Defense appropriations have increased dramatically in the last couple of years, but a large portion of it goes unnoticed because Congress has been funding the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan "off-line" (i.e., these numbers aren't included in the Federal budget figures -- which is why all the budget deficit estimates you read about are a total fraud).
I believe you missed the facts I stated. Yes, Defense spending has gone up--those are the facts. However, that money is NOT buying weapons and increasing our military readiness or superiority. That money os going toward logistics, troop movements, pay increases, admin and other non-weapon accounts. An increase in Defense spending DOES NOT necessarily mean in increase in military preparedness. We have closed bases, we have scaled back procurement numbers on major weapon platforms and we have eliminated totally other weapon platforms--all this while the DOD budget has gone up. Why? Again, the money is going toward payroll and admin, NOT additional manpower and hardware.
We have indeed gotten weaker militarily under Bush versus our potential enemies, even though total DOD spending has gone up. The Ruskies and Chicoms are not spending on this "human resources" crap. They are spending their money on late generation startegic and tactical weaponry.