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Commentator William Short was an American soldier who decided he could no longer fight in Vietnam. His refusal to take human life led to his being court-martialed and imprisoned. In recent years, Short has compiled the stories of other soldiers who acted out against the war.

The Elements of Style, E.B. White and William Strunk's classic manual on writing and usage, can now be seen and heard. A new edition features illustrations by Maira Kalman, while composer Nico Muhly offers a musical adaptation.

William Zinsser, author of the classic guide On Writing Well, talks to Michele Norris about the challenges of writing personal history. He says that since the 1990s, many memoirs have focused on victimhood, rather than forgiveness.

From 1998 to 2000, William Queen went undercover for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and rode with the Mongols, a southern California motorcycle gang. His new book is Under and Alone.

Robert Siegel talks with Middle East scholar William Polk about his new book, Understanding Iraq: The Whole Sweep of Iraqi History, from Genghis Khan's Mongols to the Ottoman Turks to the British Mandate to the American Occupation. Polk fears that this could be a period of transition from one dictator to the next in Iraq.

Searchers found the body of former C-I-A Director William Colby today. He apparently drowned in a canoeing accident on a river in southern Maryland more than a week ago. His body was finally found on a riverbank. Authorities say they do not suspect foul play. NPR's Neal Conan looks at Colby's career, which included supervising the C-I-A's covert warfare in Vietnam in the 1960's.

early yesterday morning of Bill Cosby's only son, Ennis William Cosby, while he was vacationing in Los Angeles. His body was found at a freeway exit ramp. The younger Cosby was a PHD student at Columbia University in New York.

Daniel talks with Eric Lax, the co-author of a new biography of the great movie actor, Humphrey Bogart ("Bogart" by A.M.Sperber and Eric Lax/Publisher:William Morrow). Lax talks about Bogart's upbringing, his tumultuous marriage to actress Mayo Methot (Mayo METH-oh), and his opposition to the activities of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). We'll also hear some clips from Bogie's movies.

in Tokyo about the arrest of a U.S. sailor on suspicion of beating and sexually assaulting his Japanese girlfriend at a U.S. naval base outside of Tokyo. The assault comes on the same day that the Japanese cabinet endorsed a bill extended leases on U.S. military bases... and just a week before the scheduled visit by U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen.

Alan Cheuse gives his list of picks for the best literature to buy this holiday season. His list includes a new translation of the Odyssey by Robert Fagles; Continental Drift by James Houston; Quicker than the Eye by Ray Bradbury; In Their Own Voices: A Century of Recorded Poetry on CD by Rhino Records; The Norton Anthology of African American Literature; Lost Tales by Gleb Botkin; and The Children's Book of the Virtues by William Bennett.

at a U.S. military complex in Dharan, Saudi Arabia that killed 19 U.S. servicemen. Yesterday, Defense Secretary William Perry admitted that U.S. commanders had not followed through on their own recommendations to improve security at bases in the region.

As U.S. Forces come within striking distance of Iraq, Clinton Administration officials said today they aren't expecting any further Iraqi attacks against U.S. warplanes patrolling the skies above that country. But, NPR's John Nielsen reports that Defense Secretary William Perry warned today that further U.S. airstrikes against Iraqi targets are still a possibility.

NPR's Elaine Korry reports on how brick-and-mortar stores like Williams Sonoma, Barnes and Nobel, and Target are using the Internet to augment their business. Though last season saw dismal on-line services by these types of companies, they've since applied their merchandising and promotional know-how to their own web-sites. Now Internet-only companies are looking toward the traditional retailers to find ways to improve their businesses.

The U.S. Marine Corps has grounded all of its tilt-rotor Osprey aircraft today following a crash in North Carolina that took the lives of four Marines last night. The Pentagon announced today that Defense Secretary William Cohen will appoint a panel of experts to review the entire 40-billion-dollar Osprey program. A crash of an Osprey in April claimed 19 lives. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports.

Killings in Los Angeles reach a six-year high, with more than 600 homicides since January. The new police chief, William Bratton, vows to reduce the violence, much of it gang-related. NPR's Mandalit del Barco reports.

As the end of the year approaches, the White House is retooling its congressional agenda. In the new Congress, President Bush will benefit from a Republican majority in both the House and Senate. NPR's Juan Williams talks with White House legislative director Nick Calio.

NPR's Susan Stamberg talks with retired Major Gen. William Nash in the fourth part of her series on the meaing of peace. They discuss how war can be a means to peace. Nash says the intent of any war is more than just destruction -- the objective is to improve the world and make it a better place for all to live.

African-American gospel music has been around since the 1870s, but it hasn't been associated with the Christmas season nearly as long. It began in the late 1930s, when black singers began to use their own soaring style on Christmas carols. NPR's Juan Williams speaks with music historian Horace Clarence Boyer.

Embattled Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) appears on Black Entertainment Television to apologize again for his remarks alluding to the glory of America's segregated past. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans will meet Jan. 6 to decide Lott's fate as majority leader. NPR's Juan Williams reports.

President Bush nominates former investment banker William Donaldson to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. Donaldson's selection comes just a day after the president announced railroad executive John Snow as his choice for treasury secretary. Hear NPR's Jack Speer and Mike McNamee of Business Week.