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On Susan Werner's newest CD, her sixth, the singer-songwriter moves distinctively away from folk and toward the jazzy American songbook style recently embraced by artists such as Rod Stewart and Norah Jones. NPR's Susan Stamberg reports. Hear three selections from Werner's I Can't Be New.

The Rise of the Vulcans: The History of Bush's War Cabinet traces the relationships between Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, Paul Wolfowitz and Condoleeza Rice. The group calls itself "The Vulcans." Some of its members have known each other 30 years. Mann is a former correspondent for The Los Angeles Times.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews some silent musical scores by the Alloy Orchestra. They write and perform new music for silent films. Schwartz looks at their scores for the Buster Keaton films, The General and Steamboat Bill, Jr. (on DVD, Image Entertainment).

In his career as a Republican political consultant, commentator Jay Bryant had a lot of experience with going negative in a campaign - and he'd like to pass along some of what he learned. Jay Bryant writes online at theoptimate.com.

John McCormack was one of the greatest, most versatile singers of the last century. Not only did the Irish tenor sing famous folk songs like "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," he also was a much-admired opera singer. Commentator Miles Hoffman and NPR's Bob Edwards offer a special St. Patrick's Day retrospective of McCormack's career. Hear samples of Irish folk songs performed by McCormack.

The CIA and other intelligence agencies were too slow to recognize and describe the threat posed by al Qaeda, and failed to warn other government agencies properly, according to findings by the Sept. 11 commission. But CIA Director George Tenet and FBI Director Robert Mueller warn some of the panel's proposed reforms might make things worse. Hear NPR's Larry Abramson.

Sen. John McCain reflects on the current situation in Iraq. McCain argues that the current situation in Iraq is, for most Americans, their first experience of the brutality of war. Despite the deaths of U.S. servicemen, though, it's vital that the U.S. stays the course In Iraq and makes their sacrifice worthwhile. McCain's new book is called Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life.

The Bush administration used money intended for Afghanistan to prepare for war in Iraq, according to Plan of Attack, a new book from Bob Woodward of The Washington Post. The book also alleges that Saudi Arabia offered to stabilize gas prices during President Bush's election year. NPR's Don Gonyea reports. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and former presidential adviser David Gergen.

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice tells the commission investigating the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that the Bush administration had no specific warning of those attacks. But several commissioners probed for more detail on a confidential briefing memo from Aug. 6, 2001 -- and called for it to be made public. NPR's Pam Fessler reports.

Gun battles continue to mar the cease-fire between U.S. Marines and insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq. The sporadic violence has reportedly led some Marine commanders to becoming impatient with political efforts to defuse the situation. Hear NPR's Melissa Block and KPBS reporter Eric Niiler.