TBH I agree with Cameron - if civil servants can't speak out against the government, I don't see why the military should be able to.

Yes but civil servants lives are not on the line at any stage. Also civil servants are supposed to be unbiased, regardless of which party is in power. The military have to actually carry out such policy so if the policy is wrong they should speak out.

Don't police and firemen (people) count as civil servants?

In Cameron’s mind, he’s running the Raj.

There is a limit to the military, despite what people like to think. There are only so many things they can do before they start to be stretched thin. I would call it a gross dereliction of duty of senior military officers if they don’t flag up their limitations. It may be their duty to follow the orders of the government, but equally it’s the government’s duty to ensure that what resources are available are able to meet actions expected of them.

It seems to me that every PM needs a bloody good war these days.

They might be local government workers and as such not civil servants.

They didn't, it was a report to MPs. It was leaked.

I agree, Armed Forces have to follow orders. However, that cannot always be the case, I mean a soldier can't use that as a defence in trials of War Crimes 'oh I was just following orders guv'.

Like I say, DC made a hugely arrogant comment directly to the Press which only fuels the situation created by the leak.

No, holders of public office (PC, judge) etc don't, and people employed by local authorities (firemen, council workers) don't either. Only Crown employees who don't hold a public office are civil servants.

They can be prosecuted if they take part. It is their duty to not follow orders that violate human rights. TBH my sympathies are with the troops who get sent to war zones sometimes inadequately equipped and when civil servants go there the equipment that is good enough for the troops is not good enough for the civil servants.