A high-ranking officer in the armed forces:military brass hats proudly handed out scores of prizes...
They are basically trading casualties one-for-one with the regime loyalists which, as any brass hat will tell you, ain't no way to win at counter-insurgency.
A small state with limited resources cannot afford to feed the army of bureaucrats and brass hats of the police.
The brass hats are furious that an operational matter should be kicked around like a football across the House of Commons chamber.
Origin
Late 19th century: so named because of the gilt insignia on the caps of such officers.