Prior to Dukat going insane, in terms of tactical abilities strategical abilities, leadership and just as a person, who is better Sisko or Dukat?
Tactical abilities
Strategical abilities
Leadership
As a person
Perhaps, we can also throw in Michael Eddington in there.
This is a tough call. They all have specific skills.
Strategical abilities & Tactical abilities: I’ll lump these together, if you don’t mind. What impressed me most with Dukat is that he was able to single-handedly wage war against the Klingon Empire with one Bird of Prey using guerilla tactics. This showed true military genius. Eddington was also forced to use similiar tactics against the Federation. Sisko faced an incredible enemy but had the backing of most of the Alpha Quadrant. That kind of management I think is more difficult and requires a keener intellect.
Leadership: All took a hands-on approach. Eddington was a martyr, which would have anyone following him eventually holding the flame. Dukat lead with an iron-fist. I think his inspiration was through fear. Sisko required his people to be better and lead by example.
As a person: This one’s easy. Sisko wins. Eddington was a self-righteous prig. Dukat was a ego-centric power-hungry disposed-of dictator. Sisko was fun to be around when he wasn’t doing prophet and captain stuff.
I’m not sure who is better, but can we at least agree than Garak is cooler than both of them.
Yes, there really should have been a lot more Garak.
It’s always interesting to me that by the end of the Dominion war, Garak became the leader of Cardassia. I know there are books out there on that subject, but since I haven’t got my hands on them, I have a hard time imagining Garak leading. 
I don’t suppose a spy have much need of leadership skills. And Garak is a man with many talents, which doesn’t strike me as much of a people person. Judging by his entertainment is to toy others with words, i think people like Garak makes very close friends, but never a lot of friends.
I guess Garak must take a pretty big make over to step into the leaders shoes.
Well, there are many types of ‘spies,’ but being able to influence people is definitely an asset.
I have a slightly different take on that. I’ll start off with Dukat.
When Dukat first decided that he will go against the Klingons, he didn’t understand the ways of guerrilla warfare. I would say Dukat isn’t a very tactically savvy person. Perhaps that is due his ego-centric personality. Dukat doesn’t pay much attention to the details of his tactics.
But in terms of strategic foresight, I’d say Dukat is the strongest of the 3. Dukat out maneuvers Sisko many times, Dukat wasn’t quick to change his plans, because he usually have a plan that is really well thought out into the future.
When Dukat allied with the Dominion, and later took over DS9, and took down the mine field, he really was winning the war. Sisko was beaten at every step at this stage of the Dominion war. It took Sisko pleading to the prophets to stop the Dominion from taking over the Alpha Quadrant.
Eddington on the other hand is better in tune with tactical decisions than strategic foresight. Eddington also out maneuvers Sisko. But his plans are elaborate plans, he usually have a small goal to achieve every time he pulls a stunt.
Eddington I think is a great leader. Man who follows him would give their lives for him. I don’t think Sisko command that kind of loyalty. Or perhaps Sisko doesn’t want that kind of blind loyalty.
As far as Sisko goes, I don’t think the show ever showed us that he is a great military mind. But he is a better leader. His success usually comes from people around him coming up with ideas and getting the job done. To have the ability to listen to those you command is a sign of a good leader.
Though I have to say, Sisko is no less of an self-righteous and ego-centric person. His feud with Eddington seemed rather pointless. To capture Eddington, he poisoned an entire planet just so that Eddington would surrender himself. Sisko was just after Eddington, not the Marquis, which along with other examples, gives me the feeling that this is a person who takes personal rivalries every seriously. And would totally flip out when his ego is bruised.
Well, I think this is cuz he’s playing the curly mustache bad guy. Their usual role is outsmart the good guy only to lose in the end.
Dukat had superior man-power though. Once the prophets intervened, they made it a level playing field and Sisko easily defeated Dukat.
was a desperate man. Never fight a desperate man, you’ll always lose.
Totally agree with you there.
Not really. It was about betrayal and more important, Star Trek never went there before. Picard and Kirk always made the right choices. Sisko was put through the ringer and didn’t always come out squeaky clean.
Before the events of Waltz, Dukat really isn’t a clear cut bad guy. He is no Palpetine or Darth Vader. I agree since eventually he played the role of a bad guy, I mean he isn’t on the regular cast, you can say his role calls for a few victories over the heroes to keep the story interesting.
But within the given universe, Sisko never defeated Dukat. Dukat was on the verge of victory when Sisko had god like prophets to do him a favor and destroy the Dominion fleet coming through the Warmhole. The unexplainable defeat and watching his daughter die for no reason caused Dukat’s insanity.
After that, Dukat never again commended an army. After them being stranded on the same planet in Waltz, Sisko would not see Dukat again until the fire caves. By then, it was no longer about Tactics or Strategy.
The Dominion never had decisive man-power advantage when Dukat was in charge. Had the reinforcement not been wiped out by the Prophets, they would have, and the Dominion would sweep across the Alpha Quadrant.
When Dukat was still leading the Dominion war, Federation had Klingons as their allies. When Sisko took the fleet and charged Dominion line to retake DS9, Klingons haven’t arrived yet, that’s why the federation was out numbered at first. Once the Klingons arrived, they broke through the Dominion line.
Afterwards, Damar took over the Dominion war effort. Sisko took the combined force of Federation Klingons and Romulans and heads off with Dominion, Cardassians and the Breen. Two sides were equally matched. But due to the Breen’s energy drainning weapons, Sisko lost the battle and lost his own ship.
In the final battle Sisko was out numbered, until the Cardassians switched sides. But by that time, no Cardassian leader was in charge of the Dominion war effort. Dukat was on Bajor and on Pa’Wraith’s quest. Damar was leading the Cardassian resistance. And the new puppet was only in charge of putting down the resistance.
I wouldn’t say Eddington was desperate. Unlike other Maquis, he is not part of the DMZ refugees. He only joined the Maquis because he identifies with the Maquis cause. The really desperate Maquis were the likes of Cal Hudson early on in season 2. After Eddington joined the Maquis with the stolen Industrial Replicators, I think the Maquis did really well, especially since the Klingons invasion of Cardassia left the Maquis unchallenged in the DMZ.
When the Dominion wiped out the Maquis, that’s when Eddington was desperate. Still, at the end he had a certain swag and calm that truly defines Michael Eddington.
I don’t think betrayal gives ground for Sisko poisoning a planet just so that Eddington would surrender.
And yes, DS9 is great because it pushed the boundaries of Star Trek, but judging by what is presented, Sisko’s went out of his way to capture Eddington just because Eddington betrayed him, is in my eyes, a rather vein and pointless motive.
I think besides being angry at Eddington for fooled him, and used the security officer position under Sisko to steal federation industrial replicators, Sisko was more mad at Eddington for using Kasidy Yates to lure him away from DS9. In the end, Sisko had to send his lover to Federation prinson, and suffered bruised ego.
There have been others who betrayed Sisko, for example, Dukat betrayed Sisko more than once, yet you don’t see Sisko going out of his way to hunt down Dukat after Dukat stranded him on forsaken planet.
Morally, Sisko is as, if not more, shady as Eddington.