Unveiling a four-year, $5.2 billion promise to boost military spending if he forms the next government, Harper yesterday accused prime ministers Paul Martin and Jean Chretien of making the country look bad on the world stage.

"Neglecting our armed forces has been a neglect of our sovereignty and has weakened us in Washington and around the world," he told about 100 supporters at a rally outside CFB Trenton.

"Over the past 10 years, the Liberals have cut $20 billion in purchasing power from the Department of National Defence. As a result, we have fewer personnel, older equipment, and are far too reliant on the United States."

Harper, who eventually wants to increase the forces to pre-1993 levels of about 80,000, promised to have 65,000 Canadians in uniform by the end of his first four-year term. That's up from about 52,000 today.

To that end, a Conservative government would inject an additional $1.2 billion annually for the next three years and $1.6 billion in the final year of the first mandate. Source.

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