Why was Quaritch upset when Jake said he was going to become part of The People?

[Ewya Ngahu]

I never understood why he was upset, as this is what he told him to do. Jake's orders were to learn the ways of the Na'vi, become trusted, and negotiate their relocation so they can extract the unobtainium. Anyone know why?

[Vauktu]

If it weren't for Jake, Quaritch would have already destroyed Hometree, but one thing became another and Quaritch's patience was beginning to draw thin.

[Ewya Ngahu]

Quaritch's patience was drawing thin. Jake kept him from destroying Hometree.

Ahh, thanks . Hopefully you're right so this question stops bothering me.

[Txim_Asawl]

If it weren't for Jake, Quaritch would have already destroyed Hometree, but one thing became another and Quaritch's patience was beginning to draw thin.

Yes, and perhaps a bit more, too, given Quaritch's opening lines of that scene "Haven't gotten lost in the woods, have you...? I'm beginning to doubt your resolve..." - he was quite aware that Jake was indeed lost - not in the woods, but to him as the by-the-book informer, just carrying out rules and obeying orders more or less blindly. Therefore, he also was quite tight-lipped about Jake getting involved in the Na'vi life by joining the tribe... he felt the first hints of betrayal coming on (his view of betrayal, that is: Jake betraying his human team).

Wiggling toes,

~*Txim Asawl*~

[This one goes to eleven]

I agree with all of these responses. Might I also add that, personally, I felt that Quaritch was extremely disappointed because, deep down, he just wanted a fight. It was his nature. Even though the RDA was supposed to be finding a "diplomatic solution", I think he was probably always hoping that he would be able to use his stick.

[ScottWashburn]

Yes, the real reason is that Quaritch doesn't want a peaceful solution. He's a warrior at heart and a warrior needs a war. Commanding a batch of mercenaries guarding a mine on a distant planet is hardly something to bring military glory to someone who craves it. But if a war were to break out, well, that opens up a world of possibilities. So, the last thing Quartich wants is for Jake to work out a peaceful solution.

[Zapgun]

Jake wasn't trained to be an infiltrator, instead he was a retired marine who got lucky and managed to find himself with an opportunity to work with/spy on the Na'Vi.

I dont think Quaritch wanted a war so much as he stubbornly believed it was an inevitable conclusion and that diplomacy was not going to work, and so he was preparing for war, and on the off chance that a peaceful solution was found, he had done his job and made sure all his bases were covered, he wasn't a warmonger, he was a soldier and a leader whose job was the protection of the base and the safety of the miners and staff, if he wasn't preparing for war even while negotiations were supposed to be under way then he wasn't doing what he was being paid to do.

If you want peace, prepare for war. For those of you who will not understand why it is thus: Peace does not always work, and when it doesn't, you have already prepared for conflict and hopefully done all you can to ensure victory.

Keep in mind a real leader does not want a fight, if he can get what he want without expending lives, time, manpower, food, and money waging war then he is doing his job. Sun Tzu, the master of war himself says this, and I am pretty sure it was required reading for Quaritch/Selfridge, especially considering their positions. War is expensive, war is costly, not just in resources but in lives.

And on a second note, Jake himself says they arent going to move, proving Quaritchs assumptions to be correct that war and conflict are an inevitable conclusion thus validating his preparations for war.

[Dreaming Of Pandora]

Im probably repeating others here.

Quaritch was eager to slam Hometree and the Na'vi, Jake said he has to try diplomacy first, Quaritch gets angry because he's impatient and that's pretty much it.

[Svansfall]

Quaritch was eager to see some violence and wasn't about to wait for a diplomatic solution. Silly bugger, he doesn't believe in diplomacy. A stable peace can never be brought through violence or by use of weaponry. Pacifism and understanding of each others differences is the way to go.

[Zapgun]

But my point is that peace does not always work. Sun Tzu knew this, and it is the reason that the saying "If you want peace, prepare for war" exists.

The best military commander doesn't wage war, because war is expensive. If he can, the military commander accomplishes his goal through non-violent means, this leaves everyone happy and is a much more efficient approach.

Quaritch believed that war was an inevitable conclusion to these talks, even though they never even took place except for a few "RUN!" remarks at the very last minute, and so he used Jake, who was not a trained infiltrator, to prepare for war to the best of his abilities. It wasn't that he was biting at the bit to unleash a bit 'o democracy on the Na'Vi, but that he was a practical man. He was hired to oversee the military side of the RDA mining operation, and this oversight probably included helping the RDA get at large deposits of unobtanium.

Isn't it a smart thing, that lots of folks do, like NASA and others to hope for the best, prepare for the worst?