I agree Lilo. The private detectives hired to protect Vito at the hospital were certainly adequate to do the job. I've never bought into Michael's invective: "He's gonna kill pop. That's a key for him."

Another invective of his that I don't buy: "Then you [Kay]were in danger. What could I do?" That line in GFIII is inane. Kay was never in danger. As for your's and TB's major point, Michael could have laid down his sword at any point. Michael chose not to. Perhaps he enjoyed the power, the manipulation, or feared the anonymity of being an former Don. Who knows.