1:47:02
Colonel Childers didn't open fire.
He returned fire.
1:47:06
And he waited until after three
of his marines were dead...
1:47:10
and another lay
mortally wounded.
1:47:12
He waited until he was
personally under heavy fire.
1:47:15
He waited until he saw
that crowd holding weapons.
1:47:19
Only then did he order
his men to return fire.
1:47:22
Under the rules of engagement,
a civilian pointing a weapon...
1:47:24
is no longer a civilian,
1:47:26
and the use of deadly force
is authorized...
1:47:29
in order to save lives.
1:47:32
It's not murder.
1:47:35
It's combat.
1:47:39
Colonel Childers is
the only man alive...
1:47:41
who was in a position
to see that crowd.
1:47:43
But the camera on the embassy
roof had the same point of view.
1:47:46
The government
would have you believe...
1:47:47
there's no tape
from that camera.
1:47:49
I have shown you that that tape was
delivered to the State Department.
1:47:53
Do you believe that tape
got up and walked out...
1:47:55
of the State Department
on its own?
1:47:59
By not producing that tape,
the national security advisor,
1:48:02
Mr. Sokal, has brought dishonor
into this court.
1:48:06
Without that tape, I cannot show
you that the crowd fired first...
1:48:09
and that Colonel Childers
is innocent.
1:48:11
But without that tape,
they cannot prove...
1:48:14
beyond a reasonable doubt
that he's guilty!
1:48:19
Here's my case.
1:48:22
He's all I've got.
Thirty-two years of service,
1:48:24
thirty-two years of heroism
as a United States Marine.
1:48:27
Regardless of
what you decide here,
1:48:29
Colonel Childers' career
as a marine is over.
1:48:32
He will never again
command men in combat.
1:48:34
The ambassador and his family
are alive today because of him.
1:48:37
And I know how
the ambassador feels,
1:48:39
because Colonel Childers
saved my life too.
1:48:41
I'm alive today because of him.
1:48:43
My son is sitting in
this courtroom because of him.
1:48:46
I'm alive today,
and I have a son,
1:48:49
because of the heroism
of Colonel Childers.
1:48:51
To ask this man to risk his life
for his country,
1:48:58
to ask this man to watch
his marines die in his arms...