The Deluge, the Paper Cup, and Washington’s Lack of Urgency on Guam

A former lieutenant governor of Guam warns that Washington is dangerously unprepared to defend Guam, a critical U.S. territory and military hub in the Second Island Chain, against growing threats from China and North Korea. Despite understanding among defense planners, the island remains poorly resourced and broadly misunderstood by the American public and policymakers. The author uses the metaphor of catching a deluge in a paper cup to illustrate the inadequacy of current efforts.