Area of Responsibility Family Language Economic Systems US
InterestsOverview
Slide 3
Geography Majority of North American continent including CONUS,
Alaska, Canada, Mexico, surrounding water out to 500 nautical miles
Includes air, land and sea approaches, Gulf of Mexico, Straits of
Florida, portions of the Caribbean including Bahamas, Puerto Rico,
US Virgin Islands 4 nations: US, Canada, Mexico, The Bahamas Area
of Responsibility
Slide 4
Nuclear family based Kinship based on Eskimo kinship Based
around nuclear family where husband and wife are biological parents
of children Adopted children assume same status as biological
children Non-biologically related parents, children, siblings
result in new terms (stepbrother, stepsister, stepfather,
half-brother, etc.)Family
Slide 5
Families favor neolocal residences Upon marriage, people
separate from childhood nuclear family and form a new nuclear
family Modified version of neo-local residence includes
single-parent families Most commonly single mothers Single
bread-winner often means low income and time management
challengesFamily
Slide 6
Nuclear family focus driven by pioneering & industrial
history Dislocation caused by westward expansion and
industrialization also contributed to single-parent household
acceptance Contributed to growth of fictive kinshipFamily
Slide 7
Fictive Kinship: Religiously or economically based Fill gaps in
real kinship networks Broadens mutual support, creates sense of
community, enhances social control Established by voluntary consent
of both parties E.g.: godparenthood (compadrazgo in
Mexico)Family
Slide 8
Modern USNORTHCOM families almost exclusively consuming, rather
than producing, unit Public agencies serve role historically filled
by families (caring for sick or aged, educating children,
recreation) Technological advancements make it possible for couples
to decide if and when to have childrenFamily
Slide 9
3 primary languages: English, French, Spanish US is only nation
in USNORTHCOM without one or more official languages US has 5th
largest Spanish-speaking population in world By 2050, general US
population is estimated to be near 30% Hispanic heritage 27 of 50
states have official-language laws, mostly passed since 1970s
w/increase in immigration debatesLanguage
Slide 10
3 of the largest economies in the world Wealthiest nation in
the Caribbean Affluence of region due in part to free-market
economies and high reliance on free trade agreements 90% of Mexican
trade under free trade agreements w/over 50 countries Economic
Systems
Slide 11
NAFTA: Signed 1993, implemented 1 January 1994 between US,
Canada, Mexico Removed most barriers to trade and investment
Created worlds largest free trade area, linking 450 million people
producing $17 trillion in goods/services Canada and Mexico are top
2 purchasers of US exports and 32% of overall US exports, 2 nd and
3 rd largest suppliers of US imports Economic Systems
Slide 12
NAFTA, Cont. US absorbs approximately three-fourths of Canadian
exports each year Canada is largest foreign supplier of energy to
US including oil, gas, uranium, and electricity Canada is number
one export nation for goods from US and number two nation for
imports to US Economic Systems
Slide 13
Poverty Poverty defined in highly industrialized/affluent
societies such as US and Canada differs from other nations; rates
of 9-12% in US, Canada & The Bahamas can be misleading Poverty
rate in Mexico is estimated at 18% based on access to food and
basic supplies; asset-based poverty rate closer to 47% Poverty
& income disparity in Mexico lead to high crime rate,
unemployment, other economic problems Economic Systems
Slide 14
Crime Illegal drug trade is sophisticated, multi-national
business est. at $300-$400 billion worldwide US is single largest
market for illegal drugs Typical weekend in New York City equates
to $16 million/week or $832 million/year for illegal drug trade
Drug production is cheap: lose 90% of profits and still be
profitable Money spent on drugs returns to cartels and turned into
extortion, homicide, government corruption, arms trade, and other
criminal activity Economic Systems
Slide 15
Crime, Cont. Highly potent marijuana smuggled in from Canada
Canada increasingly a source for ecstasy entering US Canada and The
Bahamas vulnerable to money laundering because of mature financial
sector The Bahamas serve as transshipment point for cocaine and
marijuana into US and Europe Economic Systems
Slide 16
Crime, Cont. 90% of annual cocaine movement into US stops in
Mexico Mexico is largest foreign supplier of marijuana and meth
into US US-Mexico border violence result of powerful, violent drug
cartels responding to government pressure Economic Systems
Slide 17
Geographic challenges US is worlds 4th largest nation
geographically w/3.5 millions square miles of land, 88,000 miles of
tidal shoreline 11.2 million trucks, 2.2 million railcars, 7,500
foreign-flagged ships in 51,000 calls cross borders or enter ports
each year in addition to people Huge traffic flow and freedom of
movement presents national defense challenges enemies will exploit
US Interests
Slide 18
Close partnerships with Canada, Mexico, and The Bahamas
necessary to control: Illegal Drug Trade Illegal Immigration US
Interests
Slide 19
Immigration: Controlled immigration began in US in 1875 Current
immigration debate dates back to 1920s In CA alone, illegal
immigration cost to taxpayers approximately $9 billion/year
National Guard actively involved in border control US
Interests
Slide 20
Area of Responsibility Family Language Economic Systems US
InterestsSummary