Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro visited Hawaii last month for a solemn commemoration of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor and a bit of sunshine, but instead stepped into a storm. A literal downpour caused widespread flooding across the islands, and equally serious leaks around the Navy fuel farm called Red Hill contaminated drinking water on Oahu.
The ensuing crisis is shedding light on the weaknesses in U.S. military infrastructure that could prove highly problematic in a potential conflict with China. The Pentagon should act decisively to protect Oahu’s aquifers and stop deferring investments in Indo-Pacific posture that are needed to deter Chinese aggression.
