MSOCS, as Courtney pointed out a few posts back, these concerns go back years (you need only to read through the 300-odd pages of posts in this particular thread to see that), so I disagree with your assertion that the timing of this latest story is linked specifically to the upcoming Marine IOC.
It seems like every month there is a major 'milestone' of some sort or another with this programme, so by your reasoning all stories that question the JPO's rosy assessment of the F-35s status are cynically timed to cloud their good news.
Totally agree about personal attacks though.