SJ Mercury-News : Guard's airport duty ends weeks after British terror plot

Guard's airport duty ends weeks after British terror plot

AARON C. DAVIS | Associated Press | September 14, 2006

SACRAMENTO - Hundreds of California National Guardsmen deployed to airports around the state began packing up and heading home Thursday, ending a mission ordered by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger following a foiled British terror plot.

Schwarzenegger activated the Guard last month to secure three international airports and then extended the mission to smaller ones. Two of the state's airports - San Francisco and Los Angeles - have the kind of direct flights to and from Britain that officials said could have been targets.

The governor called up more than 600 troops at a cost of more than $4.4 million.

State homeland security and National Guard officials on Thursday said the deployment had been prudent and that the mission was ending because federal airport security directors had determined the troops were no longer needed to help screen passengers' carryon bags for hair gels and other liquids.

The substances were banned on all U.S. flights after British authorities said terrorists were planning to carry out attacks with liquid explosives, possibly disguised as sports drinks.

Schwarzenegger deployed the troops Aug. 10, the same day federal officials for the first time elevated the color-coded threat level to red, its highest level, for some flights. He said the Guardsmen would remain at the state's largest airports at least until the level was lowered.

The threat level for all flights was lowered to orange four days later, but the troops remained. In Los Angeles International Airport and elsewhere, Guardsmen were integrated into passenger screening efforts, often conducting a second check of passengers' carryon bags at gates. Elsewhere, troops were sent to guard outdoor areas and remote access points to runways at San Francisco and other airports.

Gary Winuk, chief deputy director of California's Office of Homeland Security, said other factors - such as the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks - ultimately came into play in deciding when the troops would leave.

Winuk said state officials believed it was time to withdraw the troops once the anniversary had passed and because airport security officials had become more effective at finding banned liquids.

"The need for additional resources was identified, and they stayed there until that need was obviated," Winuk said.

California National Guard Brig. Gen. Lewis Antonetti said the Guard has spent an estimated $4.4 million out of its annual operating budget to complete the mission. When all its bills are paid, he said, the total cost could hit $4.8 million.

Schwarzenegger said last month he would seek federal homeland security grants to pay for the deployment. State homeland security officials said the state should be able to be reimbursed with money set aside for states to cope with increased threat levels.

At its peak last month, the deployment neared 640 active troops, 200 short of the California Guard's deployment to airports following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It was the first time the Guard had deployed to the state's airports since then.

As of Wednesday, Antonetti said 524 troops were still at the state's airports. Guardsmen began leaving Ontario International Airport late last month and began pulling out of airports in Burbank and Orange County early Thursday morning.

Within three days, the Guard will pull out of San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego and Los Angeles airports, he said.

The Guard never deployed to Oakland International Airport. Officials there said they did not need the troops because the airport had the necessary security and law enforcement in place to respond to the elevated terror threat.

California National Guard spokesman Maj. Jon Siepmann said at least some of those deployed to Southern California airports will be staying permanently. A handful of Guardsmen accepted jobs as federal airport security screeners, he said.