The "Cold War" is not just a phrase, Your Honor. It's not just a figure of speech....
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James Donovan: [arguing before the Supreme Court] The "Cold War" is not just a phrase, Your Honor. It's not just a figure of speech. Truly, a battle is being fought between two competing views of the world. I contend that Rudolf Ivanovich Abel, "Colonel Abel" as he was called even by the men who arrested him, is our foe in that battle. He was treated as a combatant in that war until it no longer suited our government to so treat him. Accordingly, he was not given the protections we give our own citizens. He was subjected to treatment that, however appropriate for a suspected enemy, was not appropriate to a suspected criminal. I know this man. If the charge is true, he serves a foreign power but he serves it faithfully. If he is a soldier in the opposing army, he is a good soldier. He has not fled the field of battle to save himself. He has refused to serve his captor. He has refused to betray his cause. He has refused to take The coward's way out. The coward must abandon his dignity before he abandons the field of battle. That, Rudolf Abel will never do. Shouldn't we, by giving him the full benefit of the rights that define our system of government, show this man who we are? Who we are. Is that not the greatest weapon we have in this Cold War? Will we stand by our cause less resolutely than he stands by his?
Full Transcript
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Spend the dollar
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Mr Chief Justice and may it please the court
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The Cold War is not just a phrase Your Honor
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It's not just a figure of speech
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Truly a battle is being fought
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between two competing views of the world
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I contend that Rudolf Ivanovich Abel
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Colonel Abel as he was called
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even by the men who arrested him
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is our foe in that battle
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Auxiliary power
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Connected and on
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Oxygen seat pack supply
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Supply at 1 800 psi
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Inverter
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On light out
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He was treated as a combatant in that war
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until it no longer suited our government to so treat him
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Accordingly
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he was not given the protections we give our own citizens
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He was subjected to treatment that
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however appropriate for a suspected enemy
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was not appropriate to a suspected criminal
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Fuel transfer
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Transfer switch off
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Destructor
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Destructor safety
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Climb data card
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Installed in aircraft
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I know this man
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If the charge is true he serves a foreign power but he serves it faithfully
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If he is a soldier in the opposing army he is a good soldier
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He has not fled the field of battle to save himself
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He has refused to serve his captor
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He has refused to betray his cause
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He has refused to take the coward's way out
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The coward must abandon his dignity
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before he abandons the field of battle
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That Rudolf Abel will never do
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Shouldn't we
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by giving him the full benefit
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of the rights that define our system of government
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show this man who we are
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Who we are
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Is that not the greatest weapon we have in this Cold War
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Will we stand by our cause less resolutely
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than he stands by his
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Movie Summary
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union captures U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers after shooting down his U-2 spy plane. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, Powers' only hope is New York lawyer James Donovan, recruited by a CIA operative to negotiate his release. Donovan boards a plane to Berlin, hoping to win the young man's freedom through a prisoner exchange. If all goes well, the Russians would get Rudolf Abel, the convicted spy who Donovan defended in court.
