Personally, I read 'acqq' as showing that Hirst's credentials do match his claims, and that instead of being a typical armchair pundit, he is someone who could

Personally, I read 'acqq' as showing that Hirst's credentials do match his claims, and that instead of being a typical armchair pundit, he is someone who could be considered intimately familiar with the situation in Venezuela. In retrospect, I suppose it could have been intended to be just a neutral statement of fact, but it doesn't look at all to me like an 'ad hominem' attack. Unless you have outside knowledge of 'acqq' and are interpreting this in a context not visible to others, I think you are projecting a prejudice that does not exist.