[ImFatYoureFat]

The down voting is really strange.

If he is Israeli, and in his mid twenties then he has already served in the IDF, likely in a CS capacity. Also if he was Sherut Leumi, then I wouldn't think he would apply for a military contract job in the first place. Furthermore, its especially difficult for people with highly desirable backgrounds like CS or engineering to get Sherut approval.

My only point was that an Israeli in their mid twenties has already served in the military and if they have, or plan to get a degree in CS, they have served in the military in a capacity relating to CS or engineering.

Of course it's totally possible that I'm wrong and he is from Israel.

Just out of curiosity, anyone have any explanations of the down voting? Don't really mind, I just find it kind of bizarre.

[adbge]

The only explanation I can think of for you being downvoted is, well, ignorance. Perhaps HNers are not familiar with Israel's policy of mandatory military service and thought your remark was somehow prejudiced.

As far as small aggressive countries that _aren't_ Israel, how about Georgia, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, or Greece?

[sprout]

I read "famously aggressive little country" with 'little' as a diminutive, not necessarily a literal description of size.

I could easily see myself referring to my native USA with that phrase.

[SkyMarshal]

Was trying to figure it out too. The problem is the dual criteria:

famously aggressive + develops their own military technology.

Who is known for developing their own military technology? US, Russia, China, Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, Israel, North Korea, Iran, Iraq (the last two only if WMD accusations are true)...?

Pretty much everyone else buys their military technology from China, Russia, US, France, or Israel, be it AK47s, F15s, or silkworm and exocet missiles.

So, which among the countries that manufacture military hardware are famously aggressive? Well, lately that's pretty much the US and Israel. Maybe Russia with the Chechen and Georgian thing, and maybe China with Tibet and threats vs. Taiwan. North Korea, but is anyone there actually allowed to learn English much less programming?

'Little' I also took to be diminutive, not literal.

[someperson]

I'm fairly certain Pakistan also develops its military hardware in house, it is a a large weapon exporter after all.

[ImFatYoureFat]

see those were my two guesses: Taiwan or Pakistan.

[hifastius]

wait, Saudi arabia is a small & aggressive country? who was the last guy they attacked?

[nandemo]

I don't think this is reason enough for downvoting, but I'm not sure how "he would have already spent time in the military if he was Israeli" is relevant. Nothing that he says implies that he hasn't spent time in the military.