i agree that the threat to gondor was vastly overstated, but sauron was definitely there. i think that part was all a justification to carry out pogroms in the east, mostly unrelated to the ongoing coup
i think it could have served a dual purpose, the threat makes people more willing to accept the new king while also giving an excuse to rape, pillage, and enslave your way through the ranks of the eastern "orcs". you come into power, and then when you do so you have an easy way to enrich yourself and your new kingdom.
i agree that the threat to gondor was vastly overstated, but sauron was definitely there. i think that part was all a justification to carry out pogroms in the east, mostly unrelated to the ongoing coup
possible, although it's also possible that everything in the east was directed by the chief conspirators, this gandalf and aragorn.
they even admit that they both spent time east (stirring up these armies, no doubt)
the pogroms i do not doubt, it's clear from the appendices what holocaust was unleashed on the people of the east and south after the war.
i think it could have served a dual purpose, the threat makes people more willing to accept the new king while also giving an excuse to rape, pillage, and enslave your way through the ranks of the eastern "orcs". you come into power, and then when you do so you have an easy way to enrich yourself and your new kingdom.