The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the force, but having both on your side makes you pretty unstoppable.

http://fliiby.com/file/77...zq7fg.html

funny... but sad...

Fuuny and sad. Sad that I am going to tell you why the clip is flawed.

1) The Death Star's laser can not destroy a gas giant.

2) The Death Star needs time to charge up the laser.

3) The movie needed 20 more minutes.

4) Even if the DS could blow up the gas giant (Yavin) doing so would also destroy the Moon and the base. (The sudden change in gravity would cause it to spin wildly out of control and would also be pulverized by what was left of yavin.

5) In reality given the standard way governments do stuff I think the Tarkin would have done what he did in the movie. And when the DS was blown up a few 1000 star destroyers would hyperspace in and kill the rebels.
[Edited 10/5/09 10:42am]