Quote Originally Posted by Errorname View Post
Going just off memory I think Obi-Wan sends them a message saying he's found the Separatist council at a droid factory where they're making an army, at which point he is captured. This is how Anakin and Padme know to go after him, but it also means the Council are aware that the Separatists are mobilizing for war and have a Jedi captive.
Quote Originally Posted by Keltest View Post
You are correct. Anakin actually specifically knows because he was the bridge beween Obi-wan and the Council. He passes on the message like Obi-wan asks, and then he and Padme fret a bit before going to rescue him themselves.
That's fair for the army. But even then, prioritizing a Jedi prisoner over crippling the actual army they had is a horrible tactical decision, if the Jedi are going to commingle with the army. Doubly so by having the Jedi and the army be almost entirely separated. And even further exacerbated when they know there is already another Jedi actively working on freeing the captive.

It's still about getting things to happen without telling us why, or decisions being made which are objectively bad.