Jim Carignan’s Op-Ed piece, “Reining in the language of war,” (July 25) contained two observations with which I agree: First, The Patriot Act, hastily crafted by the United States Justice Department, was “passed by an emotional and frightened Congress”; and second, Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress “wish they could have their votes back.”

If leaders of Congress honestly rue their original hastily cast votes, the rules of procedure permit action on the Patriot Act to be reconsidered in order to vote it down.

In light of the Sept. 11 commission’s conclusions, reconsideration by the Congress would not be an act of weakness but an act of wisdom.

Paul F. Martz, Auburn

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