Defence is the best attack

When a company is being throttled by great loops of industrial red tape, further government intervention is rarely the answer. Yet three European governments are battling to increase their influence at Eads in response to the problems at Airbus. France wants a greater say in the group’s day-to-day management. The UK wants a board seat. And Spain is thinking of doubling its current 5% stake. Manfred Bischoff is telling them to get lost. The German co-chairman of the aerospace group is right to do...