Jedi Lies? - Episode II.V (2.5)

Surely the Jedi don't lie in the only animated Star Wars movie, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (fondly called Episode 2.5 because it occurs between Episode 2 and 3). Right? Right?!? Well, wrong.

1LR continues to examine the evidence from the seven Star Wars films to answer the question, "Is it okay for a Jedi to tell lies and act deceptively?" Here's the evidence we found from this episode:

• During the big opening sequence, Kenobi uses deception to delay the opposing general, General Loathsom. He "surrenders" knowing full well that Anakin and Ahsoka are going to blow up the shield generator. Loathsom actually expects as much. Kenobi says, "I've conceded the battle. Now we simply have to negotiate the terms of surrender." Loathsom expects trickery, saying, "Don't try any of your tricks, Jedi!" It seems Jedi are known to be "tricky." 
• Obi-Wan continues to lie during this exchange saying of Loathsom, "You're a legend throughout the Inner Core." A doubtful claim, considering Loathsom's track record. Loathsom says, "You're stalling!" to which Obi-Wan replies, "Nonsense, General." Clearly a lie.
• Young Padawan Ahsoka Tano covers herself when she misses killing a battle droid by saying, "I did that on purpose." 
• When Dooku comes to Jabba with the claim that the Jedi have tried to trick him, Jabba finds it amazingly easy to believe that the Jedi had lied to him.
• We actually have a rare instance of the Jedi breaking their word in this film. Anakin says to Ahsoka, "But we promised Rex we'd help them!" He then quickly changes his mind, calls Rex and tells him he's not coming. 
• To trick Count Dooku, Anakin wears the backpack they had been carrying Jabba's son in but its filled with rocks. After the deception is revealed, Anakin says, "You've fallen for my little trick, Count!" Dooku replies, "I expected such treachery from a Jedi." It seems that he has made preparations in advance for such a case. Since Dooku was previously a Jedi he is very familiar with their methods, which, apparently, include "trickery" and deceit.
• The exact answer to the question of whose Padawan Ahsoka Tano is suppose to be may be in some doubt. Obi-Wan acts and speaks as if he's expecting Ahsoka to be his Padawan but in fact she has been assigned to Anakin. Before her arrival, Obi-Wan says of a troop ship, "Perhaps they brought my new Padawan with them. I spoke to Master Yoda about it. Yo should put in a request for one. You'd make a good teacher." Then Ahsoka shows up and Obi-Wan introduces himself, "I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi, your new master." When Ahsoka correct him saying that Yoda gave her specific orders that she is to be trained by Anakin, Obi-Wan's only response is a knowing smile. The fact that Obi-Wan had just been encouraging Anakin to take a Padawan is mighty suspicious as is the fact that both Ahsoka and Obi-Wan had spoken to Yoda. How could there be a mix-up then? Anakin even says to Obi-Wan, "You know, something makes me think this was your idea from the start." If this is in fact the case than this is a rare instance of one Jedi deceiving another Jedi and a Padawan.

From this episode we can gather the following evidence

- The Jedi have a reputation for being "tricky" among some circles.

- The Jedi do sometimes break their word when given to a non-Jedi.

- Although it may be rare, Jedi do deceive one another.