You make great points. Editor Max says you should cut everything to this point and start here. Do you want to analyze the war or analyze the people analyzing the war. Two separate stories.

When I read this the first part, it either wasted my time or was insulting. Keep in mind, I do the same thing you do. I look at my view to read ratio and cut to fix. So if you have a really good read stat on this story blow me off ;)