In Your Face at the CIA
Porter Goss says the CIA needs an overhaul. But is he fixing what's broken — or conducting a purge?

Where Goss Sees Trouble
The CIA's new director sees his job as making sure the agency gets smarter and faster after a string of embarrassing intelligence failures. But is Porter Goss a reformer, or does he just want to enforce loyalty in the ranks?

Condi Gets Her Shot
She argued the hard-liners' case on Iraq. But the next Secretary of State remains an ideological puzzle

Raindrops and Reconciliation
Behind the scenes at the Clinton library opening, as old foes praised one another

What We'll Miss And What We Won't
Four retiring Senators with 111 years of combined experience in Congress — Democrats Ernest (Fritz) Hollings of South Carolina and John Breaux of Louisiana and Republicans Don Nickles of Oklahoma and Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado — sat down for a last debate with TIME's Michael Duffy and Douglas Waller


Two-For-One Sale
Can Kmart and Sears create a whole new kind of department store?

The Merger Mystery (Business/Viewpoint)
Why companies cannot buy their way to greatness

It's a Family Affair
Murdoch is battling Malone to keep a tight grip on News Corp. — and benefit heirs, if not shareholders

The Meaning of a Dropping Dollar (Business/Global Agenda)
And why you should never take a taxi from Heathrow into central London


Cosmic Conundrum
The universe seems uncannily well suited to the existence of life. Could that really be an accident?


The Debate on DeLay
A recent rule change will allow the majority leader to keep his position even if indicted by a grand jury

Why Bush Has No Fear (Essay)
Since Cheney won't be his heir, the President can spend his capital freely

Letters (Letters)

44 Years Ago In Time (Notebook/Milestones)

A Law Club For (Straight) Members Only
A Christian law group is fighting for a ban on gay members

People
A Soprano in Iraq; Q+A with Freddie Highmore

Milestones (Notebook/Milestones)

Carmel Paints Art Into A Corner

A Deepening U.N. Scandal (Notebook/Status Report)

Chicks Rule

Fired Up Over A Gun Law

Numbers

Parsing Iran's Nuclear Threat

Putin's Atomic Boast

The Road To Palestinian Elections

Verbatim

10 Questions For Billy Graham (Interview)


Spicing Up Your Winter Travel (TIME Bonus Section December 2004: Generations)
When we asked our wine critic to write about her favorite winter getaways, we counted on sandy beaches galore. Instead her surprising picks will thrill your taste buds and dazzle your senses. From Morocco to New Zealand, these trips are for food and wine fanatics. And there's even a beach or two for those who like it hot while the wine chills.

Ask Francine (TIME Bonus Section December 2004: Generations)

Social Studies (TIME Bonus Section December 2004: Generations)
In her new novel, Susan Isaacs explores the issue of class

Full House Again (TIME Bonus Section December 2004: Generations)
A growing number of empty nesters are flinging open their doors to exchange students from abroad

A Shot Seen Round The World
A Marine fires on a wounded man in a Fallujah mosque, and the world asks: Was it a war crime?

Hiding In Plain Sight
Why Pakistan still isn't aggressively pursuing the ex — Taliban leaders living inside the country

Wounds That Don't Bleed
How severe stress is taking a toll on U.S. troops in Iraq — and what Washington is doing about it


Closing The Gap
Many middle-class African-American students are scoring lower than white classmates. But it may be their parents and teachers who need remedial work


Let's Talk About Sex (Arts/Movies)
At last, a love story for adults. In 'Closer,' Mike Nichols explores the thrilling and damaging effects of passion

A Fantasy You Can Bring Home to Mother (Arts/Movies)

It's His Same Old Story (Arts/Movies)
Oliver Stone's Alexander is a Greek war epic that somehow still seems to be about Vietnam

One Deserved to Win, the Other ... (Arts/Books)
The National Book Award for Fiction goes to a saga about a dictator

A Taut Account of a 1920s Race Trial Gets the Nonfiction Prize (Arts/Books)

Keeping Up the Ghost (Arts/Music)
Singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley has achieved posthumous success on the strength of one song

French Kiss (Arts/Movies)
A film that will wallop your head and heart


Drinking Danger (Your Time/Health)

Fewer Kids Are Having Kids (Your Time/Health)

How Safe Are They? (Your Time/Health)
In a rare move, an FDA official openly attacks five drugs. Should you worry?

Purple Passion (Your Time/Health)

A New, Thirst-Quenching Odyssey (Your Time/Living)

Living Like Lincoln (Your Time/Living)
Sales of log homes are on the rise as Americans seek out a rustic lifestyle

Recipe For Making Trouble (Your Time/Living)

From Cursed To First In 86 Years (Your Time/Sports)

Getting The Royal Treatment (Your Time/Sports)

Virtual Schools for Jocks (Your Time/Sports)
More high school athletes are taking online classes. Does electronic ed work?