You all have great points......I think Tom is being very underrated here as a wartime consiglieri, he never had to be......when Sonny was at war with the other families, Tom was trying to do the smart thing.....but let's remember....when Michael wante to kill Sollozzo and McClusky, Tom was in total agreement on spreading the dirt on the Captain to their payrolled newspaper people. He may not have been an in your face war time consiglieri, but he was the glue that held that family together......he even knew that Tessio was the traitor remember at Vito's funeral he says to Mike....."Do you know how they're gonna come at you???" "I always thought it would be CLemenza."
Let's give Tom some credit, very smart, very resourceful and loved Mikey just as much as anyone else. With Tom wanted revenge......they could have come up with something to take on the other families.