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The article focuses on the potential threat of a nuclear armed Iran under president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The article explores multiple questions surrounding the issue, including what Iran wants, how close the country is to gaining a nuclear bomb, and what the United States can do about it. Iran's boldness in the face of the international community may result from what it sees as a vulnerable Western world, with high oil prices and troops deployed in Iraq.

The article reports that the incapacitating stroke suffered by Israeli Prime MInister Ariel Sharon may derail the peace process in the Middle East. Sharon was trusted by Israelis to make tough and hawkish decisions in the name of peace. Ehud Olmert is currently acting Prime Minister, but he lacks the charisma to lead coalitions like the one that dismantled the Gaza settlements. An inset features potential successors.

Focuses on Israel's evacuation of the Gaza Strip and American-Israeli families who live there. The anguish felt by Bryna and Sammy Hilburg, farmers in Netzer Hazani who do not want to leave Gaza because a son is buried there; The political and religious views of Haim Gross, who moved his family to Morag to hold the land for Israel, and says he will resist the evacuation; Why the families view the territory as part of Eretz Yisrael; Political aspects of the evacuation plan, which has international support and is a step in creating a Palestinian state.

Focuses on W. Mark Felt, who unveiled himself as the man known as Deep Throat, the government source who leaked President Richard Nixon's cover up of political espionage. Intrigue and mystery surrounding Deep Throat in the American psyche, though Mark Felt turns out to be a feeble old man; Role that Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee and reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein played in keeping Felt's identity secret; Reactions of Bradlee and Nixon supporter G. Gordon Liddy to Felt's revelation.

Examines the controversy surrounding United Nations leader Kofi Annan's alleged management of the oil-for-food program during the reign of Saddam Hussein. Stories about suspicious payments to his son, Kojo, from a Swiss company which had a food-or-oil contract; Anger of some U.S. legislators for his refusal to support the war in Iraq; Battle of wills between Washington and the Secretary-General who was handpicked by the U.S. in 1996; Details of the case against Annan; Appointment of an independent panel by Annan to investigate the charges which will be led by Paul Volcker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve; Background on Annan and his rise to the top; His efforts to reform the United Nations.

Considers what the death of Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat might mean for Middle East peace. Reaction from world leaders which offers some hope; Questions of who will fill the leadership void; Failure of the U.S. to act on the optimism by getting peace talks underway; New chairman of the PLO who is Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate former Prime Minister and longtime No. 2 in the organization who will share authority with current Prime Minster Ahmed Qurei; Belief of many that an election will be won by Abbas and why that would be encouraging; The current plan of the Bush administration which to wait; Burden which is on the Palestinians to turn themselves into a model partner before the U.S. or Israel will offer a helping hand; Why this is not really possible; Suggestion that waiting will be defeating to the peace process and that all parties need to sever old stances to make peace possible.

Profiles Ayatullah Sistani who may be the shadow ruler of Iraq. The Grand Ayatullah Ali Husaini Sistani, a Shiite spiritual leader who is widely acknowledged as the conscience of the nation; Proof of the man's power; His call for Iraqis to vote in the upcoming elections; Why the man who refuses to back down to America may be America's best hope for peace in Iraq in the long term; Story of how Sistani rose to become the supreme power of Iraq; What he hopes for his country; American policy towards him.

Offers a look at the U.S. military occupation and strategy in Iraq as of September 2004. Statement that the U.S. troops are caught in a conflict where fighting cannot win the war; Discussion of the despair faced by Iraqi civilians because of a lack of security, electricity and other amenities; Growth of the Iraqi insurgency against the U.S. forces; Report that the number of war casualties for United States soldiers passed 1,000; Statement that the U.S. waited too long to train and equip an Iraqi force strong enough to take over the job of dispersing the insurgents and policing the cities; Rise of anti-Americanism in Iraq among civilians; Report that the President George W. Bush administration lacks a military strategy for dealing with the conflict. INSET: WHO'S IN CONTROL?.

