Are these winning tactics?

My colleague Stephen McGibbon over in Europe has blogged about an offensive comment somebody posted on Brian Jones's blog, likening Open XML (I think) to the Dresden firebombings. Or maybe it's Microsoft that is like the Germans, or something ... I really don't follow the point.

I also don't understand what teenage groupies or domestic violence have to do with file formats, to tell the truth. And I sure don't understand why a big company's senior management would repeatedly link to these types of sites in support of their arguments. Is this really necessary – maybe Stephen’s right and they’re losing the debate?