At the same time, the Pentagon was buying identical garments elsewhere for more than $200 apiece.

Once again, Congress is trying to make the Pentagon buy weapons the country doesn't need.

It's also true that the Pentagon is buying fewer ships.

Typically, the Pentagon buys equipment outright, putting the annual program costs in the federal budget.

Much of what the Pentagon buys, especially major weapons systems, can be developed and built only by large corporations.

Under present plans, the Pentagon would buy only a few bombers for the next two years and then sharply increase the number.

Indeed, the Pentagon is buying more commercial products to save time and money.

As a result, the Pentagon would buy 16 of the vessels through 1994 instead of 25.

What is not clear is how much the cheating has added to the price of goods the Pentagon buys.

It is aging because the Pentagon is buying the wrong weapons.