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CNN Saturday Morning News
National Guard to Play a Role Securing the Airports
Aired September 29, 2001 - 07:29 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.
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: On Thursday, the president outlined a broad package of new airport and airline security measures, things like armed federal sky marshals on most U.S. commercial flights, over time significant improvements to cockpit security, fortified doors, cameras on planes as well.
But all that will take time, and the president also said it was critical that short-term, immediate steps be taken. And if you've been around an airport in the last day or so, chances are you've seen at least one of them, members of the National Guard, toting perhaps M- 16s and pistols.
For more now on the role the National Guard will play in the larger fight against terrorism in the weeks and months ahead, we're joined here in Washington by Major General Fred Rees, the vice-chief of the National Guard.
Sir, first, bring us up to speed on this deployment. In how many states right now, in how many airports, if an American goes to the airport this morning, will he or she see members of the National Guard?
MAJ. GEN. RAYMOND F. REES, VICE CHIEF, NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU: Good morning, glad to be with you here today.
The people are going to see that virtually every state and territory of the Union that you're going to see the National Guard participating in this security effort.
KING: Special training for this, or just in they go?
REES: Yes, there will be special training. And we're working on conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration to see to it that these people that are going to be deployed will be properly trained. They have a short training course that they will receive. It's pretty much standard FAA requirements.
KING: And outside the airports or inside the airport at checkpoints, actually handling people's baggage or searching them, what's the role?
REES: No, their primary role is to provide an armed security presence to augment the civilian security forces that are there. Most of you have seen this in airports, where you walk in, the civilian personnel at the checkpoints will be going -- looking at your luggage and personal effects and so on. But typically there will be a police officer or someone standing by to provide assistance. It'll be the same way with the National Guard troops that will be there.
KING: And obviously the president asking the Federal Aviation Administration and others to move on a number of fronts, training sky marshals, training new checkpoint workers. How long do you think the National Guard will be a visible presence at our airports?
REES: As I understand what the vision of this is, is that they are going to get this new security force into effect within about six months, sooner if possible. So the Guard is prepared to do this to approximately six month period.
KING: How do you strike the balance? On the one hand, you might say, you know, an average American walking through the airport sees the National Guard, you know, military. And one had reassured. On the other hand, maybe well, if they're here, maybe they're still a threat. How do you strike that balance?
REES: Well, I think this is one of the things that we have to do is help the public achieve confidence in travel in the security. And you're in the internal situation in the United States. We're going to do everything we can to project a positive and proactive approach to make this thing come off.
KING: And the National Guard's role in this fight against terrorism not limited to airports. What other things will we see around the country?
REES: Well, as you know, the Guard, both the Army and the Air Guard, are a reserve of the Army and the Air Force. And so, everything from operation "Enduring Freedom" to operation "Noble Eagle," to other activities here in the United States, you're going to see the Guard and Reserve step up to be part of the armed forces.
KING: A wake-up call here in terms of the terrorist threat on U.S. soil. Any new training measures being contemplated or implemented already, sort of adjust the mentality of what the Guard prepares for?
REES: Well, we in the Guard like to think that we've been in the homeland defense business all of our existence. Essentially, in the last 364 years, it's the Massachusetts Bay colony. I know that's where you're from is the Boston area.
And it's written right into the Constitution that the Guard is there to repel invasion, suppress insurrection and executive the laws of the union. And we feel that we've been training to this. We step up as the country needs this. We will probably add additional things as we do our after acts and reviews and look at what's been going on here.
KING: Major General Fred Rees, Vice Chair of the National Guard, we thank you for joining us this morning. And as the general noted, the National Guard's mission goes back to the very beginning of this country. Few could have contemplated though the mission underway right now.
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