Joshua Yang said that President Donald Trump is provoking Iran into war (“Don’t allow president to start war in Mideast,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 10). Actually, Trump is responding to Iranian threats on American forces in the region.

Iran has sponsored terrorism and wars against peaceful people in the Middle East and Africa continuously since 1979, using surrogates such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Contrary to Yang’s belief, Trump has tried to reduce the presence of U.S. forces that President Barack Obama committed in Syria and Afghanistan, in violation of the War Powers Act. But the Democratic-controlled House has opposed Trump’s proposals.

Like Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, and unlike past Democrat presidents, Trump probably will refuse to go to war unless it is authorized by Congress, or is a purely defensive operation to support standing international or bilateral agreements.

Russel Noguchi

Pearl City

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