OK.

Here's what I have been working on with the above questions (only the first 3 tonight):

1. What is Clone War II?

Clone War II is a war of fear and paranoia. The Madalorians are no longer trying to invade the republic. They are using hit and run attacks on the shipping lanes in an effort to disrupt trade and travel throughout the republic. They are using new technology that makes their ships difficult read on scanners and are impossible to track (I am going for a WWII U-boat vibe here). With the senate unable to handle the situation, for the first time, worlds are starting to look out for their own self-interests before the safety of the republic as a whole. The Mandalorians are also infiltrating the republic with clones. Anyone you ever knew or trusted could have been replaced by a clone. Your mother, your neighbor, that quiet guy on the transport, or even your senator (yes, I am going for some of that post 9/11 paranoia). Most of this would be in the Ep2 crawl.

2. Why do we never see Yoda in this trilogy and why is he on Dagobah?

It can’t be to just preserve the surprise, we need a reason for Yoda to be elsewhere. Dagobah is the center of the universe (or galaxy). It is where life began (the first world with life, if you will). It is the CENTER of the force. It is a jungle, because a jungle is uncontrolled life, where life and death (light and dark) are in constant battle with each other. That is why there are caves filled with the Dark-Side there. Yoda is there to be at the center, to be almost one with the force. That is why he can feel all of the disturbances and can direct the Jedi to where they are needed most. As the story progresses and the republic begins its fall into darkness, it is Yoda who fights to keep the balance on Dagobah. By the end, he cannot even leave because he is solely holding back the dark side from enveloping the galaxy. THAT is why Luke must face Vader again in ROTJ (I always thought it was silly that in ESB facing Vader was bad and he wasn’t ready, but when Luke visits Yoda in ROTJ he’s doesn’t need any more training, but to be a Jedi he must face Vader. WHAT? Been there, done that, Dude!). With Yoda dead, there will be no one to hold back the darkness, so Luke must end the reign of the emperor to restore the balance.

3. What sets Anakin apart from other Jedi that Palpatine is interested in him?

Anakin has a unique perspective and it came to him quite naturally. The Jedi (and the republic) do not approve of clones, because they are artificially created life. This taints the force, because it is unnatural. It also makes clones difficult for Jedi to sense or feel (as I showed in Ep1). What Anakin can do (and its quite simple) and he teaches other Jedi, is to feel the ABSENCE of the force as a way of detecting the clone. Since he was the first to be able to do this (and so naturally), he is requested to stay on Coruscant to protect the senate. Palpatine’s interest in him is the same as his interest in anyone else: How can I use HIM to further my agenda?