But assume for this scenario that there is quite a lot of support for the building of a real Warfleet and Army in many of the colonies, particularly those along the frontier and facing borders along future and former antagonists. That Starfleet will oppose a new rival for resources, funding and personnel is obvious. Build a Federation Warfleet and Army to do the real work of defending the Federation while Starfleet is free to do its explorer fleet. So in this scenario a number of Federation officers have simply had enough of Starfleets pussyfooting with the Cardassians and resign from the Federation. Starfleet is seen as unable or unwilling to defend the colonies. And we do know that the Federation, for whatever reason, did not commit sufficient forces to stop the Cardassian attacks into their territory.

There is much dispute on just how bad the border wars were for the Federation, but what can not be disputed was how bad they were for the Colonists. We know from Canon that the Border wars wasn't a big deal to the Federation as the bulk of the Fleet was held back. The Cardassian border wars are raging and Colonies are being attacked and in some cases razed to the ground.

Star trek birth of the federation mod