The United States has already withdrawn some embassy personnel, but with militants blocking some portions of the city, the military option would be used if personnel cannot get to the commercial airport, the official said.
Two senior administration officials saidthe president wants to avoid a system in which all security personnel and airport passenger screeners are civil servants.
In addition to increased personnel, theairport also will add new security equipment and additional security lanes to curb delays, said Alan Fleischmann, Townsend's chief of staff.