Vol. 169 No. 8
COVER
This powerful Afghan tribal leader offered to help the U.S., but is in a New York jail awaiting trial on drug charges. How the war on terror is at war with the war on drugs
NATION
Bloggers are the hot new campaign hires. But their bravado can backfire
The New Black Nativism (Viewpoint)
Obama's not black enough? Sad times for a community once proud of its diversity
WORLD
A corruption scandal - and the hated war in Iraq - could mean a quick exit for Britain's Prime Minister
In Search of Lil' Kim (Letter From Macau)
My close encounters with the wayward son of North Korea's Dear Leader
SOCIETY
How Archbishop Peter Akinola's rejection of liberal "sins" and the ordination of gay clergy could push the Anglican Church to split
Americans Love Marriage. But Why? (Social Studies)
Being wed doesn't necessarily make you happier or healthier
Houston, She's Got Some Problems
An astronaut suffers a sad crack-up, raising questions larger than her alleged crimes
SPORT
The intense motivations of a bizarre NBA superstar
NOTEBOOK
What's Next
Measuring the Al Gore Effect
Milestones
Verbatim
What It Means to Support the Troops (In the Arena)
With Congress failing to even debate an Iraq war resolution, Joe Klein suggests the people raising unrealistic expectations for the surge are the ones really undermining the mission
Numbers
Yikes! An STD Vaccine for Sixth-Graders
Raising The Climate Stakes
One Word Politicos Try To Avoid: Sorry
BUSINESS
Wall Street blames overregulation for pushing companies overseas. Why the law is getting a bad rap
Barnum Would Be Proud (Selling)
Little Book author Jeffrey Gitomer sells sales to salespeople, again and again
The Federal Job Machine (THE CURIOUS CAPITALIST)
How did America's richest region get that way? Uncle Sam
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Jane Smiley tosses a group of Hollywood characters into a marathon of beguiling talk and explicit sex
Rick Rubin: Hit Man (Music)
Producer Rick Rubin may skip the Grammys tonight, but his impact on the industry will be on full display
Too Cool for Preschool (Culture Complex)
Note to all memoir-writing Gen X parents: You're still hip. We know
The Spy Who Loved Spying (Movies)
in a taut, terrific German thriller
YOUR TIME
Horse — It's What's for Dinner (Food)
It actually is in much of the world, so why is it practically illegal to eat in the meat-loving U.S.? Joel Stein tries to find out, and discovers he quite likes the taste
SPECIAL SECTION
fought Islamic brigands, the entanglement lasted three decades
Boomers to the Rescue? (Global Business / CEO Speaks)
Pulte Homes hopes the not-quite-retired will make their nests in its Del Webb communities
Welcome to China's China (Global Business)
A second wave of growth in big interior cities such as Chengdu has companies scrambling for position
PEOPLE
People
LETTERS
ESSAY
They keep politics interesting, and sometimes they keep it honest