All language subtitles for JAG S04E13 War Stories (2)

We are within minutes of the deadline
set by Serbian extremists for the

execution of three NATO observers
kidnapped yesterday on the road to

extremist group's demand for a full
pullout of all NATO personnel from the

region has apparently gone unanswered.
Both Italian and French military

commanders have refused comment,
furthering all inquiries to NATO

You think they'll execute the NATO
observers, Adam? I hope not.

But nearly everyone at the Pentagon
looked pretty grim this afternoon.

Who didn't look grim?

Some old friends of mine.

The deployment of NATO observers has
become a strong barrier.

If you've been reading the headlines,
you're aware that three members of the

NATO verification mission were kidnapped
in Kosovo two days ago.

Two of the observers were French, and
the other was Italian.

Lieutenant Roberts has been doing the
research on this.

The captors represent an ultra -radical
faction of the Yugoslav army.

The stated purpose of the kidnapping was
to effect a pullout of all NATO

personnel in the region within a period
of one day after the communique.

Of course, this was not an omni.

Well, what are we doing for her by the
use of the past answer?

Last night, members of SEAL Team 8 found
all three NATO observers hung by the

neck in a horse barn.

The team leader, Commander Thomas
Riznicki?

Yes, sir. Postponed the scheduled jump,
went in three hours later, 37 minutes

past the deadline.

According to the CNO, you could hear the
NATO commander's screams all the way to

the Pentagon.

Charges are disobeying a lawful order
and involuntary manslaughter due to

culpable negligence. I'm moving this to
the top of the docket. Major, you'll

lead the defense.

Yes, sir. Mr. Roberts, you will be the
assistant defense counsel in this case.

Sir? Drop the befuddled expression,
Lieutenant. You've earned it.

But, sir, this is an important case.

Do I detect a lack of confidence?

No, sir. Good.

Now, come in to wrap.

I'm on it, sir. I'm not asking you to
prosecute. I'm giving that assignment to

Commander Brumby.

I want you to replace me.

Excuse me, sir?

They're making me take my excess leave
prior to the end of the month. Starting

Friday, I'm putting you in charge of JAG
operations.

All the senior officers were either
occupied or unavailable.

It took some doing, but I got a special
dispensation from the SEC.

Well, sir, I'd be proud to serve this
office in any way that I can.

Don't let anyone go home early.

No, sir.

Thank you. Thank you.

I just got the phone with you. Go ahead.

No, no. The results are in.

That's great.

Harriet, the admiral just appointed me
assistant defense counsel of the major

a high -profile case.

Yay!

Let's go to lunch. Let's go someplace
fancy. I can't. I've got to get

I'm already at the library.

Bud, aren't you even interested in the
sex?

During working hours?

What are you talking about?

What did you just tell me?

That was the OB on the phone.

We're going to have a son.

Jimmy Case, I lost track of time.
Commander, this is Assistant Defense

Lieutenant Roberts.

Please, continue.

The recon team used reef point video to
track movement from the point of

abduction to a barn 32 miles south.

Our team was then flown over from Little
Creek Amphib Base, Norfolk.

We were briefed and in the air over Suba
Rekha 13 hours later.

We had two and a half hours before the
expiration of the deadline.

Why did you postpone the mission?

Adiabatic fog, as thick as a blanket,
where I come from we call it Thule fog.

It completely filters out the moonlight.

It would have been suicide to try and
fight it.

The terrain was mountainous. Even with
GPS and night vision goggles, we

have been able to see enough to avoid
breaking brush and giving away our

position. But you had a deadline, sir.

Look, as soon as it started to lift, we
went.

The communique said that we had one day
to comply, not 24 hours.

Did you run this by NATO command?

We tried, but sunspot activity was
blocking satellite communications.

Well, sir, you must have known that you
were taking a chance.

You are a master of the obvious,
Lieutenant.

Look, this is exactly why I want to
waive an Article 32 and go directly to a

court -martial. Sir, I strongly advise
you against that. Look, I'm not

the evidence, Major.

I disobeyed my orders.

Now, the question is, was it wise to do
so?

Sir... On this point, I am immovable.

And that's what you want us to work
with, sir, an admission of guilt?