Examines the lessons of Najaf, where the Iraqi interim government is being tested on how it deals with rebellion from within its own people. How the standoff with Muqtaqda al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, which is hiding in a sacred Shiite shrine, is forcing the interim government led by Ayad Allawi to show its strength without inciting all Shiites; Conflicting messages sent by al-Sadr which keep the battle going; Belief that the U.S. missed its opportunity to crush militants in the country when it would have been easier to do so; Why it is a no-win situation for coalition forces and the Iraqi people.

Focuses on the fighting in Najaf, Iraq, between U.S. forces and Shiite militiamen for control of the holy city. Determination of Shiite leader, cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to remain in the Najaf shrine; Details of the battle in the city's cemetery; Breakdown of negotiations; Risks for both sides; Challenges of the uprising to Iraq's interim government; Intent of al-Sadr on undermining the new Iraqi regime; Background on al-Sadr, whose rise has been one of the most unexpected consequences of the U.S. invasion; Outlook for national reconciliation.

Focuses on the efforts of the new Iraqi interim government in fighting insurgents in Baghdad. Way that Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and General Mohammed Abdullah al-Shahwani, head of the Iraqi Intelligence Service, hope to battle insurgents; Assertion that Iraq is still heavily dependent upon the United States; Description of al-Shahwani and his past history in intelligence and military service; Need for more men to be recruited into the police force and military in Iraq.

Focuses on the search for an explanation of the prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad, Iraq. Highlights of testimony given by Specialist Jeremy Sivits, who is the first to face a court-martial; Contention of the other six soldiers implicated so far that superior officers not only knew but approved of subjecting prisoners to sexual humiliation and physical pain; Questions over the differing accounts of Sivits and Specialist Charles Graner; Argument of Pentagon officials; Questions over a possible failure of leadership and lack of discipline; Conflicting testimony of Major General Antonio Taguba and Stephen Cambone, the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence;Focus on the role of Major General Geoffrey Miller, former commandant of the detention camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, who was assigned to the Iraq prisons; Disagreement over the rules which govern military interrogation. INSET: Who Was in Charge at Abu Ghraib?.

The article discusses the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by United States soldiers. Haider Sabbar Abed al-Abbadi kept his shame to himself until the world saw him stripped naked, his head in a hood, a nude fellow prisoner kneeling before him simulating oral sex. "That is me," he claims to a "Time" reporter, as one of the lurid photographs of detained Iraqis suffering sexual humiliation at the hands of U.S. soldiers scrolls down a computer screen. Nothing could hide the raw cruelty of U.S. soldiers ridiculing the manhood of Iraqi captives. Of all places, these atrocities occurred at Abu Ghraib prison, once the infamous home of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's torture chambers. Most immediately, the scandal has imperiled the U.S. effort to pacify Iraq by turning even more ordinary Iraqis against the occupation and reinforcing the sense that control is slipping everywhere, less than two months before the U.S. is due to hand sovereignty back to the nation. Testifying before the Senate, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said the Pentagon has obtained more photographs and video footage that show U.S. troops engaged in even worse behavior. On March 20, 2004, the military announced that seven soldiers of the 372nd Military Police Company were being held in Iraq and charged with conspiracy, dereliction of duty, assault, maltreatment and indecent acts.

Discusses the anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his militia's resistance to U.S.-led forces in Iraq. Aspects of al-Sadr's activities and call for action; Measures taken by the U.S. to neutralize al-Sadr; Aspects of al-Sadr's vision for strict Iranian-style theocracy; History into al-Sadr's past and ranking among Iraqi clerics.

