Warlord or Druglord? (Cover Story / World)
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


Rudy Moves Right (Campaign 2008)
America's mayor wants a new title: President. How he plans to ease G.O.P. doubts about his conservative credentials

Hardship Posting (INSIDER: AMANDA MARCOTTE POLITICAL BLOGGER)
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


Tony Blair's Disappearing Act
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


At the Center of a Schism (Profile)
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


How Agent Zero Saved D.C.
The intense motivations of a bizarre NBA superstar


Lifting The Veil On Fashion

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

Plugging the IPO Drain (Law)
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


L.A. Conversational (Books)
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)
Treachery's afoot in a taut, terrific German thriller


Know When to Fold 'Em (Trends)

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


A Template for Taming Iran (History)
The last time we 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


10 Questions for Deval Patrick (Interview)

People


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Gaffes to the Rescue
They keep politics interesting, and sometimes they keep it honest