Bush Looks for an Exit (Nation)
The President is about to get a very public intervention from the Baker Commission. Will Bush listen to an old family friend, or will stubbornness prevail?

What We Would Leave Behind (Viewpoint)
If the U.S. goes, the Iraqis won't stop shooting. They'll still have each other

Iraq: The War Without Honors (Nation)
U.S. troops are fighting and dying with valor. So why have so few received the military's top awards?


What I Did On My Travels
Two weeks of globetrotting gives the President a chance to see the world--and escape from gloating Democrats


Moscow on the Thames (Letter From London)
Lots of Russians — not just spies — are calling London home.

Losing Lebanon
Once a beacon of democracy in the Middle East, Lebanon is veering toward civil war. Here's what went wrong


The Hospital Wars (Health Care)
Surgery and imaging centers owned by doctors are swiping patients from traditional hospitals. Competition is good, right? Not always in health care, where an arms race keeps the costs rising

Extra: Newspapers Aren't Dead
Some predict their imminent demise, but the dailies remain profitable, popular and powerful. Here's why they'll survive


What's Toxic In Toyland (Health)
San Francisco's ban on toys like these has sparked a sharp debate about the dangers of plastic contaminants


God's Inbox


Middle America's Crime Wave (Crime)
Violent offenses are rising in midsize cities for the first time in a decade. A look at what's behind the surge — and why it won't be slowing anytime soon


Milestones Dec. 11, 2006

What's Next: Dec. 11, 2006

Verbatim: Dec. 11, 2006

Enter The Fandom

A Prayer and an Olive Branch

What's in a Name: Money

Punchlines: Dec. 11, 2006 (Punchlines)

The Absurdity of It All (In the Arena)

Numbers: Dec. 11, 2006 (Numbers)

How Well do You Know America?

The Abortion Pill Could Prevent Cancer


My Person of the Year (Forum)
To help us make this year's selection, TIME asked cover subjects and previous Persons of the Year for their 2006 nominations. A sampling:

Letters: Dec. 11, 2006

Books: Bring Back the T. Rex (Books)
Crichton's latest scientific nightmare is full of out-of-control geneticists and their mutant creations. Yawn

The Maya Are Us (Movies)
Mel Gibson's latest film has a lot on its mind

Robert DeNiro in the Director's Chair (Movies)
The actor's second directorial effort, The Good Shepherd, took 8 years to make. In an exclusive Q&A he explains why, gives a few one word answers and examines weaponry in a completely non-menacing way

Movies: In the Heat of the Noir (Movies)
The Good German is long on style, short on thought

Culture Complex: The Civil War Behind Civil War (Culture Complex)
How two words illuminate the shift of power from the media to the people

Viewpoint: Why I'm Good with the N Word (Viewpoint)
It does the job of marking the ascendancy of black Americans

7 Books Kids Will Love (Worth Your Time)
What's the secret of great stories for children? Making sure parents enjoy them too


A New Breast Cancer Test (Health / Health)

Life After Work: What's Wrong With This Club? (Money)


10 Questions for Charles Rangel (Interview)

People: Dec. 11, 2006 (Cover)


Meet the Real Santas (Time Bonus Section December 2006: Connections)
Real beards, real bellies. But what kind of guy wants to look like St. Nick?

A Better House Blend (Time Bonus Section December 2006: Connections)
When the kids are yours, mine and ours, it takes wisdom and work to treat everyone fairly

Q&A Ms. Manners (Time Bonus Section December 2006: Connections)
There's nothing funny about rude behavior, says comedian Whoopi Goldberg in a new kids' book

Cooled By Sun And Salt (Time Bonus Section January 2007: Global Business / Tech Pioneers)
PER OLOFSSON

DAVE SIFRY: Searchlight For the Blogosphere (Time Bonus Section January 2007: Global Business / Tech Pioneers)
DAVE SIFRY

KIP KOKINAKIS: A New Glimpse of Reality (Time Bonus Section January 2007: Global Business / Tech Pioneers)
KIP KOKINAKIS

JOY WEISS: Connecting The Dots For Sensors (Time Bonus Section January 2007: Global Business / Tech Pioneers)
JOY WEISS

SATYAN MISHRA: Linking To Rural India (Tech Pioneers)
SATYAN MISHRA

SELINA LO: The Wizards of Wireless (Time Bonus Section January 2007: Global Business / Tech Pioneers)
SELINA LO

Looking To the Future (Time Bonus Section January 2007: Global Business / Tech Pioneers)
Paper batteries? Solar trash cans? Some surprising new tech that could change your life

GEORGE ADAMS: Find the Bad Protein; Then, Fix It (Time Bonus Section January 2007: Global Business / Tech Pioneers)
Dr. Neil Cashman came up with a diagnostic kit usable by blood banks everywhere to detect VCJD, and approched George Adams to bring it to market

JARNE ELLEHOLM: Saving Lives And Limbs With a Weed (Tech Pioneers)
Jarne Elleholm is trying to get a genetically modified weed to grow bigger to potentially save thousands of lives

TING CHOON MENG: A Relentless Watch on Your Pulse (Time Bonus Section January 2007: Global Business / Tech Pioneers)
A black wristwatch may be able to cut heart attacks and stroke globally, and also collect remarkable amounts of data

MARK CROSIER: The Shape Of Things To Come (Time Bonus Section January 2007: Global Business / Tech Pioneers)
DeepStream Technologies CEO Mark Crosier and his core team created their own business in pliable, flexible sensors

JIM POSS: Bringing Sunshine to Trash (Time Bonus Section January 2007: Global Business / Tech Pioneers)
JIM POSS

JAAKO HAPPONEN: Flat Battery: It Works On Paper (Time Bonus Section January 2007: Global Business / Tech Pioneers)
Enfucell has a battery that will help people make a difference by cutting down on all the metal, lithium and alkaline that leaks from conventional cells