I don't think you can dismiss this as just whataboutism. There is at least some recognition in every legal system that law is largely about how previous cases w

I don't think you can dismiss this as just whataboutism. There is at least some recognition in every legal system that law is largely about how previous cases with similar facts have been handled. This is probably how human normative systems work. The whole point of international law is that everyone agrees to limit their own freedom of action in exchange for the other guy doing the same. Once violations are openly tolerated and even accepted as legitimate, the norms lose their compelling force.