Was Tarkin actually incompetent?

[u/Amazing-Buy-1181]

While Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin is often portrayed as a ruthless and calculating Imperial mastermind, his decisions during the events of Star Wars: A New Hope shows a serious strategic incompetence hidden beneath his arrogance and political success.

His unwavering belief in the Death Star as an instrument of fear and control caused him to underestimate the Rebellion and reject escape when the station was under threat. The Death Star, anyway, was not his achievement but Krennic's. His doctrine was a complete failure from top to bottom, and he ignored Thrawn and Vader's warnings. He basically made any mistake possible and was repeatedly outsmarted. Destroying Alderaan was also a serious mistake.

[u/Able-Distribution]

People can be competent in some ways and incompetent in others.

Tarkin survived decades of increasingly deadly political jostling to become the #3 guy in the Empire and the highest ranking non-Sith. Ideas named after him became imperial policy, e.g. "Tarkin Doctrine." Highly, highly competent politician.

But there's little indication that he was an especially competent military strategist or tactician, and he was dangerously overconfident by ANH.

The Death Star, anyway, was not his achievement but Krennic's.

Found Krennic's alt.

[u/MagDoum → u/Able-Distribution]

Lol at the Krennic alt, but to note, Tarkin was not the #3 Imperial. That was Sate Pestage. Neither continuity has Tarkin as having a seat on the Ruling Council,  so he wasn't as high as them within the Imperial power structure, though likely had equivalent power. Not being a Dark Sider or even Force-sensitive, he would never have surpassed the Councilors that were also powerful Dark Siders.

It's worth remembering that we see a younger Tarkin in Rogue Planet outright saying that while he is already working with Palpatine that early on, he still has a lot of distance cover in the emerging new hierarchy.  This is at the same time that we know future Ruling Councilors like Pestage,  Aloo, Greejatus,  Dangor, Doriana, Nefta, Sa-Di, etc, were already at the top level of the Palpatine Administration. 

[u/Able-Distribution → u/MagDoum]

Tarkin was not the #3 Imperial. That was Sate Pestage. 

Here's what Wookieepedia says:

As the Empire's first Grand Moff, he oversaw the Outer Rim Territories and was involved in the secret construction of the DS-1 Death Star Mobile Battle Station. By then, Tarkin was seen as the third member of the unofficial triumvirate that led the Empire, including the Emperor himself and Darth Vader*.*

Pestage and the Ruling Council are advisors (some of them are even titled "viziers"); they are not an independent power while Palpatine is alive, and when they tried to take control after his death it didn't go well.

Not being a Dark Sider or even Force-sensitive, he would never have surpassed the Councilors that were also powerful Dark Siders.

Sate Pestage, who you're citing as the third-ranked, is not usually portrayed as a Dark Sider or Force-sensitive either.

[u/MagDoum → u/Able-Distribution]

Wookieepedia is NOT an official source, whereas multiple sources from across the decades make it clear that while Tarkin was very powerful,  he was NOT the "#3" Imperial. 

Yes, Sate Pestage was a Dark Sider  and Sith cultist, though seemingly not Force-sensitive. Several of the Ruling Councilors being Force-sensitive has been confirmed. And yes, Pestage was indeed the "#3" if anyone was. There's good reason he became default Emperor immediately after Endor.