The other thing that private arms buys you is international support. If you show that you can make the most of limited offensive capabilities, you attract allies whose interests are aligned to your own, as seen from the American Revolution to modern-day Ukraine.

If you disarm and roll over meekly, nobody is going to want to help you.

And if you know anything about Rahm Emanuel's background, you'd think he'd be the one waving this particular banner, but... (shrug)