We waited on the beach to meet a killer.The man we had come to see carried out murder operations for Hamas, the militant organization bent on reclaiming all of historic Palestine from Israel. Two months after I met Mohammed, the Israeli newspaper Ma' ariv printed a deck of cards showing 34 Hamas leaders targeted for assassination and were able to kill him. Last week the Cabinet of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon attempted to deliver Hamas the most punishing blow yet, by approving the assassination of the group's founder and spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin. Even before Yassin's death provided them with a fresh excuse for armed attacks, leaders of Hamas were predicting that in advance of the Gaza pullout their militants would step up attacks on Israeli forces and against the Israeli homeland. In the short term, few expect that the killing of Yassin will do anything to deter Hamas, which derives most of its power not from individual leaders but from the appeal of its ideas to a generation of despairing Palestinians. Today Hamas' influence is as powerful as any in Palestinian society.The movement has constructed a cradle-to-grave network that gently draws Palestinians into the Hamas fold. The group funds a vast range of bread-and-butter programs in education, family aid, orphan care and sports. It builds mosques, clinics and libraries. It runs an extensive distribution network for the needy. Just as important, the men of Hamas, from top to bottom, have won a reputation for scrupulous honesty .For the time being, the strike against Yassin has returned the focus of Hamas' wrath to its true enemy. Whatever possibilities were percolating of Hamas considering a peaceful solution have been overwhelmed by the movement's declaration of "open war." The Sharon government too is consumed by the idea that might can prevail.

Offers a look at the threat of terrorism in the world as of March 29, 2004. Search for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden; Statement that the Madrid terrorist bombings and attacks on hotels in Iraq give evidence that the Islamist terrorist threat has survived a global war on terror; Belief of counterterrorism experts that the al-Qaeda organization is being replaced by a more elusive generation of extremists; Arrest of Jamal Zougam for the attacks in Madrid; Effect of the bombings in Madrid on the Spanish elections; Role of Abu Mousab al-Zarqawi in the violence in Baghdad, Iraq; Measures taken by the United States to prevent terrorism; Statement that the U.S. measures have not lessened the threat of Islamic terrorism.

Presents a guide to the hurdles faced by the United States in ensuring a smooth transition of government to the Iraqis. Challenges to the interim constitution from Shiite members of the Iraqi Governing Council; Dependence on the state of Iraq's security and sovereignty for a successful exit strategy by the U.S.; Perspective of the international community on the responsibility of the U.S. in Iraq; Tension for the U.S. between staying and going.

Reports on the bombings in Istanbul and other cities in Turkey in November 2003. Number of people killed; How the attacks coincided with U.S. President George W. Bush's visit to London; How Islamic militants have been widening the areas of attacks against the U.S and its allies; Efforts to undermine Islamic governments.

Reports on the training of the Iraqi Civilian Defense Corps. Recent problems that have been encountered while training Iraqis; Details of the training; Reasons for the training of Iraqis, such as the increasing American casualties; Efforts to fight the growing insurgency inside of Iraq; Possibility of foreign fighters inside of Iraq.

Reports on seeming contradictions in U.S. President George W, Bush's foreign policy. Confusion over nuclear-security issues with Iran and North Korea; Struggle at the highest levels to find common tactical ground between two irreconcilable approaches which are engagement and confrontation; Hard line stance with Iran on finding of nuclear weaponry; Softening of confrontational politics; Roles of Britain, France and Germany in a face saving deal with Iran; Reaction of Washington; Compromise offered to North Korea regarding nuclear weapons; Reasons for the diplomatic offer. INSET: MEASURING THE THREATS.

The author reports on how U.S. troops are coping with the continuing violence in Iraq. President Bush says the media are overplaying the violence in Iraq. Yet the past two weeks' casualties would make anyone take notice. While American casualties fluctuate month to month, they're spiking again. Bush is right, of course, to say the killings aren't the only news from Iraq. The U.S. has been making headway in restoring the country to normality. The fact is, the realities coexist: this is a country working to move on amid a shooting war that will not end. Some days it feels as if Iraqis opposing the U.S. presence are throwing everything they can at the young soldiers and the locals helping them rebuild the country. Despite the best efforts of field commanders, the U.S.-led coalition is still struggling to contain the threat. And the latest spasm of attacks has only deepened unease that the chaos of the early postwar days may be evolving into a more deliberate resistance, as scattershot hostility hardens into something more organized and sophisticated. Some people contend that the 338 American soldiers who have died in Iraq since the war began amount to a hearteningly low toll out of the 130,000-strong U.S. force. But others, including many of the troops, are dismayed that 199 of those deaths have come since Bush's May 1 declaration that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended." U.S. officials in Iraq say their troops are coming under attack an average of 20 times a day. The danger zones are also expanding. Whatever their exact affiliation and degree of organization, all the militants are pursuing the same objective: to force the U.S. out of Iraq. An unscientific but arresting survey last week in Stars and Stripes, reported that half the troops serving in Iraq believe their unit's morale is low.

