The Clone Wars were the end of an era in Star Wars, representing the fall of the Jedi from the height of their influence and success. Overseeing the age where the Light Side reigned were the Jedi Council, revered for their mastery of the Force and their lifetimes of dedication towards it. But when it came to decision-making, this group totally blew it.
The Jedi would still be in power if it weren't for a few boneheaded moves. While some of the decisions may have made sense at the time, they would eventually lead to the downfall of the Jedi and the Republic as a whole. Let's look back and shine a spotlight on the Jedi's greatest gaffes during The Clone Wars.
USING THE CLONE ARMY
As the plot is presented in Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan Kenobi uncovered a secret plot to prepare an army of clones on the Jedi's behalf, despite the cloning production on Kamino taking place without their approval. Then during the Clone Wars, the Jedi learn that Count Dooku had a hand in forming the army.
While Order 66 would have been a contrived plan to foresee, the fact that the Jedi knew about Dooku's involvement and still went on without investigating further is too egregious an error to ignore. The fact that the Clones were instrumental in the destruction of the Order should be a surprise to no one, especially the Jedi themselves.
NEGLECTING ANAKIN
The keystone to the Jedi's demise that brought the Order tumbling down was the betrayal of Anakin Skywalker, prophesied to be the Chosen One who would usher in a new era of peace. Even when Qui-Gon first took Anakin into his care the Jedi Council was wary of training the boy, worrying that he was too old and sensing the power within him.
After Qui-Gon died and Obi-Wan took over Anakin's training, the Council continued to be skeptical of the Chosen One. During the Clone Wars, the Council hid an undercover mission Obi-Wan was going on which included faking his death from Anakin, something that didn't sit well with the Jedi Knight. That situation was the start of Anakin's distrust of the Council, something that came to a head after he was denied the rank of Master in Revenge of the Sith.
FESTERING BETRAYAL
There was a major problem with betrayal within the Jedi Order that never received any systemic attention. Count Dooku obviously became a massive threat under the guise of Darth Tyrannus, turning away from the Jedi Order and harboring hatred for Yoda in particular, but he wasn't even the only one. Another Jedi, Master Krell, also turned against the Order in hopes of becoming Dooku's apprentice during the Clone Wars.
Even within the younger generation, there was Barriss Offee, who staged an attack on the Temple purely out of her belief the Jedi themselves had lost their original purpose. At a certain point, the betrayals aren't a fluke, and the Jedi Council should have looked into what they were doing to drive so many members away from the Order.
EXILING AHSOKA
Speaking of Barriss, it was due to her actions that Ahsoka Tano was expelled from the Order. The Council, in their infinite wisdom, needed very little evidence before they turned Ahsoka away from them forever. Not only was Ahsoka innocent, but even if she had acted against the Council, them turning her away could have given the Dark Side a brand new convert. The decision to expel Ahsoka was going to blow up in their faces no matter what, and it's a wonder why they ever made it in the first place.
Premiering Friday, Feb. 21, on Disney+, the final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars stars Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker, Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano, Dee Bradley Baker as Captain Rex and the clone troopers, James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan, and Sam Witwer as Maul.