When Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) was revealed to be genetically engineered, he could have helped win Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Dominion War, but instead, he was a liability. Dr. Bashir was exposed as an Augment in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 5, episode 16, "Dr. Bashir, I Presume?" As a child, Julian's severe developmental setbacks were solved by his parents illegally submitting him for DNA sequencing. Genetic manipulation is banned in the United Federation of Planets, and Bashir hid his true nature for most of his life.
After Dr. Bashir was outed as an Augment, he was allowed to remain as Chief Medical Officer on Deep Space Nine, and his father, Richard Bashir (Brian George), went to prison in his stead. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 6, episode 9, "Statistical Probabilities," Dr. Bashir came to oversee Jack (Tim Ransom), Lauren (Hilary Shepard-Turner), Patrick (MIchael Keenan), and Sarina (Faith C. Sallie), four misfit "mutants" were also genetically engineered as children. Bashir's Augments applied their combined brain power to the problem of the Dominion War, and they concluded the Federation was doomed to lose.
Dr. Bashir Was A Liability Instead Of Ending Star Trek: DS9’s Dominion War
Julian actually advised Captain Sisko to surrender
With his enhanced intellect, one would think Dr. Julian Bashir could have applied himself to finding a way to end the Dominion War in the Federation's favor. Instead, Bashir supported Jack, Lauren, Patrick, and Sarina's analysis that the Dominion War was unwinnable in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's "Statistical Probabilities." Bashir even took their finding to Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), mapping out the doomsday scenario of the Federation surrendering to save 900 billion lives. Bashir claimed five generations would live under Dominion rule until a rebellion eventually rises to overthrow the Founders.
Captain Sisko rightfully balked at Dr. Bashir's "advice on how to lose" the Dominion War. It's surprising how quickly Bashir believed the worst-case scenario and didn't question the mathematical conclusions of his fellow Augments. Eventually, Julian realized the Federation couldn't surrender, yet he was continually disheartened by the doom and gloom of the war. The pessimistic Bashir was always one of the first to bemoan how hopeless the war seemed, yet he stayed in his lane as a doctor and didn't choose to apply his own intellect to helping the Federation beat the Dominion.
Star Trek: DS9 Won The Dominion War By Not Listening To Bashir
Starfleet and the Federation prevailed
Captain Sisko did eventually lead Starfleet to victory in the Dominon War, as the Federation and their allies, including the Romulans and the Klingons, eventually turned the tide. Sisko himself committed a secret war crime by tricking the Romulans into fighting the Dominion alongside the Federation. But Deep Space Nine's Captain never considered Dr. Bashir's counsel to surrender in order to save billions of lives from the Dominion.
Augments like Dr. Julian Bashir did not play a definitive part in Starfleet winning Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Dominion War.
Section 31 took an interest in Dr. Bashir and attempted to recruit him because Julian had a genetically engineered intellect. Section 31's Luther Sloan (William Sadler) saw Bashir as a potential tool to end the Dominion War, but Julian refused to join Starfleet's black ops agency. But Dr. Bashir was a key player in the Dominion War. The Dominion kidnapped Bashir and temporarily replaced him with a Changeling in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 5. The Dominion knew Dr. Bashir had the potential to decide the war, but Julian himself preferred to continue his role as a doctor. Ultimately, Augments like Dr. Julian Bashir did not play a definitive part in Starfleet winning Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Dominion War.
