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One of the significant issues contributing to the unpreparedness was a lack of effective communication between military leaders. General Walter C. Short commanded the Army forces in Hawaii while Admiral Husband E. Kimmel led the Pacific Fleet. Their inability to share intelligence led to critical lapses, especially when Navy intelligence lost track of Japanese naval movements less than two weeks before the attack.
Despite receiving several war warnings, including a critical one just days before December 7, the messages failed to specify potential targets. As a result, preparations remained inadequate, and both Kimmel and Short struggled to mobilize an effective defense without concrete intelligence on where the attack might occur.