Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Target: Terrorism: National Guard Stands Armed Guard at Airports

Aired October 05, 2001 - 10:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Visitors to the nation's airports will be greeted by one of the most striking reminders of how dramatically everyday life has changed in 3 1/2 weeks: National Guard troops at newly created posts to enhance airport security and reassurance of a wary traveling public.

CNN's Martin Savidge, at Newark International, where the troops arrived a few hours ago -- Marty, good morning.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

Anyone who has traveled overseas is probably not unaccustomed to seeing armed soldiers patrolling through international airports. That's there, not here: Here it is, a very unusual sight to see. That was made very obvious by the fact that when the squads of New Jersey National Guard soldiers stepped off the bus with M-16 rifles slung over their shoulders, and the commanding officer officers with sidearms, they drew a lot of stares from the passengers that were waiting inside the terminal.

They are the first of 75 National Guard troops that have been called up in this state by the acting governor. They have been assigned to the three commercial airports, but most of them are going to be here at Newark International Airport. They have undergone two days of intensive training by the FAA; the Federal Aviation Authority overseas security at all of the airports throughout the country.

And it is something that many passengers find a little bit different.

We talked to Col. John Dwyer, who is with the New Jersey National Guard, about the uniqueness of this assignment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. JOHN DWYER, NEW JERSEY NATIONAL GUARD: We haven't had an armed presence at Newark Airport since World War II, so this is a very different job for us. The National Guard is used to providing security and is used to providing humanitarian relief here in the civilian community, as we did after Floyd, as we had in snowstorms and other emergencies and disasters, but an armed presence out there is a very different role for us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: Authorities stress that they are not here to replace security -- they are here to supplement security -- and that it's not a permanent assignment: It will likely go four to six months, to allow time for federal aviation authorities to install greater and more modern security checkpoints inside the airport.

You talk to passengers here, Bill, and it's interesting. Most people say they do like to see the National Guard. But it's the conversations you overhear that perhaps strike you more. There was a small boy with his mother as the troops went by, and he asked, Are those soldiers?

His mother replied, Yes.

The little boy looked at them and said, That's scary.

That seems to be a feeling of many people, that sort of juxtaposition between an increased sense of security and an increased sense of fear -- Bill.

HEMMER: Indeed. A changing world -- we talk so much about it, Marty. Newark, to my understanding, is the only airport servicing New York City to get National Guard troops groups now. Will that be expanded to LaGuardia, JFK -- do you know?

SAVIDGE: It is. In fact, there are other National Guard troops from the state of New York that will be hitting their assignments, such as LaGuardia. That will be coming perhaps later next week. They are in the process of getting prepared. Many of these troops need special training. As has been pointed out, this is not a role that they have commonly taken on in the past -- Bill.

HEMMER: Indeed.

Marty, thank you. Martin Savidge, at Newark's airport this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com