Originally posted by AppleOnYa:
Rocco stated (countering Tom's response) it was difficult not impossible. From that moment, the assignment was Rocco's and it was pretty much up to Rocco how to get it done. His deciding to pose as a reporter was pretty clever, as it did enable him to get close enough to fire the necessary shots.
Apple
No one is disagreeing with that Apple! The question is why would Rocco sacrifice his own life to take out Roth? There had to be a reason, guilt, redemption, whatever. I just don't but the Neri/Lampone silent fued theory as I think that if that were the case, Rocco still could have had someone else take out Roth and then he would have still fallen right back in to the graces of Michael. The Corleone's were clever and cunning and surely realized that Rocco would be going on a suicide mission in pulling off the hit in that manner. So WHY allow Rocco to do the job himself? Was there a method behind Michael's madness in having Rocco go on that hit? Did Mike suspect that Rocco could have been in on the plot to take him out and thus gave this job to Rocco to provide a way out, sort of the same way that he allowed Pentangelli a way out? To die with honor? Why not let another person, one under Rocco that was more expendable, do the job? That is the question at hand my lady!
Don Cardi
