Transcription
Do you have any other questions for me, counselor?
Lieutenant Kathy. Lieutenant, do you have anything further for this witness?
Thanks, Danny. I love Washington.
Excuse me. I didn't dismiss you.
I beg your pardon. I'm not through with my examination. Sit down.
Colonel. What's that? I'd appreciate if he would address me as Colonel or sir. I believe I've earned it.
Defense counsel will address the witnesses as Colonel or sir. I don't know what the hell kind of unit you're running here.
The witness will address this court as Judge or Your Honor. I'm quite certain I've earned it. Take your seat.
Come. What do you want to discuss now? My favorite color.
Color? The 6 a.m. flight was the first one off the base. Yes.
There wasn't a flight that left seven hours earlier and landed at Andrews Air Force Base at 2 a.m.?
Lieutenant, I think we've covered this, haven't we?
Your Honor, these are the tower chiefs' logs for both Guantanamo Bay and Andrews Air Force Base.
Logless? No flight that left at 11 p.m. and the Andrews log was no flight that landed at 2 a.m. I'd like to admit them as defense exhibits Alpha and Bravo.
I don't understand. You're admitting evidence of a flight that never existed?
Well, we believe it did, sir. Defense will be calling Airman Cecil O'Malley and Airman Anthony Rodriguez. They were working the ground crew at Andrews at 2 a.m. on the 7th.
Your Honor, these men weren't on the list of rebuttal witnesses. You're on our call specifically to refute testimony offered under direct examination.
I'll allow the witnesses.
This is ridiculous, Colonel. A moment ago, check the tower logs for Christ's sake.
Well, we'll get to the airmen in just a minute, sir. A moment ago, you said that you ordered Lieutenant Kendrick to tell his men that Santiago wasn't to be touched.
That's right. And Lieutenant Kendrick was clear on what you wanted.
Crystal. Any chance Lieutenant Kendrick ignored the order? Ignored the order? Any chance he forgot about it?
No. Any chance Lieutenant Kendrick left your office and said, "The old man is wrong"?
No. When Lieutenant Kendrick spoke to the platoon and ordered them not to touch Santiago, any chance they ignored him?
You ever served in an infantry unit, son?
No, sir.
Ever served in a forward area?
No, sir.
Ever put your life in another man's hands? Asked him to put his life in yours?
No, sir.
We follow orders, son. We follow orders, or people die. It's that simple. Are we clear?
Yes, sir.
Are we clear, crystal?
Colonel, I have just one more question before I call Airman O'Malley and Airman Rodriguez. If you gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, and your orders are always followed, then why would Santiago be in danger? Why would it be necessary to transfer him off the base?
Santiago was a substandard Marine. He was being transferred.
Not what you said. You said he was being transferred because he was in grave danger.
That's correct. You said he was in danger.
I said grave danger. You said Israel.
Recall what I said. Yeah. The court reporter read back to you. I know what I said. I don't have to have it read back to me like I'm two.
Colonel, sometimes men take matters into their own hands.
No, sir. You made it clear just a moment ago that your men never take matters into their own hands. Your men follow orders, or people die. So Santiago shouldn't have been in any danger at all, should he have?
Colonel, you snotty little bastard. You're on our.
I'd like to ask for a recess. I'd like to answer the question.
Judge, the court will wait for an answer. If Lieutenant Kendrick gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, then why did he have to be transferred?
Colonel, Lieutenant Kendrick ordered the Code Red, didn't he? Because that's what you told Lieutenant Kendrick to do. I'm Jeff. When it went bad, you cut these guys loose.
Your Honor, you're inside. Did you order the Code Red?
You don't have to answer that question.
I'll answer the question. You want answers? I think I'm entitled. You want answers? I want the truth.
You can't handle the truth, son. We live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg. I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
Did you order the Code Red?
I did the job.
Did you order the Code Red?
You're goddamn right I did.
Please, the court. I suggest members be dismissed so that we can move to an immediate Article 39(a) session.
The witness has rights. Captain Ross, Jack. The members of the court will retire to an anteroom until further instructed.
What the hell is this, Colonel? What's going on? I did my job. I'd do it again. I'm gonna get on a plane and go on back to my base. You're not going anywhere, Colonel.
MP's. God. The Colonel. Yes, sir. Captain Ross. What the hell is this? You have the right to remain silent. Any statement... I'm being charged with a crime. Trial by court-martial? Is that what this is? Or administrative? I'm being charged with a crime.