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discussion for the Committee — not now, but you could submit it in writing 
if you would be so kind — explaining the mental process that you went through 
in thinking that there was a theoretical construct, on the basis of which 
you thought it important to warn the public, and then the process can be 
retrenched from there. 
DR. WATSON: It would be a damning document to sign, because I would 
have to say that we discovered transduction, but we didn't think about it, 
and on and on, you know, that we knew that — Oh, boy; it would be quite a 
confession. 
(Laughter . ) 
Either a confession or just plain the stupidity of liberal guilt. 
MR. HELMS: Isn't that what modern men are capable of. 
DR. FREDRICKSON: We will have three more comments, because the hands 
are up. 
Dr. Ahmed. 
DR. AHMED: To expand on what Mr. Helms just asked about, How many of 
the original signers would re-sign moratorium today? — I think the more 
relevant question is how many of them believe in the Guidelines or believe 
some kind of guideline is in order. I think that is a more relevant ques- 
tion, because the question of the moratorium is basically moot right now. 
MR. HELMS: I didn't have reference to the moratorium; I had reference 
to the danger. 
DR. AHMED: I don't mean the danger, I mean the Guidelines. 
DR. WATSON: You have to ask people two questions, as I get it. What 
is politically the best we can pull off now, having gotten into this mess? 
That is talked about all the time. It is a stupid way to think, because 
as we have shown, molecular biologists are no good as politicians, and we 
should just say what we believe. If you would ask the people, Are they 
scared because — ? have you walked into a lab where anyone is scared doing 
recombinant DNA research? I think that is the best way. That is, are the 
Guidelines protecting them against anything? I don't know of any one who is 
scared, whereas, you know, there are so many other things in the lab which 
you can get scared about that — no one is scared. 
Then it comes to, if you aren't scared, how much do the Guidelines 
cost us? They cost us enormous diversion away from the main mission of the 
National Institutes of Health. They are very expensive. You know, when we 
think about the Guidelines it is not as if we are doing this when we would 
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