Focuses on the continuing violence between the Palestinians and Israelis. Number of individuals murdered and injured in a suicide bombing aboard a bus in Jerusalem, suggesting U.S. President George W. Bush's road map to peace is in danger; Reaction of Israel to bombing, including the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Abu Shanab; Reaction of Palestinians, suggesting there is not enough improvement in their lives since agreeing to the peace plan; How this latest round of violence started, then escalated.

Discusses aspects of the Iraqi War, including symbolic gains and world opinion. Battle for a bridge across the Euphrates River; Attack on the home of Iraqi Ali Hassan al-Majid; Fall of the Saddam International Airport in Baghdad, Iraq; Comments made by General Tommy Franks, head of the U.S. Central Command, and Air Force General Richard Myers; Desire of coalition forces to avoid door-to-door urban fighting in the streets of Baghdad; Use of Global Hawk drones by the U.S. military; Discussion on what Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein plans to do; Need for the U.S. to locate the weapons of mass destruction that President George W. Bush claimed Hussein had possession of. INSETS: THE OTHER VOICES OF THE REGIME;TANK BUSTER.

Focuses on the military preparedness of the United States in the war with Iraq. Assumptions made by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush including little resistance from the Iraqi; Comments from Army Lieutenant General William Wallace regarding improper training received prior to war; Reasons why the Iraqi people are not welcoming coalition forces; Impact of trying to fight a war while limiting civilian casualties.

Discusses why Saddam Hussein did not leave Iraq and go into exile when given an ultimatum by the United States. Background on how he came to power; His confidence that Iraq would emerge victorious from a war with the U.S.; His strategy for driving Western public opinion to demand a cease-fire; His career with the national Baath Party; History and ruthlessness of his regime; Idea that the dictator is seeking a legacy.

Discusses how the United States will invade, defeat and occupy Iraq to remove the regime of Saddam Hussein. Roles of retired Army lieutenant general Jay Garner and invasion commander General Tommy Franks in postwar Iraq; Issues of finding weapons of mass destruction, reforming Saddam's security forces, managing Iraq's oil, eliminating the Baath Party, promoting democracy, and keeping peace among the three main communities of Kurds, Sunnis and Shi'ites in Iraq; How success in Iraq could positively affect the Middle East, according to the plan of the U.S. President George W. Bush administration.

Discusses the rationale for engaging in war with Iraq. View that U.S. President George W. Bush is passionate about getting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein out of power; How government officials were analyzing satellite photography searching for evidence of Iraqi weapons production; Discussion of Secretary of State Colin Powell's address to the United Nations and the evidence he will present as proof of Iraq's non-compliance with United Nations policy; Evidence to be presented by Powell including Hussein's link to al-Qeada and Iraq's continued biological weapons buildup.

Presents six reasons why allies of the U.S. want U.S. President George W. Bush to slow down before going to war against Iraq. Need for more proof of illicit biological and chemical weapons in Iraq; Call for United Nations (U.N.) inspections to last longer; Opinion that the U.N. must be the one to authorize war; Belief that invading Iraq disrupts the war on terror; Opinion that Bush is acting like a cowboy; Belief that the U.S. foreign policy is arrogant.

Reports on the United Nations and International Atomic Energy Agency inspections of various sites in Iraq in late 2002. Questions as to the motives of the inspections; Hopes of Iraq that the inspections will exonerate them from charges that the country has forbidden weapons of mass destruction; The need of Iraq to make a full and complete declaration of its weapons programs; What inspectors saw during early inspection of sites in Iraq where weapons were believed to be manufactured. INSET: HIDE-AND-SEEK.

