Rapid Fire 2010-11-17: Aravis VBHP

• Defense diet: Pentagon chief Gates opposes recommendation of the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility to slash the defense budget [PDF] by $100 billion over 5 years and apply the savings to deficit reduction.

• GlobalPost covers ISAF’s pre-winter push on the ground in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the UK hands over command of Kandahar Airfield, with 30,000 personnel, in southern Afghanistan to a US commander.