Bush urges America to fly, unveils security steps

11.50 am

CHICAGO - US President George W Bush, urging Americans to "get on the airlines," unveiled plans today to deploy National Guard troops at US airports and make planes more secure after the September 11 attacks.

"Get on the airlines, get about the business of America," Bush told thousands of workers at Chicago's O'Hare airport as he sought to allay fears of flying and bolster the crippled airline industry.

"Everybody here who showed up for work at this important industry is making a clear statement, that terrorism will not stand," Bush said.

The security measures announced by Bush were aimed at restoring confidence in the airline industry, which has been hit by widespread flight cancellations and more than 100,000 layoffs in the wake of the attacks.

The president said he would "dramatically increase" the number of armed federal marshals on commercial flights and work with Congress to put the federal government in charge of passenger and baggage inspections.

He said the government would pay states for uniformed National Guard troops to oversee airport inspection stations while the other new measures were implemented.

A White House official said some 4000 to 5000 troops would serve at the 420 US commercial airports for the estimated four to six months needed to adopt new measures. The cost would be $US100 million ($250.06 million) to $US150 million ($375.09 million).

Bush's speech outside a hangar at O'Hare was punctuated with the roar of jets taking off. His backdrop was an American Airlines and a United Airlines plane parked nose-to-nose.

"I think it's interesting that on one side we see American, on the other side it says United. Because that's what we are. America is united," Bush said to loud cheers.

Later, at the moment he declared "the spirit of America is incredibly strong," a Spirit Airlines plane took off behind him and drew chants of "USA, USA, USA."

Amid signals it could be some time before Washington launches a military strike against Islamic militant Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, Bush reiterated his call for patience in the US-led war on terrorism.

"We must understand that sometimes we will see our resources deployed, sometimes we won't," he told the airline workers. However, he said, "We will use the military might of the United States."

Bush has accused bin Laden of masterminding the September 11 attacks and demanded the ruling Taleban in Afghanistan, where he is based, surrender him or face retribution.

The measures announced by Bush were aimed at addressing security lapses laid bare by the attacks in which two hijacked commercial planes were crashed into the World Trade Centre in New York, a third into the Pentagon outside Washington and a fourth into a rural area of Pennsylvania. Two were American Airlines flights; two were United.

Almost 7000 people were dead or missing.

A Zogby International tracking poll found 40 per cent of Americans are nervous about airline security while 59 per cent are confident. This represents an improvement over five days ago, when 46 per cent were nervous and 51 per cent confident.

The White House confirmed today that Bush had authorised the most senior officers in his military chain of command to order the shooting down of any commercial airliner heading "nose down" in an imminent threat to people below.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the order would only apply as a last resort if the president could not be reached. Bush had ordered the shooting down of planes if necessary during the September 11 incidents.

Bush said the government would set aside $US500 million for grants to airlines to improve aircraft security. The money would be used to fortify cockpit doors against break-ins and fund technology development.

Projects would include transponders -- which signal the airline's whereabouts -- that could not be switched off, cockpit video screens to monitor cabin activity, and remote devices to enable flight controllers on the ground to land a seized plane.

Bush said he would work with Congress to put the federal government in charge of airport security and screening services -- currently funded by the airlines.

Under the proposal, which White House officials hope to win passage of as early as next week, the new security would be performed by a mix of government and private workers under government contracts. Uniformed federal personnel would manage all operations and maintain a presence at the airports.

Among other things, the government will set new standards for airport security, supervise passenger and baggage security, test, train and carry out background checks on security personnel and oversee patrolling of secure airport areas.

Making only his second trip outside the Washington area since the attacks -- the first was to tour the damage in New York -- Bush and other US officials were trying to revive confidence in the airline industry and the broader economy.

"One of the great goals of this nation's war is to restore public confidence in the airline industry," Bush said.

"Get on board, do your business around the country ... get down to Disney World in Florida. Take your families and enjoy life, the way we want it to be enjoyed."

Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta flew coach on a United flight from Washington to Chicago to join Bush.

"He said the flight was just perfect," Bush said of Mineta. Nine Cabinet members would fly commercially to engagements on Friday, he added.

Saturday, Bush signed legislation bailing out major airlines to the tune of $US15 billion, including $US5 billion in direct assistance and $US10 billion in loan guarantees.

That comes on top of $US40 billion approved by Congress soon after the attacks to help cope with their aftermath, including $US3 billion for airline security.

On his return to Washington later Thursday, Bush was to press his efforts to build an international coalition to join the United States in a war on terrorism in meetings with Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium and European Union President Romano Prodi.

- REUTERS

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