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This is absurdly selective. Are there any arms manufacturing countries, including the Saints in EU and US who haven’t sold arms to repressive regimes? You don’

This is absurdly selective. Are there any arms manufacturing countries, including the Saints in EU and US who haven’t sold arms to repressive regimes? You don’t even have to scratch the surface. Is Saudi Arabia a freedom loving democracy?

29athrowaway 5y ago
1. Is this discussion about the Saudi Arabian government or the Israeli government? I also have stuff to say about Saudis too but that's not the topic right now. 2. "Oh but, what about <X>"... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism And by the way I am not anti-semitic, if that is what you were trying to imply with "absurdly selective". Israel has many high value products to export besides weapons. Israel can enjoy prosperity without having to resort to trading weapons with such regimes.
- redisman 5y ago
  I don’t think it’s whataboutism if every country in the set does it. It’s just a part of being in the business of war. If you sell arms to resolve geopolitical conflict, you’ve eventually got blood on your hands no matter how much due diligence you do.
  - 29athrowaway 5y ago
    Do you think not talking about problems will make the world better? What do you suggest I do instead? We should talk about problems when we encounter them. The more specific the better.
- raincom 5y ago
  Why should Israeli weapon manufacturers be held to higher evaluative standards than others? Whataboutism is useless to answer this question; it is a stick to beat your opponents in order to stop pursuing this line of questioning.
  - 29athrowaway 5y ago
    Is it not the point of Israel to be a Jewish state? Judaism imposes duties on each Jew. Religious duties in the form of commandments. How about following those commandments? If you say the commandments do not matter then you are saying that as a Jew, Judaism doesn't matter. In that case, you don't need a state don't you? If you want to be free to practice your religion, do it. But do it properly, not only the parts you like.

29athrowaway 5y ago

1. Is this discussion about the Saudi Arabian government or the Israeli government? I also have stuff to say about Saudis too but that's not the topic right now. 2. "Oh but, what about <X>"... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism And by the way I am not anti-semitic, if that is what you were trying to imply with "absurdly selective". Israel has many high value products to export besides weapons. Israel can enjoy prosperity without having to resort to trading weapons with such regimes.

redisman 5y ago
I don’t think it’s whataboutism if every country in the set does it. It’s just a part of being in the business of war. If you sell arms to resolve geopolitical conflict, you’ve eventually got blood on your hands no matter how much due diligence you do.
- 29athrowaway 5y ago
  Do you think not talking about problems will make the world better? What do you suggest I do instead? We should talk about problems when we encounter them. The more specific the better.
raincom 5y ago
Why should Israeli weapon manufacturers be held to higher evaluative standards than others? Whataboutism is useless to answer this question; it is a stick to beat your opponents in order to stop pursuing this line of questioning.
- 29athrowaway 5y ago
  Is it not the point of Israel to be a Jewish state? Judaism imposes duties on each Jew. Religious duties in the form of commandments. How about following those commandments? If you say the commandments do not matter then you are saying that as a Jew, Judaism doesn't matter. In that case, you don't need a state don't you? If you want to be free to practice your religion, do it. But do it properly, not only the parts you like.