I wonder if he was expecting Sheridan to notice a connection between Londo's recent rise in power and Londo wanting Morden free? Not that it would have helped in the end.
Which brings up the interesting question of why Sheridan, pre season 4, never made an attempt to get Londo of the station, because I'd say by the end of season 2 at the latest it was obvious that Londo and the Shadows had a connection. Granted, before Babylon 5's secession from Earth, Londo has diplomatic immunity, but afterwards, as Bester cynically but not inaccurately phrases it, B5 isn't a democracy but a military dictatorship, meaning Sheridan has absolute authority until season 5.
I think Delenn was completely wrong, though, when she said that Morden would talk sooner or later if Sheridan kept trying. Wouldn't the Shadows just get him out if he seemed about to talk? But I doubt he would have talked anyway, since he's not their servant. He's their associate. He believes completely in what he's doing, and he isn't about to ruin things for himself.
Ah, but I don't think Delenn sees it that way. (Or Kosh, for that matter.) From her pov, the Shadows are evil and destructive, and not able to command someone's loyalty or bravery. So she assumes that a) Morden is a minion, and b) he's going to spill after enough pressure. Remember that Delenn is disturbed when Sheridan says he's trying the situation from the Shadows' pov in late season 3?
As for whether or not Morden would have talked: if Sheridan had used actual torture, presumably he would have because Morden is still human. If it had been "solely" prison and verbal intimidation? No.
And the rest of the Minbari aren't much better - one of them says that the war can't be stopped because it's taken on a life of its own, which is a handy way of making it everyone's war but no-one's fault.
Londo is prone to saying "I have no choice" re: the Narn/Centauri war as well, but in his case, not only does Vir point out that it isn't true but Londo himself comes to realize later on it wasn't, and in any event the show never gives us reason to assume we're supposed to believe he doesn't. Which is one reason why I think B5 handles the Narn/Centauri storyline more realistically than the Human/Minbari backstory.
(II)
Which brings up the interesting question of why Sheridan, pre season 4, never made an attempt to get Londo of the station, because I'd say by the end of season 2 at the latest it was obvious that Londo and the Shadows had a connection. Granted, before Babylon 5's secession from Earth, Londo has diplomatic immunity, but afterwards, as Bester cynically but not inaccurately phrases it, B5 isn't a democracy but a military dictatorship, meaning Sheridan has absolute authority until season 5.
I think Delenn was completely wrong, though, when she said that Morden would talk sooner or later if Sheridan kept trying. Wouldn't the Shadows just get him out if he seemed about to talk? But I doubt he would have talked anyway, since he's not their servant. He's their associate. He believes completely in what he's doing, and he isn't about to ruin things for himself.
Ah, but I don't think Delenn sees it that way. (Or Kosh, for that matter.) From her pov, the Shadows are evil and destructive, and not able to command someone's loyalty or bravery. So she assumes that a) Morden is a minion, and b) he's going to spill after enough pressure. Remember that Delenn is disturbed when Sheridan says he's trying the situation from the Shadows' pov in late season 3?
As for whether or not Morden would have talked: if Sheridan had used actual torture, presumably he would have because Morden is still human. If it had been "solely" prison and verbal intimidation? No.
And the rest of the Minbari aren't much better - one of them says that the war can't be stopped because it's taken on a life of its own, which is a handy way of making it everyone's war but no-one's fault.
Londo is prone to saying "I have no choice" re: the Narn/Centauri war as well, but in his case, not only does Vir point out that it isn't true but Londo himself comes to realize later on it wasn't, and in any event the show never gives us reason to assume we're supposed to believe he doesn't. Which is one reason why I think B5 handles the Narn/Centauri storyline more realistically than the Human/Minbari backstory.