1:38:00
It was combat,
not some training exercise.
1:38:02
A moment later,
your men were shooting.
1:38:04
What did you say
to make that happen?
1:38:04
I don't know.
1:38:05
You must have said something.
Captain Lee reversed himself.
1:38:09
- What did you say?
- I don't know the exact words.
1:38:12
- Let me help you.
- Your Honor.
1:38:13
You said, "Waste the motherfuckers,"
didn't you?
1:38:15
- No, no, no.
- You didn't say it?
1:38:17
- It all happened so fast...
- You're under oath, Colonel!
1:38:21
Let me refresh
your memory.
1:38:23
This is exhibit "ry" a tape
recording made aboard...
1:38:26
the U.S.S. Wake Island of all radio
communications received that day,
1:38:30
including your exact words.
1:38:33
Your Honor, with your permission
I would like to play this tape.
1:38:35
If you got it on tape,
then that's what I said!
1:38:37
They were killing my marines,
so, yeah, I said it!
1:38:39
Waste the motherfuckers!
1:38:42
- Are these "the motherfuckers"?
- Objection.
1:38:44
- Overruled.
- Yes!
1:38:45
- These?
- Objection!
1:38:48
Yes!
1:38:50
- These?
- Objection!
1:38:51
- Overruled.
- Yes.
1:38:52
Are these "the motherfuckers"...
1:38:54
that you ordered to be wasted?
- Your Honor.
1:38:56
- Major.
- Yes!
1:38:57
The crowd in front of the embassy
had no weapons, did they, Colonel?
1:39:01
Objection. We found
no snipers' weapons either.
1:39:03
Yes, they had weapons!
1:39:05
You think there's
a script for fighting a war...
1:39:07
without pissing somebody off?
1:39:08
Follow the rules,
and nobody gets hurt?
1:39:10
Yes, innocent people probably died.
1:39:12
Innocent people always die.
1:39:14
But I did not exceed
my orders!
1:39:17
There are rules, and marines
are sworn to uphold them.
1:39:19
I was not going to stand by
and see another marine die...
1:39:22
just to live
by those fucking rules!
1:39:25
Colonel!
1:39:32
Your Honor,
I request a recess.
1:39:34
Major.
1:39:37
The government is finished with
Colonel Childers, Your Honor.
1:39:41
All right, Colonel,
you have your recess.
1:39:51
Why didn't you tell me
what you said?
1:39:52
- I didn't remember.
- "Waste the motherfuckers".
1:39:55
That's brilliant.
You didn't think that was important?
1:39:57
Why didn't you know
about the goddamn recording?
1:39:59
- You're supposed to know...
- I had a week to prepare this case.