Why not? I feel guilt. Sir, how you feel
is irrelevant to the question of

culpability. Look, Major, I don't
believe that I should be punished for

did, if that's what you're getting at.

At the time, I considered it in the best
interest of the mission. Now, if that

makes me guilty, so be it.

Thank you, Turner.

Admiral, nice to hear from you, sir.
Everything all right?

Yes, of course.

How about yourself?

Fine, sir.

Anything you need to run by me?

I don't think so, because I am
available.

You're welcome to call any time, even
come by, talk things out if need be.

Well, thank you, sir, but everything
seems to be under control.

Seems to be.

Just the standard glitches, Admiral.

And what would those be?

I don't think it's anything you need to
worry about, sir. I can handle it. Well,

let's hope so.

Um, how's Lieutenant Roberts doing?

Well, the Major seems to think he's a
little off balance, but I'm not worried.

Why? Well, he'll find his bearings, sir.
Well, Commander, this is an important

case. You gave it to him, Admiral.

Right, right.

Um... Uh, excuse me a moment, sir. Don't
put me on hold. Come

in.

I need you here, mate.

Commander Imes wants to plead out the
Marine Band case.

Apparently Marine Command has it all on
tape at a state dinner.

The tuba player plays a flatulent note
just as the president sits.

My position is to play it out, argue
that he came in early on his cue.

Just a second.

Admiral, what is it now?

Sir, I need to take care of something.
Nothing you should be worried about,

though, sir.

You can count on it.

Yes, sir.

See you back, Lieutenant.

I'll call him back. Thank you, sir.

Hey. You blind, son?

Excuse me?

See a salute and let's see it now.

Where the hell do you think you're
going?

Jamaica. You mind?

Cover's on wrong.

What's wrong with it?

Well, it's too high on his brow. It
should be a two -finger max.

Really? His uniform's off -season.

How do you know this?

I'm the judge advocate general. Oh,
Lieutenant Commander Rabb.

No.

Admiral A .J. Chigwood. And what
business do you have with the commander?

He authorized us to shoot this building.

With what?

Film.

I'm Fran Glass, producer of Field of
Gold. It's an action -adventure drama

a Navy court -martial. Dan Lander stars.

Who's that?

I take it you don't go to the movies.

They make them for my age group?

Maybe I'll catch one this afternoon.

Well, maybe you could stick around here
and catch what we're doing.

We don't have our tech advisors in
place. Have you ever considered being a

consultant?

Sounds interesting. I don't know
anything about your business.

But you know about your business, and
that's why we could use you.

I don't think so.

Have you always been a lawyer?

No, I was with the teams first.

I was a Navy SEAL.

Oh, so you have fighting experience as
well.

Yes. Wow.

Guacamole.

I understand why the Navy won't let you
film on board.

It's just a space issue, no place for
the cameras. In fact, they have been

cooperative. They let us use this
warehouse.

We'll be on the USS Coral Sea for the
flight deck sequence.

Admiral Chugwood and Dan Lander.

I understand you're the real thing. I
understand you're not.

Well, that's why you're here to whip me
into shape. Let us show you around.

Good posture.

I do Pilates.

Pardon me?

It's an exercise technique involving
spring -driven machines.

A lot of dancers use it.

I don't dance.

All right.

I don't march.

You will.

You all right?

Yeah, I think so. I'm sorry. It's a pyro
test. We're shooting the fire in the

hold scene this afternoon.

I think I'll stand over there.

Why don't you come this way?

Okay, Joey, reset.

What do you think of the script?

Pretty good.

I made some notes.

They're marked with the color tabs.

I'll give them to the writer. I'd like
to meet him.

What's his name?

Jim Zimmerman. Dan, we're ready for you.

If you'll excuse me, Admiral, I'm
looking forward to this. Sir.

Sir.

He's good.

Admiral, I would like to win something
by you. We have yet to cast the role of

Lieutenant Mowbray, the officer that
comes to Commander Drescher's aid.

Now, we have narrowed it down to a
couple of actors, and I was wondering if

had an opinion.

Uh, Fran, I'm a little surprised by your
old -fashioned ideas about the

military. How do you mean?

