It's as predictable as snow during the Detroit Auto Show or flight delays from summer thunderstorms. As soon as a company runs into a crisis, the CEO heads for the op-ed page.

When GM canned its chief marketing exec Joel Ewanick, there was much buzz about his controversial sponsorship deal with the Manchester United soccer team and its $560 million price tag.

If you've only been paying casual attention to the problems General Motors is wrestling with at Opel, this might make you sit up and pay attention.