Interesting debate, if the personal attacks are ignored. I'm usually impressed with the intelligence of alfaromeo's posts, and feel like his "BS" calls probably are accurate in at least reining in speculative comments. I've been on the inside of decisions before, then had to listen to what SOUNDS like intelligent discussion about it later which is in fact totally uninformed and bogus... so I can empathize with his getting heated when he perceives hindsight comments to be false and discrediting. On the other hand, I'm almost 100% impressed with Bar's posts--while he may not have been present at the actual decisions, and may in fact be completely wrong about what went down and was in folks minds, at least he's intelligently thinking about it, and CLEARLY studying the issues about 1000 times more than the "average line guy". Of COURSE he's not spot-on in his after-action analysis all the time, who ever is about anything--but my gosh at least he's obviously studying and trying!

For alfa, please remember that probably 95% of the readers here don't post on these topics, many because we don't feel sufficiently informed to express a valid opinion--but we DO READ intelligently debated comments and form opinions, and your counter-point posts provide a strong grounding and anchor... and usually make me think "hmm, I like to see my ALPA guys are being calmer and more intellectually rigorous and demanding proof, I sure don't want some wild-man representing me, calm and lawyerly, good." And usually I think "Hmm, I wish Bucking Bar was on the Negotiating Committee..." also.

One totally deserved kudo though, the entire debate aside, am I the only one that thinks this was just an awesome phrase, despite being out of place here? I'm SO waiting to use this (modified) on someone! I just hope I don't succumb and try it out on my wife before I get to use it on a buddy during some heavy drinking!
Best Phrase of the Month:
"Sometimes you have a decent insight ... and sometimes you are so helplessly self indulgent that you spew out any crap that enters your head.". LOL