COVER
Afghan Women and the Return of the Taliban (Cover)
As the U.S. searches for a way out of Afghanistan, some policymakers suggest negotiating with the Taliban. But that would spell disaster for half the country's population: Afghan women
Living Under the Taliban Threat
Photographer Jodi Bieber meets the extraordinary women of a war-torn nation
Portraits of the Women of Afghanistan
Video: Photographer Jodi Bieber traveled to Afghanistan to shoot portraits of women there, from an Olympic athlete to politicians to a woman severely burned in a suicide attempt
ESSAY
A Double Dip Recession? Who Cares? (Commentary / The Curious Capitalist)
There won't be a second recession for a lot of people — because their first one hasn't ended
Beyond the Leaks: Our Pakistan Problem (Commentary / In the Arena)
Forget the secret war documents that WikiLeaks released and even Afghanistan. What counts is how the U.S. deals with Pakistan
Private Spies: Rubicon Make 24 Look Sunny (Tuned In)
Conspiracy thriller Rubicon replaces Jack Bauer's heroics with a dark story of post-9/11 intelligence for hire
A Nut Allergy Skeptic Learns the Hard Way (Commentary)
I had an airtight, zero-tolerance stance on nut allergies. Then my son developed them
NATION
Good News for Obama in Ohio? (The Well / Nation)
Ohio has lost 400,000 jobs since 2007, but Democratic candidates running for both governor and senator actually stand a chance in November
Battleground Ohio
Photos: Leading up to November elections, Democrats in Ohio and beyond hope voters are angrier at Republicans than at them
Understanding the Oil Spill's Psychic Toll (The Well / Environment)
For all the environmental and economic harm caused by the disaster in the Gulf, the most lasting--and least visible--damage could be inflicted on the mental health of its victims
Crabbing in the Gulf after the BP Oil Disaster
Photos: A glimpse into the daily life of the Landrys of St. Bernard Parish, who navigate through daily closures and openings to find crab grounds that haven't been impacted by the spill
The BP Spill: Has the Damage Been Exaggerated? (The Well / Viewpoint)
So far, predictions of ecological catastrophe on the Gulf Coast following the BP oil spill seem overblown
Funny or Die: How the Web Is Changing Comedy (The Well / Comedy)
Funny or Die is helping reinvent comedy for the Web — and everyone from Oscar winners to teen stars is clamoring to jump on board
Behind the Scenes at Funny or Die
Photos: Everyone from Oscar winners to teen stars is clamoring to work with the hottest comedy site on the web
The Laugh Factory: Internet Comedy
Video: Funny or Die is helping reinvent comedy for the Web. But it's not the only player
WORLD
WikiLeaks's Julian Assange: The Wizard From Oz
Who's the man behind WikiLeaks, the website that's caused so much trouble? An itinerant Australian hacker
Assange Reviews TIME's Top 10 Leaks
Video: The founder of WikiLeaks gives his opinions on one of TIME.com's top 10 lists — the top 10 leaks
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
How Pitchfork Struck a Note in Indie Music (Music)
Mainstream pop may be struggling, but indie marches on--with Pitchfork Media leading the way
The Pitchfork Music Festival
Photos: Mainstream pop may be struggling, but indie rock marches on, and Pitchfork Media is leading the way
Q&A Kevin Kline
Short List
TIME'S PICKS FOR THE WEEK
BUSINESS
Can Alan Mulally Keep Ford in the Fast Lane? (Assignment Detroit)
By keeping it simple, Ford's Alan Mulally has led the industrial comeback of the decade
SOCIETY
Building a Better Playground (Life / Parenting)
Swings and slides don't foster much creativity. Why cities are joining the loose-parts revolution
Building a Better Playground
Video: Imagination Playground is designed to encourage messy, creative play, with a lot of loose parts. On opening day, hundreds of kids tested it out
Can a High-Tech Mouth Guard Work Its Magic? (Life / Sports)
Some pros swear by high-tech mouth gear. Is the key to a better golf score in your jaw?
The Mouthguard That May Help You Cope With Stress
Under Armour claims its new mouthguard will do everything from relieve your headache to improve your golf score. TIME's Stephen Gandel puts it to the test
The Doctor Is in — and Online (Life / Health)
New pilot programs boost doctor-patient e-mailing
The Science of Cougar Sex: Why Older Women Lust (Life / Behavior)
A new article suggests that women are more sexually active in their middle years. The evolutionary explanation for "cougars"
PEOPLE
10 Questions for Jorge Ramos (10 Questions)
The Noticiero Univision anchor has a new book, A Country for All, out now. Jorge Ramos will now take your questions
TO OUR READERS
The Plight of Afghan Women: A Disturbing Picture
This week's cover of TIME, showing an Afghan woman who was disfigured by the Taliban, is disturbing, but the reality it shows in Afghanistan is something we cannot turn away from
Photographing Aisha for the Cover of TIME
Video: Photographer Jodi Bieber talks about her approach in making the photograph of Aisha, the Afghan woman on TIME's cover
LETTERS
Inbox (Inbox)
BRIEFING
The Moment
7|24|10: Iowa
The World
10 ESSENTIAL STORIES
Mark Halperin's Take: The Digital President Loses Two Rounds
Are the Democrats Planning a Lame-Duck Donnybrook?
Despite GOP fears, chances are the Democrats don't have the stomach, or the numbers, to push through controversial legislation
Dems Hedge a Florida Bet
Lab Report: Health, Science and Medicine
Verbatim
Brief History: First Family Weddings
First Family Weddings
Photos: As former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton heads into her wedding weekend, TIME takes a look at other presidential kids and their nuptials
The Skimmer
Book Review: Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach