Originally posted by FrankieFiveAngels:
The Corleones know where the meeting is being held, and have a gun planted for Michael. Why not just have buttons at the restaurant beforehand, and have them take out Sollozzo and McCluskey?
And to add to what Turnbull pointed out, I'm sure that Sollozo had his people check out the restaurant, for any potential hitmen, before Michael, McClusky and Sollozo got there.
It would have been too risky to plant hitmen that could have been identified, at the restaurant. Remember, Michael was considerd a civilian without any background of ever being involved in his father's business. It was public knowledge that Mike was a war hero.
Having Michael hit them was the safest and most foolproof plan. Unexpected by everyone.
Don Cardi
