Egwene actually has a huge power base, and it is growing. She is the Amyrlin, and has the powers of the office. She has the power of the purse, she can spend Tower money where she wants. She has the power of appointment. She can appoint Sisters who are loyal to her to positions of power, she can appoint Sisters who are troublemakers to far meaningless offices. Elaida sent Teslyn to Ebou Dar. She has the power to deal with rulers of other countries.

Egwene power is also growing. Egwene already has Sitters who are loyal to her including Doesine, Yukiri, and Saerin. After the Sitters, and Ajah heads the next 4 most influencai Aes Sedai are loyal to Egwene. Nyneave the most powerful Aes Sedai, Elayne the next most powerful Aes Sedai, Silviana the Keeper, and the Mistress of Novices. Egwene also brought 1500 new novices into the Tower. The existing novices are loyal to Egwene, the 1500 new novices will be loyal to her. In the next 20 years most if not all of these will become Aes Sedai and will tend to be loyal to Egwene.



What is wrong with wanting to be the best? Most people will follow someone who is the best. Isn't being a leader getting to follow you? Sports teams are always asking there best players to be leaders on their teams. To help the other talented players get the most out of their ability.



The vision thing like opening the apprentice book to anyone with the ability to channel not matter how old and how strong? The vision thing like getting the Windfinders and Wise Ones to exchange their channelers in training with the Tower? The vision thing about making the Tower more responsive the people in Randland.



Your position Egwene is not a good leader because she hasn't transformed the Tower into perfection in the less than 3 weeks she has been Amyrlin of the united Tower? Why did Egwene insist Nyneave take the test? She wanted Nyneave to have the support of the Aes Sedai. Cadsuane and other Aes Sedai did not treat Nyneave with the respect she deserved. Egwene wanted Nyneave to advise her which would be easier if Nyneave took the test and the Three Oaths. Good leaders get good people to help them. So she changed her mind about the Three Oaths. Everybody changes their mind. Egwene listened to Siuan, thought about it and changed her mind. Winston Churchill changed his party twice. Does that make Churchill a bad leader? Churchill is regarded as the best war time leader in the 20th Century. So what is she hasn't come to terms with the Seanchan yet? You say John McCain went to Vietnam without personal grudges. Yea, 30 years later. What do you think McCain's feelings were less than two years after he was realeased from North Vietnam?

Egwene isn't perfect but no one in the books has been perfect.