Looking back at previous episodes, I find myself wondering this back-to-basics question: why are the Dominion and Federation at war?

When the Dominion was formally introduced, they were immediately enemies with the Federation, and spewed curses at the Klingons and Cardassians. So we could easily just think they are war-mongers who want to attack everyone, at least everyone in the Alpha Quadrant. Okay, but that's not the way it's panned out. They have no problems making friends with Cardassia, the Breen or Bajor.

Hostilities seem to stem from before the second season's finale where the Dominion stated they would no longer tolerate ships from our side to pass through the wormhole. Would they really go to war for that? Even if the events in "Jem H'dar" triggered the hostilities, I doubt if the two sides would go into a full-fledged war; there was no meeting between Dominion and Federation representatives other than Sisco. Surely (unless they truly are war-mongers), they wouldn't open fire just on the one encounter. And besides, the New Bajor colony in the Gamma Quadrant was destroyed prior to the Vorta's appearence on DS9, which is the closest we've come to any formal declaration of war.

So why is the Federation at war with the Dominion? Simply because the Federation is the first organization the Dominion encountered?

They have no problems making friends with Cardassia, the Breen or Bajor.

Cardassia and the Breen have accepted the Dominion and the Founders as their rightful rulers.

Bajor has signed a neutrality pact with the Dominion (i.e. we don't care who wins, just leave us out of it)

This is a confusing matter, but I think that the Dominion just used the "Don't come in our quadrant" as an excuse to start a war. We already know that the Founders do not like solids at all and either want to exterminate them or force them to worship them. However, if the Dominion launched an attack for just this reason, the Alpha Quadrant would likely see this with the bad intentions that it has and unite to push them back through the wormhole. By using the exploration of the Gamma Quadrant as an excuse to start a war, they can make other powers in the Alpha Quadrant say "Look, don't expect us to help you, you provoked them.", leaving the Federation all alone. Though that is all speculation on my part, it does explain the Dominion's efforts to divide Alpha Quadrant powers (i.e. "The Adversary", "The Way of the Warrior") and isolate the Federation.

A small point, but Dukat forced the Cardies to submit to Dominion rule, and now they are starting to come back around to our side.

The female shapeshifter told us an interesting story in "The Search, Part II" that might clear this up.

Many years ago, the changelings were subjected to genetic discrimination by the solids. As a result, many were beaten and killed. To achieve "self-preservation," the changelings were compelled to form the Dominion. As the leaders of this Empire, they concluded ". . . what you can control can't hurt you."

This last statement sums up the Dominion mission: to control all solids. The Federation obviously wants no part in this, so they have declared war.

Hmm. Something(s!) in that story rings hollow. How do you "beaten" a changeling? We saw in the first episode they (Odo) can simply let bludgeon, piercing, and slashing weapons pass right threw them.
Genetic discrimination? How do you discriminate against someone who can change shape?
Me thinks she is morphing the truth a bit.

Why is the Dominion at war with the Federation and Klingons? The answer is simply the "Domino theory."
The Dominion saw the alpha quadrant powers (Starfleet especially) invading their territory. Period.
They defended themselves, and their property (New Bajor.)
They told them to stop "violating our territory."
Starfleet (and all) ignored this quite reasonable request and continued to _invade_ Dominion territory. Period.
At this point war was declared, maybe it wasn't official, but it was war. They could either ignore the problem (Federation ships invading their space) and hope it would magically go away (yeah, right.) OR they could accept the facts and do something it.
At this point the Dominion was looking at fighting a war *THAT STARFLEET STARTED!!* by not respecting they're boarders.
Now there are two ways (as with most wars) they can fight this war.
A) They can continue to repulse attack after attack. Watching ships and planets in the Gamma quadrant either get conquored or destroyed, hoping with the start of each battle that the Feds haven't come up with some new weapon that'll tip the scales. IOW they can fight a defensive war. The problem is that in the long history of war this has **NEVER** worked in the long run. Sisko even said so in "Tears of the Prophets." To win a war you **HAVE TO** take the fight to your enemy. This is why I call the Power Rangers defenders of rubble. Or...
B) They can "take the fight to the enemy" by establishing a foot hold in the alpha quardrant. Imagine their joy when Dukat GAVE them that foot hold...for free!! (politically) Thus forcing the Federation to fight a defensive war. Note that the security of the Gamma quadrant isn't being threatened anymore. Note that while the alpha quadrant is being sacked all is quite back on the other side of the wormhole. So even if the Federation/Klingon/Cardassian/Romulan/everyoneelseandtheirmother alliance manages to hang Weyon at the end of the season the war is infact not even half over. To win they're going to have to then go threw the wormhole and beat all the Dominon ships there and conquor the Gamma quadrant to win. :(
That is why the Dominion declared war on the alpha quadrant. If you have to fight a war, better to fight it "over there."

