HEBRON — The already unmistakable military presence at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport will soon be even stronger for the holiday travel season.

        Friday, President Bush ordered more than a 25 percent increase in the number of National Guard troops stationed at the nation's airports, including the local facility — the nation's 24th busiest.

        “These are temporary measures and we believe it will help a lot,” Mr. Bush said. “This is a war that has many fronts ... and we could not win this war without the National Guard and Reserve.”

        Mr. Bush also outlined plans for further bolstering airport and airline security, which has remained an issue in the nearly two months following the Sept. 11 attacks.

        He asked Congress to quickly reach agreement on an airline security bill that contains major differences between House and Senate versions and for the Department of Transportation to further scrutinize airport security with undercover tests.

        Mr. Bush also announced that Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta would be holding meetings with airport, airline and security equipment manufacturing officials to come together and begin transitioning to what he called “fundamental changes” in the industry.

        There are currently about 53,000 National Guard troops deployed nationwide at airports and other potential targets such as power plants.

        Mr. Bush said his order will raise the number of troops at airports from more than 6,000 to nearly 11,000 in an effort to bolster security and calm the public that continues to avoid air travel due to the Sept. 11 attacks.

        According to figures released previously by local airport officials, 21 Guard troops are stationed here, up from 15 when they were originally deployed on Oct. 5.

        Kentucky National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Phil Miller would not confirm that, but said that the Guard has deployed about 50 troops at five airports throughout the state.

        Lt. Col. Miller said they should be in place by Nov. 19, the Monday before Thanksgiving, although they could come sooner. They will be recalled on Jan. 6, leaving the current number in place.

        He said they will have arrest powers but that they are there to “augment and support current law enforcement.”

        The new troops will remain under the control of governors, although Mr. Bush said the federal government would pay for the deployment, with a final price tag yet to come.

        Guard personnel now are stationed at security screening checkpoints only, and are not directly involved in the process. The White House said that new troops could be used for anything from guarding boarding gate areas to guarding air traffic control towers to patrolling airport perimeters more thoroughly.

        “These Guard soldiers have been put in an untenable position,” said David Stempler, president of the Air Travelers Association, a Washington-based passenger coalition and lobby. “They really have been put there for show and have no true authority. They're nothing more than wooden soldiers.”

        Passengers passing through the Cincinnati airport welcomed the new deployment.

        “Just their presence will deter some unhealthy elements, hopefully,” said Anne VonGruenigen, 61, of Cynthiana, Ky., who was traveling to Sarasota, Fla,. on vacation with her husband, Herb.

        Said Mr. VonGruenigen: “It's like you're going down the road and see the silhouette of a police car — you're going to slow down and think about it, at least.”

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