"Florida National Guard troops may return to airport duty"

Friday, October 15, 2004

Florida National Guard troops may return to airport duty
The Associated Press


ORLANDO, Fla. - Florida National Guard troops who patrolled airports after
the 2001 terrorist attacks may return to the terminals soon.

Florida Guard officials are drafting plans to dispatch "at least a couple of
hundred" troops to airports across the state, spokesman Lt. Col. Ron Tittle
said Thursday. Officials said there was no specific threat to Florida and it
was unclear when, or whether, the troops would be ordered to the airports.

Tittle said the planning was prompted by a "warning order" received earlier
this week from U.S. Northern Command in Colorado, which is responsible for
the military's homeland-defense operations.

Homeland security officials have heightened preparations around the country
because of concerns that terrorists might try to disrupt the Nov. 2
election.

"Obviously, this is a very critical time for our nation, and we are working
with the (Florida) National Guard to determine how they can help elevate
security during this crucial time," said Lauren Stover, a Miami-based
spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, thousands of armed military
troops were put on patrol at the nation's airports. The troops left in May
2002 as increased security details from the newly formed TSA took over.

It was unknown whether other states also were planning to activate Guard
troops for airport details. A Pentagon spokesman said he was unfamiliar with
the plan.


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