WASHINGTON, May 9 (UPI) -- Amid all the polemics over the use of private military and security contractors by the U.S. government there are two words one rarely sees, but they lie at the very heart of the debate: "inherently governmental."

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. military apparently is not enforcing its policy of discharging gay soldiers who speak of their sexual orientation, USA Today reported Tuesday.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- More U.S. soldiers are going public with criticism of the Iraq War and the way it is being conducted, The Christian Science Monitor reports.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The Pentagon and CIA have stepped up domestic intelligence-gathering efforts, using "noncompulsory" letters to U.S. banks and other institutions.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Newly released photographs of U.S. terror suspect Jose Padilla wearing sensory deprivation devices have outraged a Washington military expert.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Before the U.S. military makes public its probe into the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha last fall, most of the Marines involved have hired lawyers.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in Washington has ruled that U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham cannot concurrently serve as a senator and a military judge.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. military says investigations of detainee abuse found only a small number credible but critics say it's hard to know how encompassing they were.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The military tribunals that review the status of foreign prisoners are unconstitutional, a court decided Monday, setting up a possible Supreme Court showdown.