After Years of Gearing Up For High-Tech Warfare, Service Is Short on Basics

Despite Its $168 Billion Budget,: The Army Faces a Cash Crunch:

Humvees Rise to $225,000

At a time when the war in Iraq is deepening, and debate over pulling out the troops is intensifying, the rising cost of waging the fight is outpacing even the Army's huge budget. The financial squeeze is leaving the Army short of equipment and key personnel.

Democrats Expected to Increase U.S. Military Spending:

This year's Pentagon budget is $436 billion. That amount does not include more than $140 billion that's being spent this year alone on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.