Another reason is that Mike wanted Roth "relaxed...confident that our deal is still good." What better way than to treat Johnny Ola as a guide, close comrade, even as a big brother. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
Speaking of the the pivotal character in GF II, Johnny "snappy dresser" Ola. Would it be somewhat of a fair assestment to say that, besides being Roth's "Sicilian Messengerboy", was he also Roth's "Fredo", but instead of sending him to the airport, he sent him to the train station? Not to mention that Ola, like Fredo, Ola knew all the hot spots, especially in Cuba!
