Holden to post National Guard at airports

Associated Press Writer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Gov. Bob Holden plans to post at least 150 National Guardsmen at seven commercial airports in Missouri in response to President Bush's request for heightened security.

The deployments could occur as soon as next week and may last for several months, with the federal government picking up the bill, the governor's office said Thursday.

Speaking earlier Thursday at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, Bush urged governors to call up National Guard units to protect airports while he implements a long-term airline security plan.

The tighter security is part of the response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in which hijackers crashed two planes into the New York's World Trade Center and another into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. A fourth crashed in rural Pennsylvania, apparently after passengers struggled with the hijackers.

U.S. air travel has dropped sharply since the attacks.

Holden said he believes Missouri airports are safe. But he added: "I think the president is acting in a prudent fashion, in a responsible way."

"We've got to be prepared for the future, and I think that's what this is all about," Holden said.

The White House had not released a list of the seven Missouri airports to receive National Guardsman.

Missouri has commercial airports in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, Joplin, Cape Girardeau and Ft. Leonard Wood, where the Army also has a post.

The airport deployment in Missouri would be the fifth largest in the country, behind California, Florida, New York and Texas, said Holden spokesman Jerry Nachtigal.

The president has asked governors to call up about 4,000 National Guardsmen nationwide to provide security at 720 checkpoints in 420 commercial airports, Nachtigal said.

"The call up will come in the next few days," he said.

Holden's new adviser on homeland security, retired Army Col. Timothy Daniel, said he expected a briefing Friday on the airport deployment.

Some key issues to resolve include what kind Guardsmen to place at airports, whether they will have guns and, if so, what rules of engagement they would follow, Daniel said.

Most military personnel have not received training in commercial airport security, he said.

So National Guard members first will have to be trained by the Federal Aviation Administration on passenger and baggage screening, conflict management and the handling of deadly materials in airports. That could take three to four days, the governor's office said.

Holden and other governors participated in a conference call Thursday with the White House, the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to discuss the request for airport security.

Holden also met Thursday with Missouri Adj. Gen. George "Dennis" Shull, who assured the governor the state has more than a sufficient supply of well-trained personnel in the National Guard, Nachtigal said.

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On the Net:

Gov. Bob Holden: http://www.gov.state.mo.us