Rapid Fire September 14, 2012: Changes of Command at DoN | More on BAE/EADS

• As he announced earlier this month, Admiral John C. Harvey is retiring from the US Navy. Here is his long parting message as the Old Salt since Adm. Mike Mullen retired last year. It is a worthwhile read on efficiency vs. effectiveness and readiness. Adm. Bill Gortney replaces him as Commander, US Fleet Forces (January announcement). Meanwhile Rear Adm. David Dunaway takes command of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) as Vice Adm. David Architzel is also retiring.

• The US House of Representatives passed another defense funding bill (in a continuing resolution package) that the Senate will just ignore. The White House said it would veto it [PDF] in any case. Its belated report to Congress on sequestration is expected today.

• In an interview with the Guardian, British Ministry of Defence Philip Hammond said the UK had already closed 52 military bases in Afghanistan out of an initial 86, and will have a remaining 9,000 troops in the country at the end of the year. The pace of their drawdown could be accelerated next year.

• The US Army War College’s SSI published a scathing perspective on Russian foreign policy. It notes that for many Russians animated by a strong anti-American sentiment, the Cold War never really ended. In the meantime, Putinism worked for a while until it didn’t: