@ Herkman (Post 7)
The A400 programme was largely pushed through by the former boss, one Noel Forgeard, a man with more political connections than industrial (let alone aeronautical) experience. He was also "in charge" when the A380 programme's basic decisions were taken, and fell from grace over the sale of some of his shares before the news of the A380's problems became public. ("The evil that men do lives after them" ???)
Tom Enders was brought in to start clearing things up (and Louis Gallois, formerly of Aerospatiale, was persuaded to leave French Rail to take over EADS). The problems with the A400's FADEC were hardly an Airbus responsibility, while reorganising the "upsizing" of what used to be CASA in Spain was also a factor ...
Personally, I don't think Mr. Enders and Mr. Gallois are bluffing, for the military programme (which Jean Pierson, Mr. Forgeard's predecessor at Airbus wouldn't have touched with a barge pole) is bleeding EADS/Airbus dry, it would seem. If the Big Chop comes, it will be up to the politicians in several countries to cope with the job losses. Cancellation would also mean the end of Europrop International as well. Meanwhile, EADS seems not to have been invited to take part in the meeting scheduled for next week, while finding a politico able or willing to speak to EADS/Airbus is said to be "difficult" ...