I Ruined Lord of the Rings.

[Gate Troll]

Did Sauron realise that the ring could be destroyed?

Btw the only ruining of LOTR was creating Erkenbrands HORN (LOL)

Too true.

[DáinIronfoot]

Did Sauron realise that the ring could be destroyed?

A good question. One would certainly think so, but I can't think of where (if anywhere) Tolkien provides a clear answer.

[finisterle]

Sitting/Floating inside Mount Doom would have caused logistical problems no end for Sauron.
It was better to have a grand army that would increase the chances of finding the ring swiftly than anything else.

[Chang]

simple. someone answered this question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yqVD0swvWU

i think it would have been much simpler this way.

[MR. Lurtzy]

There are so many problems with that way, it would have never worked.

[Not a Zombie]

like winged nazgual? and the fact that the eagles wouldn't have cooperated... read the council of elrond again. And lets not forget, the eagles can't fly very far bearing someone, let alone four people (read the part where gandalf escapes from isengaurd)

Besides that, hilarious video

[Elessar's Socks]

The proper way to do it is StarCraft style--kill every single enemy unit on the map, and then send in the lone drone carrying the crystal Frodo.

Personally I figure the eagles would refuse to aid the quest directly because [insert reason here]; otherwise, they're just too convenient not to even consider using at some point. This page sums up one method.

[MR. Lurtzy]

His argument involving the flying nazgul is very weak.

[Not a Zombie]

"As I mention elsewhere on this page, Tolkien doesn't tell us exactly how long it takes for Gwaihir and the other eagles to fly from the Black Gate to Mt. Doom to rescue Frodo and Sam, but I would guess that it could not be more than an hour or so. The Ring becomes stronger as it nears Mt. Doom, but could even this strengthened Ring wholly take over the will of an eagle in as little as an hour? Tolkien doesn't give us the information to answer this question one way or the other (thus, cannot say that he has ruled out the "eagles" plan on these grounds).

However, I would be very surprised if this were so. There is no instance in the text where the Ring takes control of anyone's will this quickly (even taking into consideration that the Ring was not as strong earlier in the story). Powerful individuals such as Gandalf and Aragorn travel with the Ringbearer over a period of months without being corrupted by it. "

What about Gollum?