No LM, it was an attack and you know very well that it was meant to be. It was a low act, which you are following up with another low act.
You can try to twist it anyway you like, but your tactics are obvious.
You use anything you can, to try and push your own ego and agenda, this has nothing to do with any protocol, your words were designed to try and discredit people, nothing more. It was cowardly, and nasty, and you should be ashamed of yourself.