Reports on terrorism in Kenya. Discussion of a suicide bombing at the Paradise Hotel near Mombasa and of a surface-to-air-missile attack on an Israeli commercial jetliner; Topics of portable missiles that fire from the shoulder of terrorists, the shift of terrorism to so-called soft targets, and the idea that al-Qaeda is decentralizing and delegating decision-making downward; Discussion of the suggestion that the Mombasa attacks followed anti-Israeli references on the Osama bin Laden audiotape; Investigation into a connection between al-Qaeda and Palestinian groups. INSET: The Dangers of a Pocket Arsenal.

Discusses the plight of the United States government to locate and capture al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. Consideration of an audiocassette with the alleged voice of Bin Laden; Interrogation of a senior operative of al-Qaeda, Ramzi Binalshibh; Belief that certain passages from the tape may indicate a call for terrorist action; Efforts of U.S. President George W. Bush to promote military action against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein; Speculation about where Bin Laden may be hiding. INSETS: WHERE OSAMA MIGHT BE HIDING;TALE OF THE TAPE.

Examines the rescue attempt made by the Russian government to free hostages taken by Chechen terrorists. Terrorist group's demand that Russian President Vladimir Putin put an end to the war in Chechnya; Use of a sleeping gas in order to immobilize gunmen; Number of civilians who survived, were injured, or died in the altercation; Speculation that the raid may cause debate over Putin's war in Chechnya.

Poses questions about possible U.S. military action against Iraq and Saddam Hussein. Consideration of whether military inspections would be enough to end the threat from weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; Analysis of how integral support from the United Nations is for a U.S. attack; Speculation about how long a war with Iraq would be; Questions about whether Saddam would use his weapons of mass destruction; Analysis for the future of Iraq if Saddam Hussein is ousted; Consideration of the effects in the Middle East of a war.

Focuses on the battles going on between Republicans and Democrats in the United States House of Representatives in the fall of 2002, as mid-term elections approach. Actions by Senate majority leader Tom Daschle; The expectation that the Senate will begin considering a resolution that would authorize President George W. Bush to use force to disarm Saddam Hussein; Comments of a speech by Al Gore that criticized President Bush.

Discusses evidence that Iraq has chemical and biological weapons and is trying to develop a larger arsenal as of September 16, 2002. Speculation that the al-Qaim phosphate plant has a uranium-extraction facility; Debate in the United States about how to manage Saddam Hussein and the doctrine of preemption; Topics of the 1991 United Nations cease-fire resolution, outlook for the development of a nuclear bomb and weapon delivery systems in Iraq, and the question of how dangerous Saddam is.

Reports that although the United States portrays the regime of Iraq's Saddam Hussein as unstable, it appears that Hussein has not lost power in the country. Description of Hussein as an invisible ruler; Contention that Hussein possesses hidden chemical and biological weapons; The contradictions which seem to surround Hussein; Comparison of Iraq's military force in 1990 and 2001; How Hussein is working to undercut international support for a U.S. attack on him.

Focuses on the impact of sexual abuse allegations against Roman Catholic priests in the United States. Problem of dioceses denying the charges and trying to cover them up; Question of whether all the crimes are being reported because of the shame felt by victims; Dismissal of priests who have been accused; Vatican rules regarding sexual abuse allegations and the church's relationship with the law; Discussion of several sexual abuse victims; Disillusionment of parishioners at the Church's handling of the scandals.

Focuses on countries that provide sanctuary to terrorists despite the United States-led war on terrorism in Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda connections in Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, and Southeast Asia; United States' policies and counterterrorism efforts in these countries, including the Philippines.

Discusses the popularity of the militant Islamic group Hamas in Palestine as it seeks to continue terrorist attacks on Israel. Concept of martyrdom in its belief system that attracts followers; Role of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the founder and spiritual leader of the movement; Israeli attempts to control Hamas; Funding of the organization from Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab nations; Charitable efforts of Hamas to maintain its support; Relations between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority led by Yasir Arafat.

