25. NORAD: Watching the Skies Together
Since 1958, the North American Aerospace Defense Command has integrated U.S. and Canadian air defenses into a single system. Based inside Cheyenne Mountain, NORAD includes Canadian officers at the highest command levels. The organization monitored Soviet bombers throughout the Cold War and responded to the September 11 attacks. It famously tracks Santa Claus each Christmas. This remarkable military integration represents unprecedented trust between sovereign nations.
