You made me think about this in a whole new way. Which is embarrassing because it should have been one of the earliest interpretations on my mind.
Bagpipes aren't just played. They led men into battle. Of course the Barr bagpipe playing was symbolic but that simple elementary interpretation never actually came to me.
So now Barr hints at finishing up. When does the bagpiper end his playing? When the battle is over?
If such be his role, the only questions now are which side did he lead into battle and which side won?
There is also another analogy that might inform our thoughts on that one. The pied piper of Hamelin. The deceptive leader, seducing rats to their doom.
Again, two ways of looking at that. I remember distinctly when Barr was approved. Feinstein was extremely happy. As if a special chess piece got onto the board. So, was Barr their Inside man all along (meaning we are the rats) or did he dupe Feinstein?