Clarke cites a 50-percent assessment of the chance of an attack on Pearl Harbor and attributes the failure to relay the full information to Richmond Kelly Turner. He connects that decision with earlier disputes between Pacific commanders and the White House. The allegation is that protecting the administration from renewed complaints took precedence over preparing the fleet. Turner's influence over intelligence assessments, despite his operations role, is central to this explanation. The same account credits Turner with effective service in the Pacific after the war began. The accusation about his prewar priorities remains a judgment about motives, rather than an order or admission quoted in this passage.
Chapter · 56:18-58:59
Turner and the restriction of intelligence to Hawaii
The criticism of Turner concerns the flow of assessments to Hawaii and the claim that avoiding command disputes took priority over warning local commanders.