As I’ve said elsewhere, the galaxy is in Cold War type situation at the beginning. The Resistance is fighting the good fight, and the Republic is looking the other way, yet supporting them in secret. (Yes, it’s the worst kept secret in the galaxy, but that’s politics for you.) As that sure looked like Coruscant getting vaporized, things have changed drastically.
It’s a good answer, and it goes some way to making sense of it all, so thanks.
But why would they look the other way? The Galactic Empire was awful, whole systems celebrated when it was overthrown. Wouldn’t everybody want to stop the First Order before history repeats itself.
And I don’t mean stop them by supporting a small band of rebels/resistance. I mean go at them, full pelt, and STOP THEM.
I can only presume the same sort of idiots who believed a silver tongued guy like Palpatine pre Episode III thought The First Order could be appeased, or would be content to stay in it’s own sectors. (Plenty of real world examples of this.) The Rebellion might have even been dismantled by the new Republic government. Or dumb enough to sign non agression pacts with the First Order. That Leia and Ackbar seem to be running the Resistance speaks to diplomacy not really working.