A comparison of the 2003 defense budget with one from 20 years earlier is enlightening. Based in the same 2002 dollars, the Bush-03 budget is $379 billion compared to $380 billion for Reagan-83. But Bush-03 is spending only $69 billion on the procurement of new weapons, while Reagan-83 spent $121 billion. The Reagan-83 budget included $84 billion in personnel costs for 2.1 million military personnel and civilian employees, while the Bush-03 budget includes $94 billion but covers only 1.4 million people.--Stephen V Cole