It is semantics, illegal arms trafficking is a subset of the global market for arms.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_trafficking

nxzero said nothing about legality.

Given he's called a "criminal kingpin" and compared to Viktor Bout, the merchant of death, pretty safe to assume he wasn't selling weapons legally.

I quoted you talking about the U.S.!

Then, I don't understand what you're comment means. Happy to respond again if you'd clarify want you intended.

'Arms dealer': one who sells arms. The point he is making is that, regardless of what is considered legitimate, both this individual and the U.S. government are, by definition, arms dealers.

Or at least that the U.S. is an arms dealer.

No. 'Arms dealer' refers to illegal arms dealers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_trafficking#Notable_arms_...

Agree, US is not a "dealer" they're an "exporter" -- and no one selling weapons for a government would ever offically refer to themselves as an arms dealer.

'Arms dealer' = illegal arms trafficker