While I actually agree with your concerns and these points are valid, I also have major doubts that ANYONE at Ford would even consider any kind of creative accounting practice at this point in time. Given the company's financial condition, their need to maintain what credit they still have, and the scrutiny that every investor and analyst is bringing to their every move - it's like the spotlight is on them anyways. It's risky enough to do anything "creative" with the books in todays environment even if you are healthy, in no peril, and flying below the radar, but when the entire world is watching and waiting for you to go belly-up, that is certainly not the time to try something shady.

'm sure that contract negotiations will be the next big bullseye for Ford to cull out some costs. I'll be anxiously waiting to see what comes out of those talks.