Last laugh to CAS, come elections CAS is still CAS and Mr R is not even an MP.
I'm no Tory but Rifkind is regarded as one of the more principled politicians of his time. I'm not sure that particular CAS will have the last laugh in the long term. Rifkind has a long memory and is eagerly waiting for Lord Philip to report on the chinook disaster where Graydon, allegedly, may not smell of roses.
But I think Cameron's idea of "fighting" is based on watching too many films. Nothing in his protected, silver-spooned background has prepared him for the real life experienced by 99% of the electorate, never mind the realities of war-fighting. Most of his Ministers are of a similar ilk. And in any case, ACMs are essentially political appointments are they not? Their job is to bridge the gap between reality and politics. That gap is now too big. If Cameron is to ignore these senior officers, then he may as well chop the Forces of 3 Star and above.