Kaffee Corners The Colonel… Then The Truth Comes Out ｜ A Few Good Men)

I'm not through with my examination. Sit down. Colonel. What's that? I'd appreciate it if you would address me as Colonel or Sir. I believe I've earned it. The Defense Council will address the witness as Colonel or Sir. I don't know what the hell kind of unit you're running here. And the witness will address this court as Judge or Your Honor. I'm quite certain I've earned it. Good to see you, Colonel. What do you want to discuss now? My favorite color? Colonel, the 6 a.m. flight was the first one off the base? Yes. There wasn't a flight that left 7 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 Chief's logs for both Guantanamo Bay and Andrews Air Force Base. The Guantanamo log lists no flight that left at 11 p.m. and the Andrews log lists 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. We believe it did, sir. Defense will be calling Airmen Cecil O'Malley and Airmen 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. Rebuttal witnesses, Your Honor, are called 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. 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. Well, 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? 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? Colonel, I have just one more question before I call Airman O'Malley here. 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 on 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. I recall what I said. I can have the court reporter read back to you. I know what I said. I don't have to have it read back to me. Why the two orders? Colonel? Sometimes men take matters into their own hands. No, sir. You need a clue just a moment ago. 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. That's not it, you bastard. Your Honor, I'd like to ask for a recess. I'd like an answer to 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 read, didn't he? Because that's what you told Lieutenant Kendrick to do. Object! And when it went bad, you cut these guys loose! Your Honor! You doctored the logbook! You ordered the code read! You don't have to answer that question. I'll answer the question. You want answers? I think I'm entitled to them. 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 because you have the 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 are 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 saying something. You use them as a punchline. 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? You're goddamn right I did! Please, the court, I suggest the members be dismissed so that we can move to an immediate Article 39A session. The witness has rights. Captain Ross. Jack. The members of the court will retire to an ante room until further instructed. All rise. 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 fly to Paris. You're not going anywhere, Colonel. MPs, guard the Colonel. Yes, sir. Captain Ross. What the hell is this? You have the right to remain silent. I'm being charged with a crime? Is that what this is? I'm being charged with a crime? This is funny. That's what this is. This is... I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head and piss in your dead skull! You understand these rights as I've just read them to you? ------- people. You have no idea how to defend a nation. All you did was weaken a country today, Kathy. That's all you did. You put people's lives in danger. Sweet dreams, son. Don't call me son. I'm a lawyer and an officer in the United States Navy. And you're under arrest, you son of a bitch. The witness is excused.