Excellent post 411A; my only difference of opinion would be that the sole emotion their - (BALPA and BA pilots) - chutzpah and punchy ill-informed decision making evokes is one of extreme irritation.
Fortunately, in my case, it remains at irritation: were I a fee paying BALPA member it would be anger at the loss of funds,the loss of face and the loss of credibility they have achieved. They have caused more real damage to UK pilot prospects than a dozen 'Open Skies' would have done, yet like quasi-politicians, none of them have the balls to admit they were in error both tactically and strategically.
Hence your last point is the most galling of all, doubtless they will repeat the exercise on a different battlefield, and actually, you're right, one has to laugh - otherwise one would cry!
