Albuquerque N.M. Officials Worry About Nearby Nukes

Officials in Albuquerque, N.M., are concerned about the large number of nuclear weapons believed to be stored at an Air Force base located on the outskirts of the city, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, Oct. 7).

The U.S. Defense Department maintains a policy of neither confirming nor denying the presence of nuclear weapons at U.S. military sites, including Kirtland Air Force Base, according to a base spokesman. According to a number of available sources, though, as many as 685 nuclear bombs and 1,825 warheads for use on various missiles are stored at the base, AP reported.

The weapons stored at the base have prompted one member of the Albuquerque City Council to call for increased discussions between the city and the Pentagon as city officials conduct emergency planning, AP reported.

There are many potential targets in the United States that would be easier for terrorists to strike than Kirtland Air Force Base, said Robert Norris, senior research associate at the Natural Resources Defense Council (Associated Press, Nov. 15).

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