COVER

Is The Army Stretched Too Thin? (Cover Story / America Stretched Thin)

U.S. forces proved quite sufficient to conquer Afghanistan and Iraq, but may be too small to keep the peace once the tyrants are gone

NATION

Lessons From the Rubble (America Stretched Thin)

The devastating attack on U.N. headquarters in Baghdad opens yet one more front in the U.S. war against terrorism

The Real Worry (America Stretched Thin)

In Iraq we have created a new field of jihad

WORLD

Road Map To Hell

In a place where a suicide bomber--and father of two--blows up a bus with children on it, does Bush's peace plan stand a chance?

SCIENCE

Close Encounter With Mars (Astronomy)

The Red Planet hasn't come this near for 60,000 years, and it's triggering a worldwide Mars mania

SOCIETY

BRIEFING

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Help Wanted (Essay)

Why America needs to lean hard on its allies to lend a hand in Iraq

BUSINESS

Attack Of The World Wide Worms

How a series of prolific viruses clogged computer networks, bared the vulnerability of the Internet and showed the cracks in Windows

LAW

Standoff at Roy's Rock

Alabama's Ten Commandments judge finally pushes his cause to the brink. Has he gone too far?

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Last Vexation Of Mel (Movies)

How a Hollywood star's indie project on Jesus' Passion became the most hotly debated film in years

Decks, Lies & Videotape (Television)

With cameras peeking at players' cards--and some bizarre contestants--poker is a hot spectator sport

Playing Fast and Lucy (Books)

A dish-filled biography of the insecure B-movie actress who became the undisputed queen of TV

YOUR TIME

SPECIAL SECTION

We're Just Friends. Really! (Time Bonus Section September 2003 / Connections)

What Harry told Sally was wrong. Platonic friendships are not only possible; they're flourishing

Reluctant Loners (Time Bonus Section September 2003 / Connections)

Being left out can be tough. But peer-therapy groups are showing socially awkward youngsters how to fit in

Expect the Best (Time Bonus Section September 2003 / Connections)

With Gap, H&M and top designers getting into the act, moms-to-be have new sources of hip, quality clothes

Going Soy Crazy (Time Bonus Section September 2003 / Connections)

A longtime staple of the Asian diet goes mainstream in the U.S. So how healthful is it?

Tween Town, U.S.A. (Time Bonus Section September 2003 / Connections)

Author Linda Perlstein exposes the secret lives of middle schoolers

PEOPLE

Q&A with David Blaine

For his next trick, David Blaine will be suspended from a crane in London for 44 days

LETTERS