Well, if you'll allow me, I... I think
there's an alternative way to cast

Lieutenant Mowbray.

We're going to keep Commander Riznicki
off the stand.

He's in too much conflict. Brumby will
break him down.

Sounds right. Who's going to make the
case? Major General Plesek, sir.

Who? We're going after the NATO
commander in Kosovo. We'll argue that

was faced with two bad choices and that
he's being used as a scapegoat by the

higher -ups. You don't need the general.
It's a good argument. The commander was

reluctant to risk both the mission and
its men. You can win this case on the

merits. There's not going to work with
harm. We have a shaky defendant, and

there's no autopsy report.

Why?

Apparently, the recovery team was
ordered to embalm the bodies on site.

Not to mention that the prosecution owns
the emotional stakes.

The fact is, three men are dead. The
members will want someone to take

responsibility. The responsibility is
with the kidnappers. Don't overplay it,

guys. It'll look like you're trying to
shift blame.

Now, the issues are clear.

Present the evidence, have faith in the
good judgment of the members.

Let's get a second opinion.

We're talking about a name for the boy.

I suggested Mungo.

Here's my granddad's moniker.

What do you think, Lieutenant?

I think it may be too culture -specific,
sir.

Why don't you guys go with the names of
famous naval heroes?

They're first in last, your child's
first in middle.

That's a great idea.

Like Hyman Rickover Roberts, Chester
Nimitz Roberts, David Farragut Roberts.

I like that one, sir.

David's good.

Thank you, sir.

You're welcome, Lieutenant.

He's different, isn't he?

He seems older.

More experienced.

I actually think he's getting taller.

All right, watch your backs, people. And
after that, I did a season of Rep at

the Montana Shakespeare Festival.

On what plays?

Oh, as you like it.

Timon of Athens.

I did Richard II.

As a long -hearted mother with her child
plays fondly with her tears and smiles

in meeting so.

Weeping, smiling, greet I thee, my
earth, and do thee favors with my royal

hands. Oh, a Shakespeare quoting naval
officer. Now, that's something I

expect. I like the histories.

All those battle scenes.

Actually, that takes place after a
battle.

The moment when the king once again sits
foot on English soil.

It's about the motherland and the
reasons battles are fought.

Oh, I like that answer.

Quiet!

Okay, settle, please.

Captain, were you not ordered to wait
for a SEAL team to be inserted?

Yes, I was.

And why didn't you?

There was no time. The terrorists were
already aboard.

So you went in yourself.

Fortunately, Lieutenant Mowbray was
right behind me.

And if she hadn't been there, what do
you think would have happened then?

I can only tell you what did happen.
That's objectionable if the opposing

attorney would call for speculation.

I neutralize the enemy, Major.

No further questions.

Cut. Lovely. Okay, let's shoot it. The
prosecutor's a cream puff, Frank.

It's the hero's moment, Admiral. That's
because the JAG's giving it to him. He's

backing off.

Well, maybe he's flustered.

I take it you've never been to a JAG
courtroom.

General Pleszak, you stated you charged
Commander Riznicki with disobeying an

order and involuntary manslaughter.

This... because of the fact that he
failed to commence the mission per the

established timetable, which cost the
lives of the hostages.

That's correct.

What were the weather conditions at the
time of the operation?

There was ground cover.

Would you describe the topography as
dangerous?

Mountainous.

General, isn't it possible that if
Commander Rusnicki had obeyed the given

orders and jumped into mountainous, fog
-covered terrain, he could very well

have sacrificed himself, his team, and
the hostages?

Object.

Calls for speculation.

Sustained. I'll answer that.

We'll never know, Major, because the
commander chose to ignore the target

The commander postponed the target time.
And three men are dead as a result.

Is it not true, General, that the NATO
command in Yugoslavia had been

for ineffectiveness and that the mission
was designed to reverse that

perception? This mission was designed to
rescue the hostages.

I resent the implication that it was
political.

Your Honor, I'd like to enter the
following evidence as defense exhibit

Excuse me, sir. One moment.

This is a copy of a Vietnam op rep filed
by a Marine officer on December 8,

1967.

