Setting aside my love for TLJ, I must say the movie contains what is IMO the most problematic line of dialogue in the ST, which is: “Selling weapons to the First Order”. Is Rose really telling us that the New Republic is run by a bunch of paupers who can’t afford shit? Even then I called bullshit.
Okay, so the New Republic didn’t want a strong military, because they didn’t want the temptation of becoming like the Old Empire, and they didn’t want to intimidate their member worlds.
But then, by doing so, they were able to be destroyed by the First Order.
Rose is upset about lifeforms selling weapons to the First Order, and getting rich, and that’s a real world reference to weapons manufacturers, to make the story relevant to younger audiences.
It seems like a no-win situation.
Strong military=you become corrupt fascists.
Weaken your military=you become vulnerable to terrorists/future fascists.