Col. Terry Childers (SAMUEL L. JACKSON) and Col. Hays Hodges (TOMMY LEE JONES) have been friends for nearly thirty years since Childers saved Hodges' life in Vietnam via a morally questionable, but lethal tactic. Now, Hodges has just retired from the service as a military lawyer and Childers has assumed command of an elite, tactical Marine unit.
When the American embassy in Yemen finds itself under siege, Childers and his team are sent in to rescue Ambassador Mourain (BEN KINGSLEY), his wife (ANNE ARCHER) and their young son while securing the embassy. After removing the ambassador and his family and losing three of his men to sniper gunfire, Childers orders his men, including Capt. Lee (BLAIR UNDERWOOD), to open fire on the hostile protesters.
The resulting large loss of life immediately creates a political firestorm that reaches the highest levels of the U.S. government. As such, National Security Adviser William Sokal (BRUCE GREENWOOD), not wanting the U.S. to take the blame for what he considers the actions of a lone madman, has Childers brought up on charges of violating the rules of engagement by killing presumably innocent people during that conflict.
Unable to believe he's facing a court-martial for what he considered to be the correct course of action, Childers asks Hodges to defend him in a military trial that's being rushed through the system. Despite worrying that he's not a good enough lawyer to defend his friend and that he might taint his reputation of being the son of the legendary Gen. H. Lawrence Hodges (PHILIP BAKER HALL), Hays decides to help Childers.
As the trial begins and military lawyer Maj. Mark Biggs (GUY PEARCE) heads the prosecution and their seemingly strong case, Hodges, with the assistance of Capt. Tom Chandler (MARK FEUERSTEIN), sets out to learn what he can about Childers' actions in Yemen, refute the evidence or lack thereof presented by Biggs, and prevent his longtime friend from being found guilty as charged.