COVER

Health: The Fires Within (Health)

Inflammation is the body's first defense against infection, but when it goes awry, it can lead to heart attacks, colon cancer, Alzheimer's and a host of other diseases

NATION

Bring On The Cash! ('04 Campaign)

While Bush and Kerry spar publicly, the real contest is happening behind the scenes as both sides figure out new ways to raise funds. Money still talks loudest for the G.O.P., but the Dems are getting

Campaign '04: How Well Did He Serve? (Campaign '04)

Bush said he reported for duty in Alabama, but even with the new documents, the evidence is thin. TIME looks at four key questions

WORLD

Fields of Jihad

The capture of a top terrorist in the Kurdish highlands may have exposed al-Qaeda's aspirations in Iraq--and has fired up the hunt for the group's regional commander

SCIENCE

Cloning Gets Closer

How a team cloned human cells to fight disease--and why that's revolutionary

HEALTH & MEDICINE

Paging Dr. Fatkins? (Health)

In the low-carb vs. low-fat war, the late guru's health becomes Exhibit A. Did his diet help do him in?

BRIEFING

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

BUSINESS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Fashion: The School of Cool (Fashion)

With his thrift-store style and sexy silhouettes, Marc Jacobs has become American fashion's go-to guy

Books: Worth 1,000 Words? (Books)

Two new titles join the burgeoning genre of novels about the edifying and (mostly) sexy world of art

YOUR TIME

SPECIAL SECTION

World Brifing (Time Bonus Section March 2004 / TIME Global Business)

Investing: Going Up? (Time Bonus Section March 2004 / TIME Global Business)

As Greenspan prepares us for higher rates, here's how to play the markets

Sitting Pretty In Poland (Time Bonus Section March 2004 / TIME Global Business)

The biggest new country to join the E.U. leaves its dowdy image behind

PEOPLE

LETTERS