I think that's part of the point, as someone else said; that we should reserve such stark judgment with the expectation that we don't know all the facts. Ed was pretty clear in his opinion, but probably would have held a different one had he known all the facts. To be honest, that supports the idea that he (and I; I agreed quietly) was wrong at the time.
I've taken that lesson to heart personally, just from this thread alone.
I've taken that lesson to heart personally, just from this thread alone.