I certainly hope, Adam, that you aren't getting rude with me. I was merely repeating what the female shapeshifter said in "The Search, Part II."

Something else you should keep in mind is the Dominion'S consistent acts of aggression against the Federation in "In the Cards." Ships patrolling the Federation's side of the Federation/Cardassian border were destroyed.

Starfleet may have started the war but I must ask you one question. What would you have done if someone did what the Dominion did (I won't mention everything they have done).

But the Dominion captured Sisco and Quark before it announced they weren't going to tolerate Federation ships on their soil (proverbial soil, of course).

I think it was the ultimatum more than anything else. Think about it. Had the Feds gone warping around the AQ, and some race had said, "this is our territory, you're trespassing", the Feds probably would have negotiated a deal. The problem is the ultimatum... "Don't go through the wormhole, or else!"

If I came across as sounding rude I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.
Yes the Dominion destroyed some Federation ships. But you got to remember in their eyes we're already at war. A war The Federation started. They feel they're fighting for their lives.
What I would have done. First of all when the 3rd showed up on DS9 I would have asked if there was some way our governments could meet to establish exactly were the Dominion's boarders are. Maybe try to establish trade? The Ferengi did it. Hopefully get Sisko back. But I would NOT just thumb my nose at a government that has laid a legit claim to an area of space. Thats (apparently) how the Earth/Klingon AND Earth/Romulan wars started.
Even Jim "to boldy go where no _man_ has gone before" Kirk seemed to realise the intrinsic flaw in this policy when he had the Gorn at his mercy in "Arena." Going where no man has gone before is great, but not if you're kicking over someone else's home on the way. Starfleet basically was doing to the Dominion what the Borg are trying to do to the Federation. Duh, they didn't like that and are fighting back. Does that surprise anyone?
Steve. If the Canadian government started sending (or letting) military officers cross the boarder with no papers to vactation, while at the same time starting to build cities in the Dakotas don't you think we'd take some captives to interrogate? It just kind of goes without saying they won't tolerate INVADERS in their territory. Should they have said something before they razed New Bajor? That depends on your philosophy. But one thing the Domininon does know is that the Federation has a history of ignoring other governments claims to territory. Knowing that, do you really blame them for wanting to error on the side of caution? They can release Sisko, but they can only take him prisioner once.

Adam, you make many great points and I think that the whole war may have been started by all of them.

We have Dominion sympathizers on our hands! Call security! I'll have to take care of this myself! (locks and loads phaser rifle...)

SPOILER!!

In "The Dogs of War," Sisko says that the Founders started the war.

Spoiler!!

Sisko started the War. See the Chief's review of the season 2 in the DS9 guide for details. A Jem'Haddar captain says that the other side of the Wormhole belongs to the Dominion. Sisko and company violate the soverengty of the Dominion (going to the Gamma Quadrant) several times in season 3. Thus Sisko started the war, and is blaming the Founders.

The war is over...now things are going to be dull...

The Klingons will be blood thirsty and have nothing to do...
The Romulans will go back to doing what they did before..which will be against Starfleet..
Bajor will be in turmoil looking for a new Kai
Cardassia will try to survive.
the Breen will slip back into the unknown
The dominion will live in peace with the federation...at least for awhile..


so as of now...Starfleet has no enemies really...
They have all the time in the world to re-establish their fleet...they can spend more time exploring...but I don't see how a new show
as of now, can start with no enemies to make the show exciting...at least voyager has a bunch of unknown aliens and species to combat against...

Technically the Idran system (where the wormhole is) ISN'T part of Dominion Space. Just because they said that they wouldn't tolerate ships coming through an area doesn't mean that they own that area. It would be like (as Ron Moore stated in the DS9 compendium) China asking the USA not to come into the South China sea. Clearly, an unreasonable demand.

that's only because the USA possesses better firepower than China. The dominion stand a better chance of backing up their demands