What was the point of Admiral Ackbar?

IIRC, it was Nien Numb who first pointed out that the Empire was jamming the Alliance's communication and Lando who issued the order to turn around. Hell, Wedge and the other squadron leaders would've crashed into the shield without that order.

 

Maybe the point, from a narratological perspective, is simply to show the diversity of the Alliance as opposed to the Empire. Let's face it, the Empire would never place an overgrown goldfish in command of their primary battlefleet.

 

Jar-Jar offers advice and gives power to Palpentine

Jar-Jar gave power to Palpatine? Exactly how did he accomplish this?

 

Remember the emergency session of the Senate in AotC after the droid army is discovered?

 

Lando is the audience's hero during the ROTJ space battle, not Ackbar. Hence Lando is more decisive and his decisions appear to be either more correct or more courageous than Ackbar's orders.

 

By starting the vote to give the power emergency powers.

 

While technically expanded universe content, Ackbar actually posed as an imperial slave... for Tarkin, I believe it was, before the Battle of Yavin. Ackbar was Tarkin's personal pilot for years, quietly and efficiently gathering information that would be useful for the Alliance from on of the Empire's most powerful (not to mention feared) men. For a 'cowardly dumb fish alien with eyes on the side of his head' that's pretty 'core, if you ask me. Not that anyone did.

-TJ

 

That's true. According to the SW X Wing game, Ackbar actually worked on the first Death Star and gathered information about it for the Rebels. He was freed when his shuttle was attacked by Rebel X Wings while they were transporting back and forth.

 

Without "It's a trap!" I never would've experienced "It's a tarp!" on the internet.

You're right though, without reading into his role I never understood his role also. But some of your folks have stated some of the obvious now.

 

[image=http://shadowmage.plinkomedia.com/images/Admiral-Ackbar-trap.jpg]

I love Adm. Ackbar.
He, like General Dodonna, makes the greatest speeches of the OT.
He is not useless, nor is he redundant. He is also a Mon Calamari of great deep thought. He cares enough to order a retreat.
I LOVE THE GUY!

 

What's the point??

This question's a trap!!!

 

Silly anti-Ackbarites, don't you know that

[image=http://sordeo.com/fark/alph-ackbar.jpg]

 

How do Ackbar's people live out of the water?

 

There are many things that live in the sea but breathe air.

 

To show how accepting the rebel Alliance was of diverse alien lifeforms.

And to explain that there had been a trap set for those audience members a little slow on the uptake.