those who are given desk work, who are left out of the loop, as a form of constructive dismissal.

to rule as a dictator / to make decisions for others by oneself, to behave tyrannically

autocracy, dictatorship (a government led by a dictator) / making decisions for a group by oneself, tyranny

slip someone's mind

slipping someone's mind

Dushanbe (the capital city of Tajikistan)

Dubai (an emirate of the United Arab Emirates) / Dubai (the capital city of Dubai emirate, United Arab Emirates)

German army

earth; soil; dirt

power, might, influence, majestic, authority