Vol. 170 No. 25
COVER
It turns out Iran may not, after all, be making nuclear weapons. What that reveals about our intelligence network, the White House and the battle between them
Telling Atomic Plowshares from Nuclear Swords (The Well / Nation)
NATION
How a Circuit City clerk, the FBI and an ex-con landed five men in jail, charged in plotting to attack a military base
How America Decides (The Well / Nation)
It's the holiday season. And voters are shopping for candidates. We take you inside the decision-making process: part head, part gut, part hope and part fear
Why They Love Huckabee (The Well / Nation)
The former Arkansas Governor has cornered many of Iowa's conservatives. Is this the year for an insurgent Republican?
Keep Up the Pressure (The Well / Nation)
Even if we believe Iran has stopped its nuclear-weapons program, let's not cut Tehran any slack
ESSAY
O.K., we can't let in everybody. But let's at least decide what the threshold should be
Making Holiday Travel a Little Less Horrid
Our cranky reporter offers some modest suggestions for improving jet travel
WORLD
The Vietnamese love their motorbikes but have long seen helmets as both uncomfortable and uncool. In Vietnam's chaotic capital, a new push for safety over fashion
Enemies at The Firewall (The Well / World)
Chinese computer hackers are allegedly breaking into high-security networks in the U.S. and other countries. Is Beijing creating an army of Internet warriors?
NOTEBOOK
America's All-Too-Human Superman (Briefing / Milestones)
Venezuela Votes (Briefing / The Moment)
Ch脙隆vez takes his first defeat, and the world watches for what's next
Briefing
Gently Protesting Putin (Briefing / World Spotlight)
Paulson's Mortgage Fix (Briefing / Washington Memo)
Milestones (Briefing / Milestones)
Politics (Briefing / Politics)
Verbatim
SOCIETY
The new frontier of online love has moved beyond dating: people are getting married there too. Here's the download on Internet weddings
Mock and Roll (Life: Society - Living - Environment - Health - Technology / Nerd World)
For a Few, the More Kids the Merrier (Life: Society - Living - Environment - Health - Technology / Society)
Raising kids takes time, patience and as much as $500,000 per child. But the number of affluent couples with large broods is on the rise
Let There Be Light (Life: Society - Living - Environment - Health - Technology / Going Green)
fluorescents are getting better--and taking over
A Good Night's Sleep (Life: Society - Living - Environment - Health - Technology / Health)
The amount of rest you get could determine not just how well you live but also how long
BUSINESS
Just Republican candidates. But the Laffer Curve's creator still thinks they're great
Business Books
A gonzo investor gives tips on priming your portfolio for the coming Chinese century. Opposing views on what really keeps women out of the corner office
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Philip, Julia and Tom tell Charlie Wilson's War stories
Charlie Wilson Regrets Nothing (Arts: Movies - Downtime / Movies)
(Arts: Movies - Downtime / Downtime)
5 Ways to Avoid Boredom.
SPECIAL SECTION
From medicine to energy to software, these innovators show that the best technology is often just a new way of thinking about an old problem
A Cutting Edge Alternative to Cutting (Global Business)
US: CyberKnife attacks cancerous tissue with deadly precision and without surgery
PEOPLE
He starred as awful boss David Brent in the British version of hit comedy The Office (which he also co-created). His latest show, HBO's Extras, airs its series finale Dec. 16. Ricky Gervais will now take your questions
The Hipper-Than-Thou Pastor (The Well / Religion)
His first hero was Letterman. He played in a rock band. Now Rob Bell is wooing young Evangelicals with a new approach to spreading the Word
Person of the Year