Vol. 172 No. 4
COVER
As violence subsides in Iraq, it's surging in Afghanistan. A veteran diplomat and student of the country on what it really needs--and why more troops won't help
McCain and Obama on Afghanistan (Cover Story)
The candidates' strategies for Afghanistan
NATION
An exclusive TIME / Rockefeller Foundation poll shows unprecedented dissatisfaction — and very little optimism
Frenemies: The McCain-Bush Dance (The Well / Campaign '08)
McCain has defied the President more than any other Republican, yet he can't escape Bush's shadow. A close look at the political relationship that could cost McCain the election
ESSAY
The flap over the New Yorker's Obama cover shows why our body politic needs to lighten up
The New Social Contract (Viewpoint)
Innovative products and policies are needed to give Americans a modern economic safety net
Throw the Bums Out!
And bring in some new bums. Why 2008 is a great time to be a political outsider
WORLD
On the eve of the Summer Games, China's capital is buzzing with a hot cultural scene, creative entrepreneurs and a collection of new buildings
Postcard: London
A mysterious bug found in a museum garden has entomologists wondering what might have prompted its sudden appearance. A scientific detective story
NOTEBOOK
10 ESSENTIAL STORIES
A Brief History Of: Un-Retirement (Briefing)
The Skimmer (Briefing)
Pop Chart
Verbatim
Confidence Game. (Briefing / The Moment: Pasadena, Calif.)
Economic anxiety may be all in our heads. But our heads may be right
Tony Snow (Briefing)
Bobby Murcer (Briefing)
Milestones
HEALTH & MEDICINE
Why chicken pox strikes some adults a second time--as shingles--and how to avoid the repeat
TECHNOLOGY
How Josh Quittner learned to love Amazon's digital book-reading device despite its imperfections
Postage with the Mostage (Life / Geek Chic)
A new stamp in Bhutan includes a mini documentary on CD-ROM
SOCIETY
This Ain't No Wine Cooler (Life / Libations)
Will caffeinated alcohol be the next teen-drinking fad?
BUSINESS
Another month, another emergency resolved. But Washington can't bail us out forever
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Giving Up the Fight (Viewpoint)
What kept the U.S. from liking Abba for three decades? One longtime fan has the answer
A Fan's Notes (Books)
A new book teaches us how to read novels. But wait--didn't we already know how to do that?
5 Things You Need to Know About (Downtime)
New Nas, lustful puppets and a letter from captivity
PEOPLE
The world-renowned piano virtuoso recalls his musical childhood in a new memoir, Journey of a Thousand Miles. Lang Lang will now take your questions
TO OUR READERS
TIME is helping to lead a major push to make national service a priority in Washington. And we want you to get involved
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Its ambitious mayor has visions of Dubai, but there are grittier issues to resolve first
String Theory (Global Business / Small Business)
Sharon Rowe saw the green wave in reusable shopping bags. She was just a couple of decades early
Business Books
Globalization's next chapter. The corporate code--minority division. Why one irate customer might be one too many