Intriguing, and very plausible. Have you read Kirill Yeskov's The Last Ringbearer? Though a somewhat atrocious translation from the Russian (at least the version I read was), the author's more geography-based approach to the story and his recasting of the orcs and the Southrons as unwilling invaders who would really rather be back home, offers yet another slant on the War of the Ring. Salon.com posted an essay by the author (much better translated than the book!) about why he chose to write it.