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Then later on in the evening, about 11 o'clock when we sort of gathered in Obey's room to conclude the evening, Obey said, “Ed, by the way, if you would like, I'll go with you tomorrow morning.” I knew, at least in my feelings, that this was simply an offer made (1) because he maybe felt bad about. it, or (2) that he had not made the offer before, or (3) it was sort of to get off the hook. At least he made the offer, hoping I wouldn't pick it up. At least that's the way I saw it. And so I said to him, “Listen, Dave, you and I know that you want to go to sleep,” because he was rather tired. “I will not think less of you as a result of your not going.” The truth is I do think less of him as a result of his not going. That's for the tape, not for him. And he didn't pursue it other than to say, “I really want to go.” And I said, “Dave, you know I'm a very truthful guy. You and I know that's not the story.” I said, “Don't worry about it. I'm not going to be upset at your not going. It's enough Joe is going.” So he didn't pursue it.

The next morning Early and I meet downstairs about 5 o'clock in the morning, and the car is to pick us up about 5:15, and we're joking. It's very dark in Syria in August, very dark, at 5:15 in the morning. And I say to Joe, who's a Roman Catholic from Worcester, Mass, “Joe, I can see the headlines tomorrow. The headline will read: ‘Two American Congressmen