I think it’s a term that, in this context, is used to denote someone who’s either formally or informally (never worked out which) in charge of pushing legislation on a specific topic

I think both sets of civilians have the right to expect a life free of military oppression and terror, largely uninvolved with the actions of those in charge.

it’s deeply infuriating and heartbreaking each time I see stories about a given military organisation taking it out on people just living their lives, from Ukraine to Russia to China to Palestine to Israel and so on: innocent civilians dying (or worse) because of the decisions of military forces & their leash holders.