SCHOOL THESIS

III.
LITERATURE REVIEW
A. INTRODUCTION
Cyberspace warning is influenced by a host of international, governmental and
military policies and guidance. Both the U.S. and Canada governments have published
many documents providing guidance to military commands at the strategic, operational,
and tactical levels. A brief survey of key directives helps clarify the roles and authorities
of each level of government in dealing with potential cyberspace attacks.
B. NORAD GUIDANCE
1. NORAD Agreement
On May 12, 1958, the “NORAD Agreement” statutorily establishing the “North
American Air Defense Command” (NORAD) was formalized between the U.S. and
Canadian governments. The Agreement has then reviewed, revised, and renewed
approximately every five years (most recently, on 28 April 2006.) 78
During the March 1996 renewal, NORAD’s missions were redefined to be
“aerospace warning” and “aerospace control” for North America. 79
Then, during the May 2006 renewal, the new “maritime warning” mission was
added to the command’s existing aerospace warning and control missions. In this
renewal, the two nations outlined their mutual understanding of the current political,
military and threat environment in the Agreement’s preamble:
MINDFUL that in the years since the first NORAD Agreement was
concluded on May 12, 1958, NORAD, as a distinct command, has evolved
to address the continuing changes in the nature of the threats to North
America and that it will need to continue to adapt to future shared
security interests (emphasis added);
78 North American Aerospace Defense Command, “NORAD Agreement,” accessed 3 Feb 2014,
http://www.norad.mil/AboutNORAD/NORADAgreement.aspx.
79 Ibid.
41