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They didn't have much of a choice. The war went from tiny embers here and there to an all out galactic war against trillions of battle droids in one day. Who was going to lead the clones? They had leadership up to captain, but no generals to actually lead large scale battles. If they didn't it might have been left to bounty hunters or something like that. The Republic had a fleet, hence why there are admirals all over the place, but no generals outside of the Jedi.
I mean in George's universe. The Jedi were basically drafted by Palpatine. They didn't have much choice.
With that said, (in the EU) it wasn't something they took lightly. And they constantly questioned their role in the war. (I highly recommend reading Jedi: Mace Windu.)
I think in hindsight, the Jedi should have tried to stay out of the war. But in the moment, knowing only what they know. They are making the best of a horrible lose/lose situation.
They're peacekeepers so yes...if there's no other choice, they will fight to restore peace.
People often misinterpret what Mace Windu said about the Jedi "not being soldiers" since the context was "there isn't enough of us to protect the Republic" in a war.
The Jedi aren't an army but they fight and lead if necessary.
By the time the Clone Wars had started the noose was already around the Jedi Order's neck. Whether or not they participated Palpatine had already taken control of the Republic and Order 66 was inevitable.
The jedi had a moral obligation to support the "good" side. Their involvement lead to their downfall, but if they hadn't gotten involved Palpatine would have twisted public opinion against the jedi. Claiming they were sitting on their hands and perched in an ivory tower. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. As a checkered blazer clad double-crosser once said: the game was rigged from the start.
Yes and no.
Yes, they should have helped since that’s what they do, plus with the Sith on the loose, they needed to tie up a few loose ends.
No, they shouldn’t have become Generals. The folly of the Jedi were losing their way of guardians who serve the people and becoming lapdogs who serve the government.
No, but they had lost their way and become dogmatic lapdogs of the republic a long time before they started so they had little choice.
Yes, but not as Generals. They should have only offered aid. Setting up hospitals, making sure food and supplies get to civilians, escorting refugees.
They were taught from birth to use violence as a last resort. But the Jedi Council, over the centuries, became little more than tools of a Senate they knew was corrupt.
Honestly it happened because there were people who sat on the High Council for centuries, they are stuck in their ways and don't like new ideas. Like helping individuals.
The Jedi ordered the clones…
Yes, the opposition is a literal sith lord, committing numerous warcrimes against civilian populations
Yoda is the one who started the war, so yes?
Do you mean in a leadership sense in that he either turned a blind eye or covered up any jedi order shortcomings, or that he literally said "begun, the clone wars have"?
In that he lead a massive military first strike on a key separatist world in an effort to decapitate the separatist leadership.
After the Senate votes to give emergency powers to Palpatine used to create an army. That army was going to Geonosis with or without Yoda.
Not as military generals for one side. And, moreover, they should never have let whatever involvement they did have derail their investigation into the Sith.
If anything, they should have been mediators and overseen humanitarian (sapient-itarian?) relief efforts.
Yes, and it's a completely silly notion that Jedi somehow should've stayed away.
As others have said, the Jedi Order wasn't really given a choice of not joining the war, or more specifically the choice was to let themselves be slaughtered or take this suspiciously convenient Clone Army. And if they did allow Dooku to massacre them on Geonosis, or sacrifice ObiWan, Anakin and Padme, well then Dooku would attack the Republic later anyway, since the plan was already on schedule.
Not to mention, can you imagine if the Jedi didn't join the war? The very same people online who cry how Jedi lost their way would castigate them for not using their great power for greater good and cry how many people would be saved if only Jedi joined the war.