On the Southern Border of the United States: Threats and Opportunities in an Economy of Force Theater

• Main Author: Terstegge, Stephen D.
• Other Authors: NAVAL WAR COLL NEWPORT RI JOINT MILITARY OPERATIONS DEPT
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Sociology and Law; Military Forces and Organizations; Civil Defense; Unconventional Warfare; *NATIONAL GUARD; *THREATS; *MANPOWER UTILIZATION; *COUNTERTERRORISM; *HOMELAND SECURITY; *MEXICO; *BOUNDARIES; MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES); COOPERATION; TERRORISM; DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE; MISSIONS; LAW ENFORCEMENT; MILITARY CAPABILITIES; *BORDER SECURITY; *SOUTHWEST BORDER; *BORDER DUTY; DHS(DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY); TRANSNATIONAL THREATS; NORTHCOM(US NORTHERN COMMAND); SECURITY COOPERATION; NORTHCOM
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA470728; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA470728

The 2,000 mile Southwest border of the United States can be described as an "economy of force" theater where the threats are relatively unknown, and are therefore addressed on an ad-hoc basis through the deployment of forces for limited durations and purposes. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) needs Department of Defense (DoD) help to be successful in combating transnational threats to the homeland. However, with increasing demands on land forces for combat operations abroad, NORTHCOM cannot adequately fulfill its homeland security role with the forces or capabilities needed to successfully deter growing threats coming from regions south of the border. At the same time, NORTHCOM is faced with the challenge of initiating enhanced security cooperation with Mexico to address common threats, such as militarized cartels. Therefore, an analysis is needed of potential threats south of the border, the authorities for the employment of DoD forces there, and realistic planning considerations for the Southwest border of the United States. In consideration of these factors, the author concludes that National Guard units are best suited for duty on the Southwest border. National Guard units can be tailored to the tasks and missions of securing the border, rather than the current paradigm of suiting tasks and missions to the units that may become available for this purpose.