Table of Contents

10 QUESTIONS 8 LETTERS 9

NOTEBOOK

Osama, Where Art Thou? New intel in the bin Laden hunt; the rap on A.Q. Khan; the Dems and the press; a crisis in Tehran; tough times for Kobe Bryant; America's forgotten internment camp 17

MILESTONES: An arrest in Sarasota; an al-Qaeda acquittal in Hamburg; a murder case resolved in Rapid City; the death of a mischievous Olympic champion 23

IN THE ARENA: Joe Klein says John Kerry could use a bit more priming. One bracing solution: have him debate John Edwards 25

COVER STORY

THE ERRONEOUS ZONE From Iraq to the economy, the President discovers how missteps and misjudgments are costing him 28

THE VICE PRESIDENT: How Dick Cheney has become a liability 34

BUSH'S SERVICE: Was he AWOL? 36

THE SHADOW OF A FALLEN ANGEL: Who is behind the toxic mailing to the U.S. Senate? 40

WORLD

A LEGACY OF WRATH Iraq's incipient hatreds become evident just as the U.S. is trying to transfer power. A look at the ethnic rivalries bubbling to the surface 42

RUSSIA: Once again, as the nation nears a crucial vote, the capital is struck by terror 45

BUSINESS

"BABY PUT MS. MARTHA IN HER PLACE!" The prosecution's star witness spices up the trial of the domestic diva. Will Martha take the stand to refute him? 48

GOLDEN EGGS: Why the Forbes family is selling theirs 53

SOCIETY

THE M WORD A court says only marriage will provide equality to gays and lesbians. So prepare for a debate. As Boston gears up for same-sex weddings and politicians prep for a fight, it's going to be a lively one 56

ARRANGE ME A VALENTINE: The country's first certification course for matchmakers 67

ARTS

THE SUPER BOWL OF HYPOCRISY More than Janet Jackson's breast was exposed as a result of that halftime show 70

BOOKS: Meet the male equivalents of Candace Bushnell and Helen Fielding 75

YOUR TIME

LIFESTYLE: Gay-family cruises; manga for girls; pencil-thin suits 97

HEALTH: Treating strokes; sleeping in hospitals; red-wine pills 99

TECHNOLOGY: Geek eye for the ordinary guy; DVD scratchers; wi-fi in the sky 100

PEOPLE: Lennox Lewis walks; Annie Lennox talks 103

ESSAY: Andrew Sullivan on how gay marriage will integrate America 104

TIME ONLINE EDITION

SWEATING AT ZERO DEGREES

Photographer Marie Stauder spent three years documenting daily life around Earth's middle, producing a "living map of the Equator." Paul Theroux introduces this stunning visual record of equatorial cultures in the Americas, Africa and the Pacific. Click on time.com/equator

ON TELEVISION

On Feb. 9, TIME editor-at-large Nancy Gibbs will discuss Bush's credibility gap with Charlie Rose, part of a continuing collaboration. On Feb. 11, Style & Design editor Kate Betts will discuss the most powerful women in fashion. Check www.charlierose.com for details

COVER: Photograph by Alex Wong--Getty Images