In it he states, the lieutenant ignored
intel, put his helos down in the middle

of an enemy infested area and was
ambushed.

Despite his success, I strongly informed
him that the 14 Americans who died were

not worth another bar on his shoulder.

This report was filed by Captain John
Crowther.

He's referring to a lieutenant under his
command by the name of Richard Plesak.

That village was a significant target,
Major.

Thank you, General.

Our orders were to take it, and that's
what we did.

No further questions.

Becknav has scheduled a meeting with me
for tomorrow morning.

Apparently, he received a call from one
of his oldest friends, the General

Pleszek.

He had no intention of following my
advice. Why'd you ask for it?

I listened to you. We decided to go
another way.

Write up the General Six.

He put it out there. Mac, mud wrestling
with two stars is not the way to the JAG

Hall of Fame.

That never stopped you.

This is exactly why I'm telling you
this.

Those kind of stunts have only ever hurt
my career.

Sir, you're the acting JAG. It's only
because the Admiral trusts me.

I'm told the SECNAV refers to me as
harmful, Rab.

That's what this is about?

Your relationship with the SECNAV? Of
course not.

I don't believe you.

Put you in a position of power and you
become just as political as everyone

else. That is not true. That is not
true.

Good. Then you won't mind if we call the
general back to the stand.

He has a long history of losing men
under fire, sir. The idea is to contrast

general's apparent disregard for the
lives of his men with Commander

concern for the welfare of his team.

This is suicide.

Only if I do it alone.

Where do you stand on this, bud?

Next to my lead counsel, sir.

Sorry.

Understood, Lieutenant.

Sir, you told me I could come by if I
needed to talk.

I did.

Yes, sir, you did.

Do you need to talk?

I do, sir.

Okay.

I'm sorry to be interrupting, Admiral,
but I thought you wanted to be kept

abreast.

Well, a phone call would have worked,
but since you drove all the way out

let's have it.

Well, I mean, if you're busy, sir... No.

You can wait.

But not for long.

Hi.

Admiral, I feel they could have achieved
the same results without kicking

everything all to hell.

Well, you failed to convince them of
that, Commander.

Did you already speak to the Secretary,
or is he coming to see you?

It's my first meeting in the morning,
sir.

That's not good.

Excuse me, AJ.

Did you want a twist with that?

Uh, yes, please. Thank you.

Can I get you something?

No, thanks.

Oh, I'm sorry, sir.

It's a side of you I'm unfamiliar with.

Let's keep it that way.

Yes, sir.

Amal, I'm unsure how to proceed.

I am the appointed authority of JAG.

The Major ignores my counsel. I now have
to answer the SEC now for her actions.

Well, the Major's been to a fair amount
of...

trauma in her life recently.

No psychologist, but I suspect that
she's a bit embarrassed by it all.

This techno -prisoner's approach is
probably her way of proving her mettle.

You support her method, sir?

I support my people. The rest is up to
them.

Admiral, you dispense advice regularly,
sir.

Yes. Yes, I do.

And if my memory serves me correctly,
I've argued against traveling to Russia,

defending a paranoid schizophrenic, and
an attempt to question my authority.

Point taken, sir.

But in the end, it's the person sitting
in that leather chair that's got to

answer for what's been done.

You've got to decide what's in the best
interest of the case, defending your

authority or the choices of those who
defied it.

Of course, the irony is that Commander
Rosnecki is being court -martialed

because in postponing his SEAL team
extraction, he contradicted the orders

his superior.

The irony.

Understood, sir.

Good.

Anything else, sir?

Do you have a handkerchief?

No, sir.

Get one.

How dare she call his integrity into
question?

This is not some wild -eyed jarhead.

Dick Pleszak is one of the most
decorated Marines of all time.

Sir, I am aware of the General's
accomplishments.

Then where the hell were you when Major
McKenzie was crapping all over his

record? I had been under the impression
she had abandoned that tactic, sir.

Are you telling me that she lied to you?
No, sir, it was a misunderstanding.

If she calls the General to the stand
again...

I will make you personally responsible
for the fallout. Yes, sir.

How the hell did I let the Admiral talk
me into letting you take over? Sir, I

believe I am totally capable of handling
this assignment.