Discusses events in Afghanistan in the wake of United States bombing of the country, and the search for terrorist leaders. Mention of the list of most wanted Taliban leaders and al-Qaeda terrorists compiled by U.S. military and intelligence officials and those who have been killed, including Mohammed Atef; Speculation that terrorist Osama bin Laden is hiding in an Afghanistan cave complex called Tora Bora.

Focuses on Afghanistan and deals being made by the Northern Alliance and the Taliban as the Taliban's government is defeated. Details of a meeting for a surrender of Taliban fighters in Kunduz; Idea that Afghanistan could collapse into chaos; Concern of the Bush Administration for stabilizing Afghanistan and eliminating Osama bin Laden; Description of Afghanistan as a nation of warlordism, betrayal and defection. INSET: WITHOUT REFUGE.

Discusses the United States-led war against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Bombardment of key cities, including Kabul, in order to help the Taliban opposition, the Northern Alliance; Pressure in the United States government and internationally to show results in the war or discontinue it; Increased bombing and release of additional ground troops by the United States to speed up the war; Public relations efforts to maintain support for the military.

Examines the Taliban in Afghanistan. Background on Mullah Mohammed Omar, the Taliban's supreme leader; Historical details, including origins of the Taliban; Relationship with the Pakistani government; Influence of Osama bin Laden; The Taliban's reign of repression.

Presents information about the suspected terrorists in the September 1, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. Details of the investigation into the hijackings of airliners used in the attacks; Attendance of several of the terrorists at United States flight schools; Names of the hijackers; Details of known methods of operations, including their familiarity with airports and security; Connection of the terrorists to Osama bin Laden. INSETS: What Makes Them Tick?;One God and One Nation.

Focuses on United States Secretary of State Colin Powell. High expectations which were placed on Powell when he was appointed by President George W. Bush; Perception that he has lacked presence amid the administration; Stance which Powell has taken on defense and foreign policy issues. INSETS: STUCK IN A BOX?;INTERVIEW.

Reports on the admission of former United States Senator Bob Kerrey that he and his Navy SEALS killed unarmed civilians in 1969 during the Vietnam War. Details of a botched search mission for Viet Cong guerrilla in the peasant village of Thanh Phong, which was uncovered by journalist Gregory Vistica, who is making his investigation public; How Kerrey dealt with his feelings about the ambiguity of war and his acceptance of the Medal of Honor; Background on Kerrey and his entry into politics. INSETS: War and Remembrance;When Hell Visited the Village, by Kay Johnson.

Focuses on the way in which the administration of United States President George W. Bush handled a confrontation with China after a collision of a Chinese fighter jet and a U.S. spy plane. China's release of the American crew, after holding them for eleven days while waiting for an apology from the U.S.; Details of the crew's return to the U.S.

Reports on the espionage case involving former United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent Robert Philip Hanssen. Disappointment and surprise of FBI Director Louis Freeh upon finding out that Hanssen was a spy; Discussion of counterintelligence; Biographical and career highlights of Hanssen; How the FBI caught Hanssen; Discussion of information that Russia obtained from the U.S. INSETS: Web of Betrayals;TRADECRAFT 101;WEBSTER'S WORDS;WHY DO WE KEEP SPYING?

Discusses the AIDS epidemic in Africa and how the region's social dynamics colluded to spread the disease and help block effective intervention. Details of the personal stories of disease victims, including a tuberculosis patient in a home-care program, a truck driver, a prostitute, and a child; Assertion that developed countries must help Africa fight the epidemic. INSETS: A Fighter in a Land of Orphans, by Simon Robinson;A Lending Tree, by Simon Robinson;Not Afraid to Speak Out, by Simon Robinson.

Focuses on Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat and his role in the street violence between Palestinians and Israelis in October 2000. Background on the incident that incited mob violence; Details of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's plan proposed previously at the Camp David summit; Speculation on why Arafat was not ready for the negotiation; How Arafat is linked to militants like the Tanzim forces; Prospects for the peace process.