Vol. 161 No. 6
NATION
It's costly, outmoded, impractical and, as we've learned again, deadly
Seven Astronauts, One Fate (The Columbia Is Lost)
What Went Wrong? (The Columbia Is Lost)
The clues lie in the craft's last minutes and rain of debris. Inside the search for answers
WORLD
The Administration's rationale for war with Iraq is based on new and old evidence--as well as passionate conviction
The Inspections So Far (Iraq / The Evidence)
The Blix Scorecard
Saddam's al-Qaeda Connection? (Iraq / The Evidence)
ANSAR AL-ISLAM
The Burden Of Proof (Iraq / Pushing The War)
George W. Bush turns up the heat on Saddam Hussein and prepares the country for possible war.
Would Saddam Simply Leave? (Iraq / The Exile Option)
It's still a long shot, but Arab nations are pushing plans to get the dictator out and avoid a costly and divisive war
A City Braces For Battle (Iraq / Near The Front Line)
As U.S. troops mass across the border, Basra loads up on food, fuel and blood supplies
SPORT
YAO MING is 22, an AllStar, the future of the Houston Rockets, the savior of the NBA and American business's most promising link to China. He's also very, very tall
NOTEBOOK
Gathering Forces With Turkey
A Tax Cut's Tough Crowd
Airing War Fears
Has Bush's Medicare Plan Got A Chance?
Numbers
Milestones
17 Years Ago In TIME
Verbatim
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
A year has passed since TIME profiled ex-con Jean Sanders. A very hard year
A Great Quest Takes Its Toll
Despite the tragedies of our space program, we have no choice but to push on
How Israel Is Wrapped Up in Iraq
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Femme films are chic around Oscar time. But what can women hope for the rest of the year?
Ninja Babe in Jerusalem (Movies)
Presenting the best Palestinian war comedy ever
Firm Warfare (Books)
Two good novels about very bad companies
A Loser Wins (Music)
Kathleen Edwards--the jangly, funny tragedian
YOUR TIME
Click and Clink
Shopping for baubles? Jewelry is one of the Web's shining success stories
Sweet Sites for Valentine's Gifts (Surf Watch)
Those Fragile Hearts
Who dies from heart attacks? Surprisingly, more women than men
A Campaign For Preemies (Health Brief)
Where Guests With Four Legs Are Pampered
Traveling with pets gets easier as keepers unleash creature comforts
Fondue: Now It's Hip to Dip (Restaurant Trends)
SPECIAL SECTION
The era of just showing up is over. Here's a look at the new crop of high-energy directors
Best Defense (Time Bonus Section / Inside Business)
Here's how L-3 Communications is morphing its esoteric military hardware--and selling it to civilians
Get Thy Yield (Time Bonus Section / Inside Business)
President Bush wants to hand down a repeal of the stock-dividend tax. Here's how to profit whether or not his plan ever comes to pass
Brokers Beware (Time Bonus Section / Inside Business)
Software start-up Protegent offers a new way for brokerages to quickly spot bungling--and fraud