McAlester Army Ammunition plant vulnerable to closing

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- The McAlester Army Ammunition Plant and four Oklahoma military bases will be scrutinized this spring in the nation's first round of base closures since 1995.<br/><br/>Some

Friday, February 25th 2005, 6:34 am

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- The McAlester Army Ammunition Plant and four Oklahoma military bases will be scrutinized this spring in the nation's first round of base closures since 1995.

Some analysts believe Army ammunition plants could be vulnerable, but residents here believe that the essential nature of their plant will save it.

It is the only place that makes bombs for U.S. forces, and a 1986 law protects it by prohibiting the Army from contracting out the job.

There is a buzz in Washington, D.C., though, that Army ammunition plants could see their missions changed.

Loren Thompson is a defense analyst with the Arlington, Va.-based think tank, Lexington Institute.

He says its remote location could hurt it, and it might make better sense to have ammunition storage capacity near a port.