Very insightful posts, Evita
Tom may have preferred Fredo was spared but he was not above the Corleone ruthlessness himself including no qualms about the drug trade, Khartoum beheading, Tessio and Carlo murders
and Geary compromise Pentangeli suicide
He was not a wartime consigliere but even in what seemed routine matters, he was still no good, like licence for Tropigala, Geary's meeting should have been just a formality
Saying he always thought it would be Clemenza not Tessio, at Vito's funeral
and Roth's murder "Mike that's impossible"
Tom had spent enough time around Michael to know that he'd never give Fredo a pass - Not quite?
I believe Fredo was going to be spared until his boathouse outburst
"Fredo, come with me - Fredo -- you're still my
brother Fredo, Fredo" Says it all
Tom seemed clueless It was his sheer incompetence "Duh-h-h, Tom!"
"Pop had Genco -- look what I got!"