Well, then, here's your opportunity to
prove it.

Let me see that.

Is that the general service record?

Yes, sir.

May I see it?

Thank you.

Henson.

Make a copy of this and put it on my
desk. Return the original to the major.

will highlight what I think are General
Plessig's vulnerabilities.

The final choice is up to you.

Thank you, sir.

How's young David doing?

Not so good, sir.

Oh, no, the baby's fine.

It's just the name's not going to work.

Apparently my mother dated some guy
named David and my father's still a

sensitive about it.

We're going to have to give it up for
the sake of family unity.

But we still want to name him after a
naval hero, though.

What about Carmen?

What about you get to work and clear
this guy?

Carmen.

He is getting taller.

Sir, Major McKenzie's waiting for you in
her office.

I was told I'd get a cup of coffee in
here.

Allow me.

I'll join you as soon as I finish
interviewing Senior Chief Schilling.

You're wasting your time, Lieutenant.

There's no worm under that rock.

Yes, sir.

Sir, I'd like to apologize for the
comments that I made during our first

session. They were pretty naive.

There's no way that I or anybody else
could have been better prepared to make

the correct decision.

You did the best you could with the
information available.

Whatever.

Excuse me.

No milk.

Uh, sugar? No, nothing.

Sir, the more I think about this case,
the more I respect the decision that you

made. You made a calculated risk, but
one that was designed to prevent

needlessly wasting the lives of your
men.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

What's your experience, Lieutenant?

You mean as an attorney, sir? Of course
as an attorney. What else would I mean?

I don't know, sir.

Well, how long since you passed the bar?

I haven't. What do you mean you haven't?

I graduate law school next month, sir.

Commander, Lieutenant Roberts has been
working tirelessly on this case. He's

inexperienced. He's just nervous.

I don't want him learning the ropes
while I'm hanging from him. Let me talk

him. Major, I've told you where I stand.

I'm not sure you know where you stand,
sir.

What was that?

I think you feel you may have made a
mistake on that mission.

And I suspect you're having a hard time
reconciling that with your desire to be

spared punishment.

You're psychoanalyzing me? You're in
deep conflict, Commander.

Really? And that shows in your behavior.

You are on edge and you're uncomfortable
in our presence. I'm dissatisfied with

the strategy.

That, sir, you can discuss with me.

But the lieutenant is tense around you
because he senses that you don't trust

him. I don't trust him.

And that ends this part of our
conversation, Major. He either removes

from the case or I will have him
officially dismissed.

Lady did that.

Admiral, over here.

I'm sorry, Alan.

Come on, guys. Let's reset the rain.

Pretty damn confusing here, Fran.

He just walked into a scene, Admiral.
Never enter a set on a red light.

Sorry.

All right.

Magic. Absolutely magic.

I love what you do.

So what am I looking at here?

Weather deck of a carrier.

Well, it's too small.

It'll look fine on film.

Not if it's too small.

Admiral. I need your support here. I had
a late night last night.

I'm three days behind, so a certain
amount of flexibility is needed. There's

flexibility in a real Navy friend. Regs
are regs.

Admiral.

My apologies won't happen again.

Thank you very much. Listen, I did want
to talk to you. Let's do it again,

ladies and gentlemen.

Quickly, please.

They put the chili out yet?

Lieutenant, can I talk to you for a
minute?

Sure, Major.

Excuse me, Senior Chief.

Sure.

But I have no better way of telling you
this.

Commander Rusnicki has threatened to
dismiss you if you don't remove yourself

from the case.

I think you should do it. Otherwise,
it'll be the very first thing anyone

on your record.

I'm sorry.

Did he say what the problem was, Major?

The commander's not in a good frame of
mind. Don't blame yourself.

I'll take over with the senior chief.
Just tell him I'll be with him in half

hour. Excuse me, Major.

I started this interview. I'd like to
finish it.

You're right.

Leave your report on my desk.

Yes, ma 'am.

Okay, senior chief, where were we?

Taking the bodies from cell team eight.

Right.

Tell me about that.

All three had rope burns around the
neck.

Had they been tortured?

Not that I could tell, but it was hard
to check all the surfaces because of how

stiff they were.

