Many politicians seem eager that we should give weapons to people in support of our foreign-policy agenda. Arming Syrian rebels would be an example

Of course we have plenty of our own experience in how this can go badly wrong. Four example we are the jihadists in their struggle to expel Soviet union from Afghanistan. That did not work out so well

And now we have someone else's example to consider. It seems likely that the airliner in Ukraine was shot down with a missile. And all the details are not certain. It seems likely that someone in Russia decided to support the struggle of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine. And they likely thought it was a good idea to provide them with antiaircraft missiles so they could fight the Ukraine government better. Who ever made the decision but he did not consider the possibility that these missiles would be used to shoot down a civilian airliner. But that is likely what happened

My point being that when we provide arms to people in all good faith. We really have very little idea how these armaments will ultimately be used. We don't know where they will end up. Or who will use them

We left lots of military hardware behind for the Iraqi army. And now
Of that equipment is in the hands of radical Islamic fundamentalists

Why do we keep making this same mistake over and over and over again?

"It's not a lie if you believe it." -- George Costanza
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves. --Bertrand Russel