The Longevity and Continued Relevance of the Binational North American Aerospace Defense Command
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Shelf Life Extended: The Longevity and Continued Relevance of the Binational North American Aerospace Defense Command by Nicolas Allarie A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of the University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Department of Political Studies University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Copyright © 2016 Nicolas Allarie Abstract This thesis asks why the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) continues to exist and remain relevant in the defence of North America following the disappearance of the threat of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War. This thesis argues that NORAD’s binational nature is key to understanding the command’s continued role in continental defence. By employing the international relation theories of functionalism and neoliberal institutionalism as a lens of analysis to understand binational defence cooperation, NORAD’s origins as a binational defence command tasked with the air defence of North America, and its acquisition of its responsibilities for drug interdiction, the continental interior, and for maritime warning are analyzed. NORAD’s longevity and continued relevance can be attributed to the command’s binational nature, which has allowed the command to focus on and institutionalize specific functional-technical solutions to select issues of mutual concern in continental defence and security for Canada and the U.S. i Acknowledgements I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to my advisor, Dr. James Fergusson, for the support and guidance he has provided me throughout the writing of my thesis and for his patience in reading over numerous drafts. Additionally, I would like to thank Dr. Andrea Charron for her insightful comments on a later draft and for her advice and constant encouragement. Both Dr. Fergusson and Dr. Charron have been mentors throughout the course of my graduate studies and are responsible for sparking my interest in Canadian defence policy and NORAD. Special thanks to the J.W. Dafoe Foundation for selecting me as the recipient of the J.W. Dafoe Graduate Fellowship for Study in International Relations. Their generous contribution has been invaluable to me being able to conduct my studies at the University of Manitoba. Lastly, I would like to thank my parents, Brian and Babette, and my girlfriend, Jenna, for their unwavering encouragement and support throughout my studies. ii Abbreviations and Terms AOR Area of responsibility AWACS Airbourne Warning and Control System BPG Binational Planning Group Canada COM Canada Command CBSA Canada Border Services Agency CINCADCANUS Commander-in-Chief Air Defense Canada-United States CINCCONAD Commander-in-Chief, Continental Air Defense Command CINCNORAD Commander-in-Chief, North American Air (later Aerospace) Defense Command CINCUSNORTHCOM Commander in Chief, United States Northern Command CINCUSSPACECOM Commander in Chief, United States Space Command CJOC Canadian Joint Operations Command CMIST CANUS Maritime Information Sharing Teleconference CONAD Continental Air Defense Command CONR Continental US NORAD Region COP Common Operating Picture DCINCNORAD Deputy Commander-in-Chief, North American Air (later Aerospace) Defense Command DEW Line Distant Early Warning Line DHS United States Department of Homeland Security FAA Federal Aviation Administration ICBM Intercontinental ballistic missile iii IMSWG Interdepartmental Marine Security Working Group ITW/AA Integrated tactical warning and attack assessment JCS United States Joint Chiefs of Staff JSS Joint Surveillance System MCC Canadian-United States Military Co-operation Committee MDA Maritime Domain Awareness MERP Maritime Event Response Protocol MOTR Maritime Operational Threat Response Plan MSIPC Maritime Security Interagency Policy Committee MSOC Maritime Security Operations Centre MSPCC Maritime Security Policy Coordinating Committee NATO North American Treaty Organization NEADS North East Air Defense Sector NMDAP National Maritime Domain Awareness Plan NMIC National Maritime Intelligence Center NMIO National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office NMP National Maritime Picture NORAD North American Air (later Aerospace) Defense Command NPAMDA National Plan to Achieve Maritime Domain Awareness NSMS National Strategy for Maritime Security NSPD-41/HSPD-13 National Security Presidential Directive-41/Homeland Security Presidential Directive-13 PJBD Permanent Joint Board for Defense iv PPD-18 Presidential Policy Directive-18 RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force RCMP Royal Canadian Mounted Police RMP Recognized Maritime Picture SAC Strategic Air Command USAF United States Air Force USBP United States Border Patrol USCBP United States Customs and Border Protection USCBPS United States Customs and Border Protection Service USCG United States Coast Guard USCIS United States Citizen and Immigration Service USCS United States Customs Service USDoT United States Department of Transportation USELEMNORAD United States Element NORAD USFF United States Fleet Forces Command/U.S. Navy North USN United States Navy USNORTHCOM United States Northern Command USSPACECOM United States Space Command USSTRATCOM United States Strategic Command WMD Weapon of mass destruction v Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... ii Abbreviations and Terms ............................................................................................................ iii Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter One: Explaining Binational Defence Cooperation ..................................................... 6 Binationalism ............................................................................................................................. 6 Alliance Theory ....................................................................................................................... 15 Neoliberal Institutionalism ..................................................................................................... 24 Functionalism and Neofunctionalism .................................................................................... 31 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 36 Chapter Two: The Origins of the North American Aerospace Defense Command ............. 38 The Origins of NORAD .......................................................................................................... 39 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 61 Chapter Three: Moving Towards Drug Interdiction .............................................................. 65 NORAD’s Shelf Life ................................................................................................................ 65 Defence Support for Drug Interdiction ................................................................................. 70 A Binational Approach ........................................................................................................... 75 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 87 Chapter Four: NORAD Turns Towards the Continental Interior ........................................ 90 The Gaps and Shortcomings of Continental Defence .......................................................... 92 A Common Problem and a Binational Solution ................................................................... 96 vi Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 105 Chapter Five: A Novel Maritime Warning Mission .............................................................. 107 North American Maritime Security .................................................................................... 110 NORAD’s Maritime Warning Mission ............................................................................... 119 Maritime Warning ................................................................................................................ 125 Conclusion — Why NORAD? .............................................................................................. 135 Chapter Six: Conclusion — Looking Forward ...................................................................... 141 Bibliography .............................................................................................................................. 152 vii Introduction Upon its establishment in 1957, the binational command of the North American Air (later Aerospace) Defense Command (NORAD) has been tasked with monitoring and defending the airspace of North America by the United States and Canada in concert. Even though the literature on North American continental defence and Canada-United States defence and security cooperation often emphasizes the fact that NORAD is a binational command, the importance and impact of this binational attribute are rarely expounded upon. The real political and security implications of this binational