At first I was a bit skeptical about the 14/88 thing, admittedly it did sound like it could plausibly have been 2 random numbers of tanks(maybe it is anyways it doesn’t really matter tbh it’s still being used to defend a client state of Imperialism) but after seeing this comment, idk. This almost makes me double down as illogical as that sounds. The entire analysis is ridiculous and I almost thought it was a joke.
Take a look at these old fashioned weighing scales.
Behold, one side is heavier than the other. It is lower than the lighter side.
We can take weight off from the heavier side. The scales balance. Both sides would be at the same height.
Or we can add weight to the lighter side. The scales balance. Both sides would be at the same height.
But what we cannot do, is add weight to the lighter side, and watch it come into balance with the heavier side, while claiming that we took weight off the heavier side.
Neither can we take weight off the heavier side, watch the scales balance out, while claiming to have added weight to lighter side.
Two things may begin different and become indistinguishable. But their growing similarity, as an isolated fact, does not tell us which side changed.
Edit: typo x2