system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[avatar: TheLastAirbender] why sozin hunted the dragons?

 I don't understand, why kill something that could be incredibly useful for war?
gpt
If dragons are the embodiment of the power of firebending, then by killing them, you've shown that you are truly a great fire bender of legend. And you do that, and other higher-ups follow your lead, until before you know it they're all gone.

It wasn't a smart move, sure. Everyone agrees in universe. But it's what he did.