I think you and parent are reading things into the comment that isn't there. On one axis, there's volume and sophistication of arms. On another axis, there's

I think you and parent are reading things into the comment that isn't there. On one axis, there's volume and sophistication of arms. On another axis, there's culpability, righteousness, and what comes after. No requirement to intermingle the two. Examples of genocide aren't germane to the observation that heavier weapons increase the intensity of civil war conflicts. That's why UN arms embargoes have historically always been a first step.