became the militia.
The Maquis had-
* Starfleet officers and enlisted as early as 2365
* Starfleet technology (weapons, ships)
* knowledge of Starfleet strategy
A conjectural history-
2350's Beginning of war with Cardassian Union
2360 - 2365 Federation selects civilians from the front lines. These civilians are trained by Starfleet officers. They are to do covert missions against Cardassian planets and stations.
2366 Treaty with Cardassian Union
2367 - 2370 Federation ends support of the Maquis. Maquis begin attacking Cardassian planets without Federation support.
2370 - 2373 Operational period of renegade Maquis
2374 Maquis movement destroyed by strengthen Cardassian Union, with assistance from Dominion
[This message was edited by Trinculo on May 27, 1999.]
There's also the problem that the border was somewhat settled in 2366 in a peace treaty. Why would the feds work so hard to hammer out a treaty whilst simultaneously orchestrating terrorist activity against the cardassians. Wouldn't that be incredibly counter-productive (recall the Fed council's concerns about being dragged into a new conflict in "The Wounded".)
Also the Maquis always seemed to me to simpe colonists who felt compelled to take up arms to defend their homes from effective cardassian occupation. It's hard to see them getting motivated if a S31 guy turned up one day and said:
"OK people. You simple farmers happily till the soil within a few light years of the cardassian Empire. We have just organised a peace treaty that we hope will secure the peace of whole sector for decades to come. This no doubt makes you think all is well with the world........
So how's about some of you join up with me and start terrorist strikes on the cardies eh?
That'll piss 'em off Heh heh!"
I think not.
------------------
"It seems strange that I, Kudos, a doubter, should be given this luxurious window seat whilst you.... AGEING with age, rot away in that disgrace of an aisle seat. Ha, Hah!
Where is your God now old woman?!"
"Jesus, I'm sorry I asked...!"
- THE BIG BUS
1. Section 31 - Starfleet knows about it and condones it. Sisko said in that episode that Starfleet didn't confirm his query, but they didn't deny it either.
2. Remember when Sisko is trying to catch Eddington and he poisons that planet making it inhabitable and forcing people to flee, just to get Eddington into custody.
I'm sure there's many other examples too. Starfleet has to do these kinds of things to ensure its survival and that of UFP. All the other races have their secret agents and will do absolutely anything to get a task done, but the UFP is there saying "Oh, we can't do that, it's wrong, we can't do it". If they did that, everyone else would trounce the Federation. As a result, I support all this.
------------------
Blackadder: I'm King *drops dead*
------------------
If no-one will play with me, then I'm going home,and I'm bringing the inflatible with me.
------------------
The public has spoken. Common sense has prevailed. We have been returned what was wrongly taken away from us. All hail COCO POPS!!
------------------
"Should have changed that stupid lock. Should have thrown away the key. No no, not I, I will survive, right down here on my knees."
--
They Might Be Giants
------------------
Garak: "I do apologize. You must be incensed. In fact, if I were in your shoes, I'd... grab a bottle of champagne and shoot me." (DS9: "Our Man Bashir")
------------------
WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE
------------------
What bloke invented signatures?