Uh, wait a minute.

The report says that you received the
corpses at 2227?

That would be correct.

Huh.

Yes, Lieutenant?

Excuse me, Major. Commander?

I don't mean to be impertinent, but with
all due respect, you can't get rid of

me that easily.

Alan, how many more times are we going
to do this? My fingers are starting to

cramp. Sorry, Dan. This will be it, I
promise.

Much better, Tina. Much better.

But I'd still like to see more
conviction in the throw. Can you be

It's a question of leverage, I think. I
don't understand.

Well, it seems to me, from my point of
view, that the stuntman is throwing

himself over the railing.

He is.

Right. Right.

I'd just rather we didn't see that.

May I?

Put one hand on his collar and the other
hand on the back of his belt.

That's what I'm doing.

Apparently not.

Thank you, Admiral.

I think we can proceed at pace. Let's do
it again, shall we?

Okay. Take eight. Mark.

Mark.

And action.

I'm just trying too hard.

You know, it's not so simple.

There's no room up here.

See?

Um, let me show you.

Sir, why don't you run at me?

Admiral. No, no, no. Watch. This will
work.

Sir, run at me.

Sorry.

You all right?

See? He charges, she moves.

She uses his momentum to take him over
the railing. I can do this. I just, I

need some time.

You need four weeks to the Naval Special
Warfare Center.

That's going to teach me what?

Well, how to cut your nails, for one
thing.

Go to hell.

Tina. I'll be in my trailer.

Tina, let's get the makeup over to the
center.

You know where you can find me.

Admiral, what are you doing?

I'm advising.

You know, what I suggest... And we're
moving on.

Scene 12, everyone.

God, I wish I still... Will you turn
your back on me one more time? I'm going

introduce you to the toe of my boot.
Admiral,

we need to talk.

Any ideas?

Talk.

Privately.

Yeah? Where would that be?

Fine. You're fired.

This just isn't working out. You know
what? You're right. This isn't working

out. This is not a movie about the Navy.
It's about... What the hell is it

about? It's about putting arses in feet.

Now, would you please remove yours from
my set?

Lieutenant Commander Rapp, have a seat.

The Major talked to you, Commander?

Yes, she did. She told me that
Lieutenant Roberts has presented a new

strategy which you've rejected.

Actually, I prefer his approach over
attacking General Plesek's record. The

of comparing body counts seems beside
the point.

What I've rejected is the Lieutenant's
desire to argue it himself.

He lacks seasoning, which is why I asked
that he be removed from the case to

begin with.

Well, Commander, the Major and I both
strongly believe in Lieutenant Roberts'

abilities. Commander. Sir.

If I may be direct, Lieutenant Roberts
has taken his fair share of abuse from

you, sir, and yet his first thought upon
being let go was in your best interest.

I don't question his enthusiasm,
Commander.

That's good, sir, because he doesn't
question your innocence.

Now, I can ask Major McKenzie to present
the argument if you'd like, but in my

opinion, your best shot is with your
strongest ally.

An autopsy of the three observers was
ordered, but NATO command had no

medical personnel in Kosovo, and
Wiesbaden was snowed in at the time.

And what did you do?

To prevent further decomposition, the
Mortuary Affairs Division at NTC Great

Lakes directed us to embalm the bodies
before sending them back to their

respective countries.

Did you comply?

Yes, we did.

Senior Chief Schilling is head of the
recovery unit. Could you please describe

to us the conditions of the bodies when
you received them?

They were cold and stiff.

And this was how long after they'd been
discovered by SEAL Team 8?

43 minutes.

Thank you, Senior Chief. No more
questions.

Sir, you swear to tell the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

do? You may take a seat, sir.

Captain Milstein, you are the chief
pathologist at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

Yes.

Have you had a chance to review the
reports detailing the condition of the

corpses? I have.

Could you give us your professional
estimation on their time of death?

Object.

It has already been established, Your
Honor, that an autopsy was not performed

on the bodies.

Therefore, a time of death cannot be
determined.

Your Honor, if you'll allow me, I
believe that a logical time frame can be

established through other means.

Don't disappoint me, Lieutenant.

