What ignored lesson could produce a modern Pearl Harbor-scale failure?
Short answerThe identified concerns are too few ships and insufficient production, compounded by requirements that load every mission onto small combatants.
NotesDrawing on a conversation the preceding Friday, Alex names ship production and force numbers as the modern readiness concerns. He describes agreement that more hulls are needed without a corresponding increase in orders or building pace. A participant adds the difficulty of demanding ASW, anti-aircraft, anti-ship and helicopter capabilities from every small combatant. The analogy to Pearl Harbor is institutional recognition of a weakness without the action needed to correct it. This records the panel's assessment in December 2025.