Strategy isn't a military term; it's a generic one that can be applied to multiple contexts.
Military and political strategy are two legitimate but vastly different disciplines.
Given the scope, scale, and intricacies of Palpatine's decades+ long manipulation of the Republic, the Separatists, and the Clone Wars, it's perfectly legitimate to say Palpatine is vastly better strategist than Thrawn unless you're referring to military strategy specifically, in which case he's not close at all.
Originally posted by SheevVader was able to peer into Thrawn's mind -- he just couldn't decipher it:
Ya, makes sense.I am curious though- why wouldn't Vader's tp work on Thrawn? Do the Chiss have some kind of blanked immunity to tp?
Taking a deep breath, Anakin stretched out to the Force. The texture of Thrawn's mind was unlike anything Anakin had ever touched before. It was neat and well ordered, the patterns of thought flowing smoothly and precisely in ways not unlike those of scientists or mathematicians. But the content of that flow, and the muted emotions accompanying it, were completely opaque. It was like a neat and precise array of unfamiliar numbers.
For a long moment, Vader gazed at him, trying to read that alien mind. But if there was duplicity hidden behind those glowing red eyes, he couldn't sense it.
Originally posted by Darth ThorTarkin was a decent military tactician, but he was a better politician.
I guess with Tarkin we assume that he must that good given he outranks Vader. And his back story seems to suggest he would be a tactical expert.
As for why Tarkin outranked Vader: that had less to do with Tarkin being a tactical genius, and more to do with him being loyal to Sheev ever since his Senatorial days on Naboo. Palpatine rewarded Tarkin by giving him more power/authority than anyone in the Empire(barring himself, and Vader later on) ever had.