Understood, sir.

Doctor, allow me to recap.

The government's assumption is that the
executions took place on the deadline.

SEAL Team 8 reports finding the three
bodies of the NATO observers 37 minutes

after the deadline.

Senior Chief Schilling claims that the
bodies were cold and stiff 43 minutes

later.

That's a total of one hour and 20
minutes.

Given what I've just told you, what
conclusions can you draw?

I believe the executions occurred
earlier.

Perhaps as much as 24 hours earlier.

Could you explain, please, sir?

First of all, it's a relative certainty
given the near -freezing conditions that

rigor would not have set in under an
hour and a half.

Secondly, a cold and stiff body
generally indicates a time of death

to 36 hours prior.

Object. These are assumptions, John.
Actually, sir, they're estimations,

of thumb. They're not 100 % accurate,
but suitable, I think, for this thesis.

I'll accept it.

The time of death is ultimately not
important here, because neither General

Pletik nor Commander Riznicki had any
knowledge of anything other than what

written in that communique.

The issue before you, therefore, is all
things being equal.

Who determines how an operation will be
conducted?

Without command decision, there can be
no considered plan, no policy, no clear

-cut objective.

It's all impulse and instinct and
improvisation.

That is why the military chain of
command exists, and that is why it must

respected, regardless of the
circumstances.

The commander disobeyed his orders,
period.

For the sake of future generations of
fighting men, I ask you to find him

on both charges.

The case against Commander Riznicki is
that his decision to postpone the

cost the three NATO observers their
lives.

But an execution carried out 24 hours
earlier indicates otherwise.

It suggests the communique was not
designed to trade hostages for policy,

rather to punish NATO for their military
presence.

We believe the terrorists, who are well
known for their hostility, murdered the

hostages upon capture.

and sent the communique in an effort to
attract more NATO personnel.

In other words, it was a trap. And had
SEAL Team 8 arrived prior to the

deadline, they would have walked right
into it.

Instead, however, the deadline passed,
and the terrorists abandoned camp.

Call it a fortuitous decision, but
Commander Riznicki, faced with two

choices, trusted his instincts over his
orders.

And in doing so, Saved his SEAL team
from certain annihilation. A team, I

add, that lives to fight again.

Have the members reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

Defense rise.

On the charge of involuntary
manslaughter, the members find the

Commander Thomas Risnicki, not guilty.

On the charge of disobeying a lawful
order, we find the defendant guilty.

We'll meet for sentencing tomorrow at
1400.

This court's adjourned.

Sorry, sir.

Lieutenant Roberts, my instincts may
have been right over Suvareka, but they

were dead wrong when it came to you.

Sir, we lost on the second count. When
he's lieutenant, the second charge is

lesser of the two.

And I'd be a fool not to use your
approach when we take it up for appeal.

I owe you the apology for doubting your
competence.

That's not necessary, sir.

Let me tell you what I've learned in 16
years of military service.

Accept any and all contrition.

It's not often you'll get to experience
it.

Apology accepted, sir.

Did you enjoy your time off, sir?

No, Major.

I am a failure at liberty.

Missed the hell out of this place.

Smell of the copier, sounds of the pages
turning, phone ringing.

Well, sir, you might not think so after
you see the phone log.

Anyone riled up?

Many. Well, I say that's fine. You know
why?

I wish I did, sir.

Because not everything can be resolved.

You just can't do it over if it doesn't
work. No recasting people you don't

like. Life is not some damn movie.

Indeed, sir. Are there no candy bars in
here?

No, sir. No chili, no brownies?

Never, sir.

Let's do something about that. Chili and
brownies?

Yes, sir.

Sir, Anson Sims and I would, uh...

I'd like to share some important news.

What is it?

Um... Uh... We're going to have a son,
sir.

Well, that's wonderful.

My congratulations.

Thank you, sir.

We were trying to decide what to name
him, and last night we decided that we

should name him after someone who has
most strongly affected our lives.

We're going to call him A .G., sir.

Really? Yes, sir.

I don't know what to say.

Is that all right, sir? Of course it's
okay, Hanson.

I'm honored.

Albert Jethro Roberts.

I like the sound of that.