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US Northern Command Area of Responsibility

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Area of Responsibility Family Language Economic Systems US InterestsOverview

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Close partnerships with Canada, Mexico, and The Bahamas necessary to control: Illegal Drug Trade Illegal Immigration US Interests

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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

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Area of Responsibility Family Language Economic Systems US InterestsSummary