Originally Posted By: Turnbull

Yes, and Puzo made a big point about that. In the novel, after Tom returns from his meeting with Woltz, the Don asks him, "Does this man have balls?" Tom takes that to mean, would he risk everything on a matter of principle, for honor, for revengs? Tom replies, "You're asking me if he's a Sicilian. The answer is no." After the drugs meeting, as you point out, the Don asks Tom, "What did you think of that man?" "He's a Sicilian," Tom replies.

So, if Tom sussed out Sollozzo as a Sicilian, willing to risk all on a matter of honor, revenge, etc., why didn't he figure Sol would try to kill the Don?



Luca Brasi is what made any attack on the Don's empire seem implausible.

Tom ,not being aware of the Don's special instructions to Luca, had no reason to think that Luca was vulnerable. Therefore, he knew that Luca would kill ANYBODY who dared to pose an actual threat to the Don. And he knew that anybody in the underworld who entertained such thoughts, knew of and feared Luca.