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I can't take this author seriously. They seem to live in some perfect world divorced from reality. I'm sorry, but these defence companies are the reason that yo

I can't take this author seriously. They seem to live in some perfect world divorced from reality. I'm sorry, but these defence companies are the reason that you can enjoy a liberal democracy that protects your LGBQT+ rights. There's no end to the authoritarian governments (or 'regimes') that oppress their citizens, and would like to oppress others through imperial ambitions. I would rather than a strong defence sector and have safety for myself, my family, and my fellow citizens than virtue signal to others that I am somehow above silly things such as 'war'.

1oooqooq 2y ago
you seem to imply you are personally benefiting from wars abroad and that they somehow protect you.
- flumpcakes 2y ago
  Yes, a strong military protects you. See: all of human history. Do you think Ukrainians would perhaps have personally benefited if they still had their nuclear deterrence? Or if they had been given 10x military aid before February 2022? The fact is Anduril systems are deployed in Ukraine today, helping to protect Ukrainian lives. If you want to see what happens when you don't have a strong military, look to Bucha.
  - 1oooqooq 2y ago
    having a strong military defense and being an active imperialist invader is completely different. in fact, the later will bring violence to you which the strong military cannot or is not willing to protect you against.
- jgilias 2y ago
  I live in a NATO country, less than 200 kilometers from the Russian border. I personally benefit from any and all military edge that the West has.
- Sabinus 2y ago
  Why would England declare war on Germany for invading Poland? Because security and deterrence involves a lot more than just 'is Russia invading us right now'.
preisschild 2y ago
Completely agree. We live in a time and world where it is extremely important that EUrope needs to have a strong defense sector. Russia won't stop just because we continue investing nothing into defense and sing kumbaya at the border.
stefan_ 2y ago
I'm sure the author was given an appropriate spiel, but it just screams naivety. No, the guys operating recon drones in Ukraine are not in permanent PTSD at the horrors and evil of the "drone warfare", it's the highlight of their day if them looking at mostly nothing for hours can help their countrymen who are fighting in much more exposed roles.
- llamaimperative 2y ago
  > the guys operating recon drones in Ukraine are not in permanent PTSD at the horrors and evil of the "drone warfare", it's the highlight of their day if them looking at mostly nothing for hours can help their countrymen who are fighting in much more exposed roles. These are not mutually exclusive
crote 2y ago
> I'm sorry, but these defence companies are the reason that you can enjoy a liberal democracy that protects your LGBQT+ rights. Are they really, though? Did Lockheed-Martin sponsor the Stonewall rioters? Did any arms company threaten to cancel supply contracts if the US didn't introduce nationwide gay marriage? Did they withdraw support from anti-trans legislators? How come countries without a huge military-industrial complex also have LGBTQ+ rights - often even stronger ones than the US? And what about people living in other countries? The US has supported quite a lot of tyrannical regimes - often by aiding overthrowing democratic governments. Those arms companies are directly aiding authoritarian governments in oppressing their citizens. Do those people not deserve the same freedoms you enjoy? Your comment might make some sense if defense companies were actually used for defense. You know, like Japan's Self-Defense Force, which is constitutionally forbidden from using threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. But that's not the world we live in. The US military is primarily used to start wars and oppress people, and the very recent developments in Ukraine do not change several decades of history.
- flumpcakes 2y ago
  > How come countries without a huge military-industrial complex also have LGBTQ+ rights - often even stronger ones than the US? I'm guessing these countries already have existing ties to the 'west' and would be militarily protected by them. How many countries have both strong LGBTQ+ rights and also categorically wouldn't be militarily aided by the US/the west in case of war? There are many small progressive countries without a strong MIC, but rely on others for protection and use their existing MIC. For example most NATO countries.

1oooqooq 2y ago

you seem to imply you are personally benefiting from wars abroad and that they somehow protect you.

flumpcakes 2y ago
Yes, a strong military protects you. See: all of human history. Do you think Ukrainians would perhaps have personally benefited if they still had their nuclear deterrence? Or if they had been given 10x military aid before February 2022? The fact is Anduril systems are deployed in Ukraine today, helping to protect Ukrainian lives. If you want to see what happens when you don't have a strong military, look to Bucha.
- 1oooqooq 2y ago
  having a strong military defense and being an active imperialist invader is completely different. in fact, the later will bring violence to you which the strong military cannot or is not willing to protect you against.
jgilias 2y ago
I live in a NATO country, less than 200 kilometers from the Russian border. I personally benefit from any and all military edge that the West has.
Sabinus 2y ago
Why would England declare war on Germany for invading Poland? Because security and deterrence involves a lot more than just 'is Russia invading us right now'.

preisschild 2y ago

Completely agree. We live in a time and world where it is extremely important that EUrope needs to have a strong defense sector. Russia won't stop just because we continue investing nothing into defense and sing kumbaya at the border.

stefan_ 2y ago

I'm sure the author was given an appropriate spiel, but it just screams naivety. No, the guys operating recon drones in Ukraine are not in permanent PTSD at the horrors and evil of the "drone warfare", it's the highlight of their day if them looking at mostly nothing for hours can help their countrymen who are fighting in much more exposed roles.

llamaimperative 2y ago
> the guys operating recon drones in Ukraine are not in permanent PTSD at the horrors and evil of the "drone warfare", it's the highlight of their day if them looking at mostly nothing for hours can help their countrymen who are fighting in much more exposed roles. These are not mutually exclusive

crote 2y ago

> I'm sorry, but these defence companies are the reason that you can enjoy a liberal democracy that protects your LGBQT+ rights. Are they really, though? Did Lockheed-Martin sponsor the Stonewall rioters? Did any arms company threaten to cancel supply contracts if the US didn't introduce nationwide gay marriage? Did they withdraw support from anti-trans legislators? How come countries without a huge military-industrial complex also have LGBTQ+ rights - often even stronger ones than the US? And what about people living in other countries? The US has supported quite a lot of tyrannical regimes - often by aiding overthrowing democratic governments. Those arms companies are directly aiding authoritarian governments in oppressing their citizens. Do those people not deserve the same freedoms you enjoy? Your comment might make some sense if defense companies were actually used for defense. You know, like Japan's Self-Defense Force, which is constitutionally forbidden from using threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. But that's not the world we live in. The US military is primarily used to start wars and oppress people, and the very recent developments in Ukraine do not change several decades of history.

flumpcakes 2y ago
> How come countries without a huge military-industrial complex also have LGBTQ+ rights - often even stronger ones than the US? I'm guessing these countries already have existing ties to the 'west' and would be militarily protected by them. How many countries have both strong LGBTQ+ rights and also categorically wouldn't be militarily aided by the US/the west in case of war? There are many small progressive countries without a strong MIC, but rely on others for protection and use their existing MIC. For example most NATO countries.